-
Junior High School models emerge
In response to the increase in births following W.W.I., crowded high schools and elementary schools necessitated the development of middle level education. Junior High Schools comprising grades 7 - 9 became the norm (George & Alexander, 2003). -
Period: to
Middle School History
-
Junior High Schools prevail
Coming under scrutiny for structure and curriculum, the junior high school is still the most common model for middle level education (George & Alexander, 2003). -
Middle School model earns support
1963 - 1965 America's first new middle schools are constructed in states like Mississippi, New York, and Arkansas, many of the new schools facilitating desegregation.
1965- Alexander and Williams propose guidelines for "A Model Middle School"
1966 - Donald Eichhorn presents a develomental and social rationale for grouping grades 6, 7, 8 rather than 7, 8, 9. Fort Couch Middle School becomes an early model of the middle school movement. (George & Alexander, 2003). -
Middle Schools progress
More middle schools develop in an attempt to resolve school underutilization and crowding.
1977 - National Middle School Association (NMSA) appoints Committee on Future Goals and Directions to establish goals for middle school development. (George & Alexander, 2013). -
Middle Education Reforms
1983 - "A Nation at Risk" raises momentum to move 9th grade students to high school
1985 - George and Oldaker identify 160 exemplary middle schools to find they are remarkably similar in regard to: interdisciplinary teams, flexible scheduling, teacher guidance
programs, curricula providing for a student's personal development, and other criteria believed to better accomodate the needs of young adolescent learners (George & Alexander, 2003). -
Middle Schools thrive
Middle schools surpass the junior high concept as the most relevant approach to educating young adolescents in America (George & Alexander, 2003).
1995 – NMSA publishes This We Believe 1995 calling for middle schools to be developmentally responsible and to connect to families and communities. (Lounsbury, 1996). -
Middle Schools succeed
Carnegie Group releases "Turning Points 2000" attesting to the success of the middle school experiment (George & Alexander, 2003).
References: George, P. S., & Alexander, W.M. (2003). The middle school movement and ccncept. In D. Alpert and T. Williams (Eds.), The Exemplary Middle School (pp. 39 – 50). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Lounsbury, John H. (1996) Key Characteristics of Middle Level Schools. ECAP Collaborative online resource. Retrieved from http://ecap.crc.illinois.edu/eecearchive/digests
