Why ECE-8 School?

students smiling

A growing body of research identifies the benefits of K-8 schools for middle school students, especially when compared to the traditional middle school model of grades 6-8. Research shows that adolescent students (ages 12-14) who attend K-8 schools perform at higher levels than their traditional middle school peers, with both the academic and social/emotional needs of students better met at K-8 schools. Research shows that students who attend K-8 schools:

  • Experience higher levels of self esteem

  • Feel safer, with less discipline and behavior problems threatening their education

  • Have a positive attitude toward school

  • Have higher levels of academic achievement

  • Attend schools with more diverse student and teacher populations and smaller grade sizes

  • Experience more core instructional time, allowing for greater exploration and integration, rather than a focus on strictly content, departmentalization, and adherence to a rigid schedule

  • Have significantly higher scores in reading, language arts, and mathematics

  • Do not experience loss of achievement because of disruptive transitions

  • Experience better outcomes in 9th grade