This paper investigates one aspect of the transition of students from high school to college. It assesses whether students who had an academic ethic in high school performed better in their first semester of college than students who did not possess an academic ethic in high school. Survey data were collected from students at a medium-sized state university in the Southeast. Data analysis revealed that students who possessed an academic ethic in high school earned higher GPAs during their first semester of college than students who did not possess an academic ethic in high school, thus facilitating a smoother transition to college. Students who had an academic ethic in high school were more likely to have an academic ethic in college than those who did not have an academic ethic in high school. These findings should encourage high schools to foster the values and behaviors that produce an academic ethic. By doing so, their graduates will have a higher probability of being successful college students and postsecondary institutions will more than likely see improved retention rates. (Contains 3 tables.)