The Transition into High School: How it Impacts Students Academically, Socially & Mentally

Abstract

As students near the end of 8th grade and begin preparing for their first year of high school, they are often met with fear and anxiety (Mizelle & Irvin, 2000). These strong emotions may stem from various things, especially academic challenges, and changes in their social life. With this transition into high school, many students also fear that they may not be socially accepted in this new peer environment. Along with these challenges, students who are of a different culture, race/ethnicity or a lower income background, compared to White students or students of a higher class often face major challenges from a cultural standpoint, as well as stepping into high schools with less diverse representation in faculty and the student body. All of these can be a perfect storm of stressors making this transition extremely difficult for some teens.