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According to recent research, only 2% of American children receive the recommended daily nutritional servings from dietary choices. In an attempt to combat such issues of poor health and malnutrition, a non-profit organization called “Action for Healthy Kids” is actively striving to improve the meals available for public school students. As WTOP News explains, Action for Healthy Kids is striving “to address the epidemic of childhood obesity, is putting pressure on schools to cut back calories and dish out healthier options to students at lunch time.”

The Unhealthy Public School Provisions

Middle and High Schools vs. Elementary Schools

According to MSNBC’s article, “Secondary Schools Serve Unhealthy Foods,” the low-nutrition foods available to middle and high school students are far less healthy than the foods provided to elementary students. According to their report, researchers have discovered that the drastic shift in healthy food options for middle and high school students not only leads to poorer overall physical health but also may be “the main difference between the lower and higher grades was the greater availability of unhealthful foods and beverages for older students.”

Ultimately, researchers assert that the overall “school ‘food environment’ is significantly healthier in lower grades.” One of the culprits leading to the unhealthy state of middle and high schools is the increasing number of vending machines in the upper education buildings. According to researchers, “while vending machines aren't automatic sources of unhealthful foods and drinks, they are -- along with a la carte cafeteria

As younger adolescents move from the smaller middle school setting to the larger and more diverse high school environment, many kids experience anxiety and worry about the shifting dynamics and expectations. According to researchers Mizelle, Phelan, Yu, and Davidson, “Young adolescents […] are concerned about being picked on and teased by older students, having harder work, making lower grades, and getting lost in a larger, unfamiliar school.”

Common Struggles for New 9th-Grade Students

As they move to the high school setting, many 9th-grade students commonly experience a significant decline in both grades and attendance. This often occurs as a result of the new social opportunities and the greater option of choices for young students, in addition to the pressures of fitting in and finding their own comfortable peer groups.

In addition, according to ERIC Digest, these students tend to “view themselves more negatively and experience an increased need for friendships.” This is a relatively universal experience for young adolescents, as studies reveal this to be true for even honors or “high achieving” students.

How Can You Help Keep Your Child on Track?

Transition Programs

To help young students transition to the new school setting, recent studies reveal that students who take part in middle school “transition programs” are able to move through the shifting school settings with far less of a struggle.

As Eric Digest explains, “Research has found […] that when middle school students took part in a high school transition program with several diverse articulation

As young adolescents move from middle to high school, many parents and school leaders recognize problematic behavior patterns emerging among high school freshmen. To improve the issues among 9^th graders, many schools are restructuring their programs so that 9^th graders are in a separate setting, apart from the larger high school community.

As studies from Boston College explain,

“The transition from eighth grade to ninth grade is a critical time in a young person's educational career. Ninth-grade programs and separate buildings for ninth graders have grown over the last ten years to meet their distinct needs.”

Concerns Regarding 9^th Graders in High School

Studies from The National Middle School Association (TNMA) reveal that, from the student’s perspective, the most significant concerns regarding the transition to high school revolve around “the amount of homework, class difficulty, and organizational issues (e.g., getting lost).” On the other hand, parents expressed concerns regarding bullying, negative peer pressure, and other academic and social worries.

Current Problems Facing 9^th Graders in the High School Environment

As TNMA supports, freshmen in the high school setting often experience several negative issues, such as:

• A decrease in achievement from middle school to high school
• Many straight-A students experience their first-grade decline
• Cases of behavior problems, such as suspensions and expulsions, significantly increase in the early 9th-grade year
• New social concerns, such as bullying, navigating the new and larger school, and establishing

Year-Round Or Traditional Schedule?

For a variety of reasons, schools across the country are switching their schedules to a year-round curriculum.

• This means that both students and teachers no longer have the traditional two months of summer vacation.
• While some parents enjoy the year-round schedule, others engage in a heated debate about the new trend.
• Some schools are implementing the year-round program to maintain more consistent instruction.
• Other schools are switching in order to save money.

While many parents are concerned about the potential change for their children and family, each schedule offers its own pros and cons.

This video from PBS examines the pros and cons of year-round schools.

The Year-Round Calendar

When using the term “traditional calendar,” most schools are referring to the most popular schedule, where students and teachers are able to have an extended summer vacation, in addition to the standard holiday breaks throughout the school year.

• According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 86 percent of public schools in the United States operate on a traditional calendar, even though it’s the original purpose – so that children could help parents harvest crops – is no longer an important consideration.
• Since the traditional summer vacation is no longer “essential,” some experts maintain that continuing to use the traditional calendar is not what’s best for today’s children.
• As schools are now experimenting with the year-round schedules, many