A survey of middle school students shows that they are optimistic about their high school and college prospects, but lack information to help them make decisions that will help them succeed in both.
The nationwide online survey of 1,814 7th and 8th graders, conducted Feb. 14 to March 5 by Harris Interactive for the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Phi Delta Kappa International, found that 93 percent said there was “no chance” they would drop out of high school, and 92 percent said it was likely they would attend college. Nationally, graduation and college-going rates are far lower.
In the results of the poll, the authors found several possible reasons for the gap. Eighty-three percent of the students responding said they had “little or no information” about which classes they would have to take to graduate from high school. Fewer than one-third said they had a good deal of information about which classes they needed to take to prepare for college.
“A Voice From the Middle” is available from Phi Delta Kappa International.
