Research has shown that ninth grade is uniquely important for student success, yet despite increased investments, leaders aren't always equipped to meet ninth graders' distinct needs. The transition from middle to high school is both critical and complex, as students encounter significant changes during this time, including taking on more advanced…

Students who do not experience a successful transition from middle school to high school are at risk for repeating ninth grade and possibly dropping out of high school. The purpose of this study was to better understand how extracurricular activity participation, focusing on marching band participation, impacts ninth grade transition. Guided by by…

Background: Many "dropout" studies use the concept of risk as a framework for understanding the persistent problem of high school noncompletion among students of color in urban schools. This research, which frames risks as statistical probabilities and largely focuses on static and individual risk factors, does not account for the myriad…