It's no secret that all schools have different identities. And there are countless factors and variables that go into what defines a school, what shapes it character, and what molds the learning environment that your child will be immersed in.
While you may consider different schools based on factors like their mission, academics, and class size, have you considered the differences between N-8 and K-12 schools? Here are a couple findings we've outlined that give N-8 schools the edge.
Kids Should Remain Kids as Long as Possible
At K-12 schools, middle school students share campuses with high school juniors and seniors. This can be a problem because children naturally look up to and admire older students.
During early adolescence in particular, teenagers are drawn to the immediate rewards of a potential choice and are less attentive to the possible risks, reports Laurence Steinberg, a researcher at Temple University in Philadelphia. “Teenagers in general are still learning to control their impulses, to think ahead, and to resist pressure from others.”
We firmly believe kids benefit from staying kids as long as possible. The longer kids can stay free of the social pressure of the later teenage years, the better they perform in school and the better they handle the emotional stress.
For our full list, download our N-8 versus K-12 Schools ebook here.
We’ve also found it’s important to provide developmentally-appropriate curriculum. As students grow older, they need to learn increasingly complex self-management and communication skills, such as conflict resolution, and need guidance about what is happening to them physically and emotionally.
In N-8 schools, students remain young and innocent longer, with age-appropriate events and activities free from the social and academic environment often imposed by high school students. Eighth graders become role models for the rest of the student body, helping to develop leadership skills early on.
The Middle Years Really Matter
When a deadline is far in the future, it doesn’t feel urgent. Researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan found people disproportionately allocate their time and resources to pressing events, rather than the ones that happen years in the future.
This can be a problem at K-12 schools. Since graduation feels so far away, it’s easier to overlook obstacles with learning. There’s always hope the problem will disappear as the student matures.
Research Shows Grades 6-8 are Crucial for Student Success
Parents and educators can’t afford to be complacent about education. We have to get it right at every stage to ensure that students are ready to succeed in secondary school.
At N-8 schools, there is a deliberate effort to prepare students for high school and beyond, setting up students for a habit of lifelong learning.
N-8 schools allocate resources to identify and address obstacles at an early age to teach skills needed for students to be the best learners they can be and to provide students with opportunities for leadership at an early age.
