Bring the middle and high school administrators, teachers, and counselors together to learn about the courses, curriculum, and requirements of each school; to develop a mutual understanding about the young adolescent; and to create a smooth transition plan. Include input from students and parents. Include in the transition plan visits to the new school, counseling, and summer experiences that help students acclimate to their new schools.Plan activities that provide incoming students with social support, including opportunities to develop relationships with other incoming students and with older students.Provide an advisory program that assigns each student with an advisor or mentor — an adult advocate. Put significant, purposeful effort into engaging parents and families in the school. Parent and caregiver involvement tends to decrease in the middle grades and even more so during the transition to high school. Provide activities throughout the school year that involve students from both the middle and high schools. Peer mentoring programs that connect a ninth grader or older student with an incoming eighth grader are a popular way to accomplish this.
