Navigating the Transition to High School

Recognizing that the middle to high school transition can generate new stressors, RISE core partners invite rising Grade 9 students to participate in free summer bridge programs at their schools. Bridge programs build excitement around the high school transition, positive connections between students and staff, and an awareness of the importance of on-track achievement. In alignment with our equity goals, educators use the RISE Data Hub to identify students who would most benefit from the transition support based on their middle school grades, attendance, and behavior.

For example, at Brien McMahon H.S. (BMHS) in Norwalk, administrators use the Hub to identify vulnerable students and reach out with program materials, providing them with early access to this critical intervention before opening the summer bridge program up to the remainder of the incoming class.

“We work closely with our two feeder middle schools to be very intentional in our summer bridge recruitment,” said Sharina Jimenez, RISE Senior On-Track Coach for BMHS. “We share the list of students who are considered the most vulnerable with school counselors to facilitate conversations with families and students about participating in our program. We are confident that the students who will benefit the most from the summer bridge experience will have access to it before it fills up.”

Once enrolled, summer bridge programs help incoming students get excited about high school by giving them the opportunity to build critical relationships, sharpen skills, and familiarize themselves with routines and expectations.

“The transition to the freshman year is one of the biggest transitions these kids will go through,” said Peter Rinaldi, Grade 9 assistant principal at RISE partner Westhill High School in Stamford. He explained that the two-week program aims to remove students’ anxieties about starting high school. “If we take that piece away and make them more comfortable, then the academics can take the forefront,” he said.

Scaling Proven Practices Across Networks

As RISE strategies are proving to have a positive impact on our core network of schools, we are excited to continue this momentum as we scale such practices in more schools and districts. For example, RISE has expanded upon its existing partnership with Maloney and Platt high schools in Meriden to its three middle schools: Washington, Lincoln, and Edison. These schools are now pursuing data-driven strategies at the middle school level, particularly targeting students who need additional support, preparing them for success as they enter high school.

RISE provides quarterly professional learning communities, monthly coaching, team lead training, school-based professional development sessions, and school visits to observe on-track conferences and provide feedback. By expanding the partnership to the middle school level, students are learning about the importance of on-track before they arrive at high school.

“I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with RISE and promote the outstanding on-track culture initiatives that we both are passionate about,” says Pete Civitello, Supervisor of Data Integration and Postsecondary Planning for Meriden Public Schools. “Through this new initiative, we have the opportunity to establish an on-track and postsecondary mindset with our middle school students, which we feel will have a positive effect when they enter high school.”