Being in middle school is a challenging stage for many students.

For some, it's a time of great

happiness and excitement. Others find themselves struggling with conflicts at home, at school or

both. For those who are having difficulty, it can be hard to know what to do next. Many children

face this stage of life with the knowledge that something is wrong with them, and they don't

belong in the middle-school environment. While some clearly need to stay in middle school,

others may be ready to move on. Exploring options for transitioning troublesome middle-

schoolers to high school may help both groups.

Students who have behavior problems in middle school may continue to have problems in high

school. During middle school, teachers tend to focus on teaching the basics and developing good

habits. They also assign regular tasks and duties to encourage students to handle problems on

their own. However, when students get to high school, teachers are much more experienced and

prepared to deal with difficult students. They'll have learned how to help students effectively and

without fail. Thus, it's possible that students who were in middle school before may now be

ready for high school.

High schools typically require students to attend class daily and may limit extra curriculum

activities. In middle school, most students have at least an hour or more of free time every day.

At this stage, many of these kids are still getting used to the rigors of school life- including

punctuality and lessons. Extracurricular activities make it easier for students to transition from an

informal environment with limited rules to a more structured one with set schedules. However,

after years of apparently free time in middle school, high-school life can seem restrictive and

harsh compared to its predecessor. Parents should prepare their kids for these changes by helping

them understand the benefits of high school life and giving them time to adjust accordingly.
As teenagers start looking ahead towards adulthood, they need to prepare themselves for the

changes that accompany graduation from high school. Many consider college options or enter the

workforce after completing their final year of high school attendance. However, some graduates

choose instead to pursue military training or further education in colleges or universities.

Regardless of their choice, moving past the years spent at secondary school requires that those

schools provide graduates with a relevant skill set for the future versus the classroom-ready skills

that schools currently require. Exploring whether a more geared approach would benefit

graduates might help improve this stage of life's transition process- and allow high-school

dropouts more freedom in choosing their next step forward in life.

Students who are ready for change should investigate options for transitioning from middle

school to high school so they can focus on learning instead of dealing with negative behaviors.

High schools are much better equipped than they were when students were in middle school to

help troubled students succeed academically and socially without fail.