STUDENT PERCEPTIONS ON BELONGING: THE TRANSITION OF STUDENTS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

The transition from middle to high school for students is filled with social and academic challenges. Students who do not successfully navigate these obstacles are more likely to drop out of high school resulting in a myriad of negative consequences for them and their communities. Student voice is an important but often overlooked asset in education. Therefore, to design improved transition programs, it is worthwhile to empirically study the student perspective. This study gathers perspectives about the school supports that most contributed to their success in ninth grade from students who did not drop out. Using InQuiry methodology, three distinct viewpoints emerged: Captains, named due to their self-reliance, Passengers who relied on support from school structures, and Crew who thrived due to supportive social network. The findings of this study can be used by school leaders to better understand how to design effective supports for students as they make the important step from middle to high school.