WWC review of this study

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, v27 n1 p104-121. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ780613

  • Quasi-Experimental Design
     examining 
    44,709
     Students
    , grade
    6

Reviewed: June 2008

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards with reservations
External behavior outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Probability of any disciplinary infraction

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Probability of a violent disciplinary infraction

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Probability of a drug infraction

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Total number of infractions of any sort

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
General Mathematics Achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Math test score

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--
Reading achievement outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Reading test score

Starting Middle School in Sixth Grade vs. None

2000-2001

Trimmed sample;
44,709 students

N/A

N/A

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 50%
    Male: 50%
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    North Carolina
  • Race
    Asian
    1%
    Black
    24%
    White
    66%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    4%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    96%
 

Your export should download shortly as a zip archive.

This download will include data files for study and findings review data and a data dictionary.

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