Educators and policymakers are paying increased attention to the academic outcomes of students in the middle grades (i.e., Grades 6-8). One reform proposed to improve outcomes for these students is to replace middle schools (with Grade 6-8, 7-8, or 7-9 configurations) with K-8 schools. This longitudinal study evaluated the effects of continuously…

This report examines the staffing, scheduling, and grouping practices of schools with a seventh grade, and investigates how those practices affect the academic and social development of students. Discussion focuses particularly on theories and previous research on middle grade school organization, national statistics on school organization in the…

Discusses sociological contributions to understanding black and white inequality in education. Outlines political, cultural, and ideological perspectives on black-white inequality that guide empirical research about access to schooling, educational opportunities in schools, and outcomes of schooling. Relates these perspectives to educational…