Middle school is a critical transition point for the development
of later high school and postsecondary success behaviors. In fact,
academic achievement at the eighth-grade level has larger effects
on college and career readiness than anything assessed in high
school (ACT, 2008). Although the importance of psychosocial and
behavioral variables for middle-school students’ achievement and
persistence has been addressed in some studies (e.g., Dymnicki,
2004; Rumberger & Lim, 2008), our knowledge is limited by the
absence of a more comprehensive approach that combines a
broader range of measures, including academic achievement, as
well as student motivational, social, self-regulatory, and behavioral
factors. Furthermore, the use of a large sample and longitudinal
design are essential to more clearly examine the effects of each
component and to provide a more comprehensive examination of
risk assessment and classification.
Thus, the focus of this study was on a comprehensive assessment
system with measures of PSFs, behavior, academic achievement,
as well as school and demographic factors using a sample of
students transitioning from middle to high school. We examine the
interplay of the different factors and their effects on academic risk
and performance (i.e., GPA) outcomes so as to better understand
which students are at greatest risk for academic failure in high
school.