Evaluating the Impact of a Summer Dropout Prevention Program for Incoming Freshmen Attending an Under-Resourced High School

Impact of an experiential learning middle school on the transition to high school

“…Meeting the social-emotional needs of students was another critical component discussed in the literature. Beyond the structural changes and academic challenges that ninth grade students face when transitioning to high school, some of the most relevant predictors of student success include individual self-beliefs, connection to their school environment, and support received from teachers, peers, and family members (Vera et al, 2016). A new understanding that this research shows is that all of the participants expressed that their middle school education fostered a love of learning and that their learning experiences were about encouraging their curiosity, creativity, and understanding of themselves.…”

“…individual self-beliefs, connection to their school environment, and the level of support students receive from teachers, peers, and family members (Vera et al, 2016). A study of a summer transition program for incoming ninth graders revealed that: 1) forming a connection with teachers increased their overall sense of belonging, 2) they obtained a clearer sense of high school academic expectations and academic self-efficacy, and 3) they gained a stronger sense of the importance of graduating high school as it relates to their future goals (Vera et al, 2016).…”