Summer Bridge: A Pathway to Grade 9 Success

Taking that first step into high school can be a scary, exciting, and daunting experience. Rising 9th graders face unique challenges as they navigate a new school while navigating their teenage years and adolescent development. The potential difficulty of the Grade 9 transition is matched only by the importance of the ninth-grade year. With research showing Grade 9 on-track achievement is the best predictor of on-time high school graduation1, helping students prepare for that very first step is crucial.

Summer Bridge programs across the RISE Network are designed to support students during this specific moment of transition. These programs invite students – including a targeted group selected based on 8th grade data which shows they may need additional support – to school over the summer for two to four weeks of relationship-building and academic support. During Summer Bridge, students connect with at least one adult on the high school staff so that they know a caring adult in the building before the school year starts. Rising 9th graders develop an understanding of high school expectations and the many ways high school differs from middle school.

“At Summer Bridge, I met new friends, new teachers, and learned about the classes,” said Masir, a student at Maloney High School in Meriden. “All of this, and learning where my classes are, helped me feel ready for high school.”

Summer Bridge programs were first piloted as a strategy in two of our Core Network schools in summer 2016. Based on the positive feedback and results that were produced during those pilot years, these programs were implemented across all nine Core Network schools in the summer of 2020. Through the continuous improvement efforts of our educators and the sharing of those learnings across our network, these programs have evolved and are yielding improved on-track rates for students who attend (see opposite page).

“I feel so lucky to be a Summer Bridge Coordinator,” said Rachael Orbe, Team Leader and English Teacher at East Hartford High School. “We offer students and families the opportunity to build relationships with the staff and learn about what being in high school means while easing some of the anxieties that come with the transition. Summer Bridge is one of the first experiences students have at the school, so we want it to be positive and fun as they develop skills for high school readiness, like communication, teamwork, and leadership”

1. Allensworth, E.M., & Easton, J.Q. (2007). What Matters for Staying On-Track and Graduating in Chicago Public Schools. Chicago, IL: UChicago Consortium on School Research. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/what-mattersstaying-track-and-graduating-chicago-public-schools