Interventions on Achievement Loss during Transitions

Research indicates that many students suffer from achievement loss when they transition to high school. This loss can lead to decreased success within GPAs, test scores, attendance, or behavioral records. Upon experiencing this loss, students are more likely to suffer further academic and social consequences that limit their ability to be successful in the future. This study seeks to analyze the impact of transition programs on student achievement during the transition to high school. The Academic Seminar program at Sunnyside High School aims to prevent students from experiencing achievement loss. This study will analyze the impact of Academic Seminar on student performance during the transition to high school by collecting data from three years of enrollment. This study used a quantitative analysis of GPA shifts over time and a categorization based on demographics to determine any trends present in the data. Participants in this study were broken into two groups for each of the years, including the experiment group, those students enrolled in Academic Seminar, and the control group, students who were not enrolled in the transition program and did not receive any other support from another school program. Results indicate a connection between students enrolling in Academic Seminar and a decrease in achievement loss overall. To better interpret the role of Academic Seminar on these positive shifts in academic achievement, further research must be conducted in multiple school settings. The findings of this study may help direct future research toward a possible solution to the issue of achievement loss in high schools.