The negative impacts of starting middle school in sixth grade

Cook, Philip J.; MacCoun, Robert; Muschkin, Clara; Vigdor, Jacob

doi:10.1002/pam.20309

Cited by 86Education Discipline and InequalitySchool Choice and PerformanceEarly Childhood Education and Development

The negative impacts of starting middle school in sixth grade

Cook, Philip J., MacCoun, Robert, Muschkin, Clara, Vigdor, Jacob·2008·Journal of Policy Analysis and Management

DOI 10.1002/pam.20309

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Abstract

Using administrative data on public school students in North Carolina, we find that sixth grade students attending middle schools are much more likely to be cited for discipline problems than those attending elementary school. That difference remains after adjusting for the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the students and their schools. Furthermore, the higher infraction rates recorded by sixth graders who are placed in middle school persist at least through ninth grade. An analysis of end‐of‐grade test scores provides complementary findings. A plausible explanation is that sixth graders are at an especially impressionable age; in middle school, the exposure to older peers and the relative freedom from supervision have deleterious consequences. These findings are relevant to the current debate over the best school configuration for incorporating the middle grades. Based on our results, we suggest that there is a strong argument for separating sixth graders from older adolescents. © 2008 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

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6th-grade students quasi-randomly placed in middle schools experience significantly more exclusionary discipline than those quasi-randomly placed in elementary schools.
“P.J. Cook et al. (2008) have found that 6th-grade students quasi-randomly placed in middle schools experience significantly more exclusionary discipline than those quasi-randomly placed in elementary schools.”
From Fostering Belonging, Transforming Schools: The Impact of Restorative Practices (2023) · cites this paper as P.J. Cook et al. (2008)
Students who attend 6th grade in a middle school experience substantially more exclusionary discipline than similarly situated students who attend 6th grade in an elementary school.
“P.J. Cook et al. (2008) have found that students who attend 6th grade in a middle school experience substantially more exclusionary discipline than similarly situated students who attend 6th grade in an elementary school.”
From Fostering Belonging, Transforming Schools: The Impact of Restorative Practices (2023) · cites this paper as P.J. Cook et al. (2008)

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The Role Grade-Level Configuration Plays on Meeting Young Adolescents' Developmental Needs
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Autism and ADHD traits, effortful control and mental health during the transition from elementary to junior high schools
Mori, H., Takahashi, M., Monden, R., Adachi, M., Hirota, T., Shinkawa, H., Osada, M., Adachi, M., & Nakamura, K. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-26430-1

Authors: Cook, P. J., MacCoun, R., Muschkin, C., & Vigdor, J.
Affiliations: Duke University (US)
University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID: Cook, Philip J.
MacCoun, Robert
Venue: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2007-12-04
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
Pages: 104-121
ISSN: 0276-8739 (ISSN-L)
1520-6688
DOI: 10.1002/pam.20309
OpenAlex: W2000913071
Cited by: 86
References: 36
Citations by year: 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
FWCI: 19.15
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders: William T. Grant Foundation
Spencer Foundation
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Topics: Social Sciences › Education › Education Discipline and Inequality
Social Sciences › Education › School Choice and Performance
Social Sciences › Education › Early Childhood Education and Development
Keywords: junior high school, sixth grade, student discipline, elementary school, peer influence, adolescent development, public school students

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The negative impacts of starting middle school in sixth grade

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