The crisis around dropout rates is most severe during a student’s freshman year of high school. More students fail ninth grade than any other grade, and 40% of students in low-income schools drop out of high school after ninth grade (Cohen & Smerdon, 2009). Factors that lead to high school freshman falling behind include social and developmental adjustments, rigor of classes, structural and organizational change or responsibility, and parental involvement. In an article by the National School Boards Association, “the average graduation rate for students with disabilities was 67.1 percent, according to the latest data (2019). This 17.5% lower than the 84.6% rate at which all students graduated. In other words, roughly only two of every three students with disabilities graduated with a regular high school diploma and within four years of starting ninth grade. The other one of three took longer to graduate with a regular diploma, graduated with an alternate diploma, or didn’t graduate at all.” This is why transition planning is so important.
What can schools implement to help ease anxiety of the transition from middle school to high school?
- Get connected with the student’s high school to set up in-person meeting times to discuss the child’s concerns or excitements about entering high school, share the outline of the IEP, and include parent input.
- As soon as possible, allow the child to see their first semester schedule.
- Introduce key staff members to the student and family at the high school prior to the first day of school: counselors, social worker, special education coordinator, paras, case manager, principal, etc.
- Offer multiple options for summer orientation
- Allow small group or individual tours
- Offer a variety of times for the family to participate in orientation
- Set aside time for questions that the family may have