Currents

The Middle School to College Connection

Volume 8 / Issue 1 / Fall 2007

Ninety percent of middle-school students state they plan to attend college. However a deeper look into a study released by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Phi Delta Kappa International reveals that only 66 percent actually go on to enroll in college. The study funded by the Lumina Foundation was based on a survey of 1,800 seventh and eighth graders around the U.S. This poll of middle-grade students shows how the transition into high schools can be a key determinate into students’ post high-school successes. The results show that policy makers need to make a commitment to middle school curriculum and achievement in order to ensure long-term student success.

Percentages of students who said they would go onto college include:

• 70 percent of students whose parents completed college
• 44 percent of students whose parents did not complete college
• 61 percent of suburban students
• 56 percent of urban school students
• 43 percent of rural school students

Of those students who said they might not attend college, 92 percent said cost was the reason, 4 percent cited learning disabilities or special needs, and 2 percent said they were joining the military.

For more inspiration on getting into college go to knowhow2go.com.

—Bobbie Collins-Perry