Most students go into high school prepared with an understanding of the correct criteria. However, some students go into high school ahead academically and are more mature than others. The choice between going to a segregated middle school (7th-8th grade) or going to a K-8 school can really change the next 4 years of high school.
“I would say middle school [sets you up better]… I think it teaches you little life lessons,” said Zoe Lihn, freshman.
Even the little small life lessons that you learn in middle school helps set you up throughout highschool and the rest of your life.
“It [middle school] taught me how to be more independent and how to deal with peer pressure,”said Lihn.
However, the majority of K-8 high schools, such as charter schools, offer high school classes, but don’t transfer their credits to high school.
“It [middle school] did set me ahead. I went into high school with 2 credits already… I think that’s good for kids who just want to get a head start,” said Kate Mosby, junior.
By choosing to go to a K-8 school for students’ middle school experience, high school might be a bigger change than for those who came from an independent middle school.
“Probably just adjusting to having more people, especially older than you. Like when you’re in 8th grade, then going back down to where you started [oldest in the school to the youngest],” said Amare Runyon, junior.
Going to a middle school exposes students to a new campus that allows them to adapt and be with people who are closer in age. Not only this, but they are treated like high schoolers.
“Going from an elementary school campus, to a middle school campus, to a high school campus it definitely prepared me because it gets a little bigger. You also have more independence with it only being 7th and 8th grade,” said Mosby.
Each school has different maturity levels throughout the students, and the way teachers and staff treat their students varies based on the school. Both schools aim for success, but in different ways.
“With middle school they set you up, it’s almost more strict… people are more mature, but with K-8 you’re more babied,” said Lihn.
Different schools provide different learning opportunities, and whether it is more gentle learning or strict rules, both have their ways of controlling the students.
“When I taught at the K-8 school they wanted the teachers to have more control over the kids. In the middle you don’t have that; middle school is a Junior high school. They learn more responsibility and independence,” said Ronda Cunningham, ELA teacher.
Although both schools are run very differently, they each have one common goal in setting students up for success in high school and the future. Both schools work hard to make sure the students are set up academically for success no matter what type of school they go to.
“My curriculum wasn’t more watered down than what I taught at the middle school, so in my case, no I feel like academically my kids were ready for high school,” said Cunnigham.
