If you are a parent of a child nearing completion of his/her time in elementary school and if the upcoming change to the next level of public education will be like a step into the unknown, then the title of this blog may be appropriate for you. Try not to worry however, you will find comfort that many other parents share a similar concern: the middle school years.
Fortunately, we have come a long way from junior high schools and early middle schools that went through growing pains to become what they are today. The new paradigm of middle schools in Virginia has received attention recently in an article of the October 2011 issue of Richmond Magazine. The article, aptly titled “The Worry Years” reviews the current educational and management issues associated with middle school students and also rates local middle schools in Richmond City and surrounding counties. The article addresses the successes and the potential pitfalls for middle level education. If you are looking for specific advice as a parent to insure success in the middle years, this article is not directed toward that purpose. It does however, give a good overview of what contributes to success for students and middle school programs.
One element that has been a constant in middle school from the 1970’s to present is the barometer which can indicate student success in high school based on academic performance in middle schools. Mark Chamberlain, principal at Short Pump Middle School commented on this phenomenon: “If a kid is in eighth grade and he’s starting to fail classes, that’s when the downward spiral is starting to happen.” Lack of success in Algebra 1 and writing/reading along with attendance issues become identifiers for middle school students who may struggle to graduate.
Economic conditions related to their community and family also contribute to potential failure for middle school students. Students experiencing a lack of regular attendance and also discipline issues can be on the fast track for school failure and dropping out in high school. When you add in children moving into adolescence and the associated hormonal changes that accompany this age, the mix can be very interesting and intimidating. A study compiled by the Richmond Magazine staff using the Virginia Department of Education’s 2010-2011 School Report Cards ranks middle schools in the Richmond metropolitan area. The criteria included school population size, Title 1 funding, SOL Pass Proficient and Pass Advanced percentages, student misconduct/violence, and schools awarded the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence for 2010 and 2011. The statistical analysis of all the data for each school provided a rating placement score. The results followed the basic expectation: the more affluent communities tended to have middle schools with the higher placement scores.
Fortunately, many middle schools are now better equipped to help all students bridge the intellectual and physical/emotional gaps that occur in late middle school. Middle schools have developed teams of teachers to help students cope with the academics and social development associated with the middle school years. In addition, parent involvement is an added positive factor. Dave Ellena, principal of Tomahawk Middle School in Chesterfield County referred to the involvement of parents as creating an atmosphere for success at his school. Dave, who is a member of the Board of Directors for VASSP and also member of the Board of Directors for NASSP, commented, “We’re very fortunate to have highly involved parents-parents that put a high priority on education.”
Students in the middle are just that: they are between the developmental years associated with elementary schools and the finishing years at high school. Middle level years are a time for self-discovery, self-awareness and physical and mental growth. Taking care of these students is a challenge and the dedicated staff at each of Virginia’s middle schools deserve a round of applause for their efforts and maybe, perhaps, an occasional aspirin for their growing pains too.
