Why is Salt Lake City School
District considering K-8 Schools?
Many school systems conducting their own research are finding students in grades 6, 7 and 8 who attend K-8 schools, sometimes known as elemiddles, are scoring higher than their counterparts in other grade-span schools as measured by standardized achievement tests
and state assessment exams.
- David L. Hough
Editor, Research in Middle Level Education » link
1. Salt Lake City School District is committed to continual improvement and finding strategies to better serve students and families.
2. Current research – School teams, communities, and district leadership are beginning to study the K-8 Schools configuration which has been successful for students in other cities.
3. Choices – Middle school students can be served in a number of configurations. When Glendale reopens it will serve grades 6-8. Other middle schools will continue with the 7-8 configuration. Creating K-8 Schools would offer an additional choice.
4. Student Achievement Plan – This newly adopted plan is committed to high quality Curriculum and Instruction, well designed strategies for Advocacy and Transitions to better serve students, and the development of appropriate Choice Initiatives.
5. District Data – Salt Lake City School District is reviewing current research (1, 2, 3. You must register to view these sites.) that addresses the educational outcomes associated with K-8 Schools, the impact of school transitions, and the implementation of middle level best practices. As the district plans for the future, shifting enrollment patterns and the changing needs of families and communities must be thoughtfully considered.
On the chart to the right, see five year enrollment numbers in the 6th grade and then in the transition years of 7th and 9th grades, when students in our district traditionally move into a new school. Many students who attend our elementary schools through 6th grade do not enroll in Salt Lake City School District's middle schools for 7th grade. Considering school configurations that might better fit the values and interests of families who now choose to leave our district is something that needs to be discussed.
These findings are similar to what Denver and other school districts found; a marked decrease in enrollment when students leave elementary school. Denver explored ways to configure middle schools differently in order to address the concerns of parents who were choosing to leave the district. Salt Lake City School District also wants to attract and retain students in our district through the 12th grade.
6. Opportunity – Two middle schools are yet to be rebuilt/retrofitted. At this time, the Hillside area has shown some interest in having conversations about a K-8 conversion, and elementary principals have created school teams to study the possibility. If any or all of the feeder elementaries support the K-8 model, the Board of Education may reallocate resources to this new effort.