The Cincinnati Enquirer (12/28, Brown) reports on the debate over how best to prepare middle school students for academic success, noting that research on the issue is "inconclusive, at best. When Cincinnati Public Schools announced this month that it would expand Western Hills High School to grades 7 through 12, it was the district's latest attempt to boost middle school achievement through grade reconfiguration." The piece describes past efforts in the city, adding, "CPS joins districts across the country in rethinking where to put their middle school students as pressure mounts to improve academic success."
The AP (12/28) adds that Cincinnati officials "are taking another look at how to boost student performance by merging some middle schools with high schools, betting the move will help younger students by providing more academic options sooner." However, the AP notes, some experts "disagree on whether combining the lower and upper grades always is the best way to help students," and explains that the "district phased out separate middle school buildings in the 1990s in favor of a mostly K-8 model. Once the new merged schools are in place, the district will have eight 7-12 schools, four 9-12, four K-12 or pre-K-12, and one 11-12. Superintendent Mary Ronan said the change means better academic performance, such as younger students being able to take Algebra 1 in the eighth grade."
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