The transition from eighth grade to high school results in a substantial drop in course performance for many students. These declines in performance lead students to fall off-track for obtaining high school and college degrees. By using data on students' middle grade performance, high school staff can set goals for their students to help them meet their potential and provide support before students fall off-track for either high school graduation or college success. This brief highlights 4 key findings from the study "Looking Forward to High School and College: Middle Grade Indicators of Readiness in Chicago Public Schools" that have implications for how high schools support their incoming ninth-grade students. [See the full report in ERIC at ED553149 and the brief "5 Key Findings for Middle Grades" at ED553151.]