Middle School vs K-8 Schools

A Difficult Time For Schooling

Calle Mayor Middle School in Torrance, California has gone through several changes over the years. At one time it was a K-5 elementary school before it was converted to a junior high (7-8 grades). Then, in the early 1970s it was transformed into a middle school (6-8th grade). Now, if a certain trend in education continues to win support throughout the United States, Calle Mayor may become a K-8 school.

As the name suggests, K-8 schools cover kindergarten through the 8TH grade. It is not a new model for schools, considering that many parochial schools are designed this way. Also, many public schools throughout the nation started in this format. With the advent of standardized testing, the maturation of students, a perception of a failing infrastructure, and financial cutbacks, it’s a model that’s regaining support throughout the public school system.

Still, as support for K-8 schools gains momentum, criticism has been levied against it, as well. Some educators feel that the K-8 school will not be effective; others feel that middle schools need to be given another chance to succeed. Whatever the case may be, K-8 schools may or may not be an answer in the ongoing task of improving public school education.

The Middle School System

At the heart of the debate is a belief that the middle school system has failed at what it was supposed to do. Although its concept was born in 1909, it took nearly a century before most districts throughout the country established it as a learning institution. This only happened when educators, politicians and other civic leaders began to question the effectiveness of junior high schools - a school that was supposed to prepare 7th, 8th and sometimes 9th graders for high schools.

The argument and support for middle schools reached its zeniths in the mid-1980s. According to a 2005 Time Magazine article, support for this institution came “after a period of youth unrest, when juvenile crime and drug use were rising.”

Sometimes referred to as the “black hole” of education, middle schools received little financial support from the school districts.

Middle school proponents argued that junior highs were not meeting kids’ social and developmental needs; instead they were offering a watered-down version of high school (Time 2005). Many proponents also contend that a child needed an institution that not only prepared them for high school, it would help foster a closer relationship between the student and teacher, create small learning communities, and separate students between the ages of 11 and 14 years-of age who would be going through the onset of puberty.

Despite these lofty goals, middle schools came to take on a very negative role in public education. Sometimes referred to as the “black hole” of education, middle schools received little financial support from the school districts. Also, questions of discipline, student behavior, and formation of school cliques created a contentious and violent environment for students and teachers.

It didn’t help that achievement tests scores on reading, writing, math and science tests declined in comparison to those done at the elementary school.

K-8 Proponents Speak Out

It wasn’t long before middle schools were falling out of favor. K-8 proponents claimed that middle schools were not doing what they were intended to do. They considered using a school model that eliminated the middle school and took the traditional grade levels and attached them to existing elementary schools.

Although studies in this matter are inconclusive, some findings reveal that K-8 students are scoring higher on achievement tests than middle school students, and that they are more socially adjusted than their middle school counterparts.

In a 2002 study, Philadelphia middle school and K-8 students were assessed in the main academic subjects. It was revealed that K-8 students typically scored 50 points higher on state tests than those who attend a middle school (Time, 2005).

There are other advantages to the K-8 school. Some proponents argue that it encourages parental involvement, minimizes transitions from one type of class structure to another, improves a student’s self-esteem, offers less peer pressure and helps form strong bonds of friendship.

Another argument is that older students can act as mentors for younger students. One proponent states that it can break gender stereotypes. She believes that females who love science and math could mentor the younger girls who have problems with those subjects, while older boys could help younger males do certain activities such as word games and writing (Edelstein, 2007).

In today’s economy, the K-8 school can prove to be cost effective. Going to a K-8 system means that some schools can be eliminated. Also, expansion of traditional elementary schools or conversion of existing middle schools to a k-8 school will be less expensive to build and operate. It would be easier for a school district to fill teacher and staff positions, and may require fewer hires than a middle school.

K-8 Disadvantages

Still, there are disadvantages. For one thing, all the studies on K-8 schools are inconclusive. Many of these studies don’t consider other factors such as socio-economic background or the learning disabilities of the students.

Other disadvantages may include:

• teachers not being used to having older, bigger students in the building;
• fewer academic, sports, and extracurricular activities;
• resistance on the part of some students;
• difficulties transitioning to a high school; and
• the school may not be equipped to handle a larger influx of multiple aged students (Stevos, 2006).

Another argument is that K-8’s goal and philosophy is actually the same as the middle school: it wants to address the needs of a particular group of students and support their transition to secondary school. This suggests that the philosophy for a middle school is reasonable, and that these goals can be reached if better planning and financing were used.

Also, in many respects, test scores at many schools – including Calle Mayor which boasts some of the highest scores in the state of California – are extremely high. In some cases, they out-perform the elementary and high schools.

As it stands, Calle Mayor will remain a middle school. Also, its feeder schools, Seaside and Arnold Elementary will continue to be K-5 schools. Still, if advantages outweigh the disadvantages, all three schools may embrace this trend.

WORK CITED

1. Edelstein, Ronna (September 15, 2007); “First Person: Middle School Vs. K-8”: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Online
2. Bloom, Alex (Dec. 28, 2008): “K-8 or Middle School? Which is Better?”: AZ Central.Com (The Arizona Republic):
3. Stevos, Dr. Joyce, Educational Research Subcommittee (Sept. 21, 2006): “Middle School vs. K-8”
4. “Is Middle School Bad for Kids? (Aug. 1, 2005): Time online: