This study examines components of a middle school program designed to enable at-risk students to complete the 3 years of middle school in 2 years, and it looks at the progress of eight graduates of the program during their first semester in high school in South Carolina. Over-age students who entered sixth grade and displayed potential were considered for the pre-high school at-risk program. The group studied is the first group of students to successfully complete the self-contained, highly-structured, technology-based program. Student interviews, teacher surveys, parent questionnaires, and student grades were examined to identify each student's progress in the first two 9-week segments of the first 9th-grade semester. The study showed a lack of parent involvement; lack of communication between the middle school and the high school administration and guidance departments; and poor effort on the students' part. Yet, by the end of the semester, six of the eight students were passing at least half of their courses. Findings suggest: that the middle school at-risk program contained all the elements of a good program; that good communication is needed between middle school and high school; and that more parent participation needs to be encouraged. (Contains 12 references.) (NAV)