Middle-school decline.

Middle-school decline. Thank you for the interesting and informative article"Middling Middle Schools" by Jonah E. Rockoff and Benjamin B.Lockwood (research, Fall 2010). The authors found that in the specificyear when students move to a middle school (or to a junior high), theiracademic achievement, as measured by standardized tests, fallssubstantially in both math and English relative to that of theircounterparts who continue to attend a K-8 elementary school. I am glad to see the findings of their research. When I was withthe New York City Department of Education and responsible for oursecondary-school reform strategy, we created models of 6-12 and K-8,where this was feasible. Our own research indicated that having fewertransitions would benefit high-need students. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MICHELE CAHILL Vice President for National Programs and Director of UrbanEducation Carnegie Corporation