Holcomb-McCoy, C. (2007) Transitioning to High School: Issues and Challenges for African American Students. Professional School Counseling, v10, n3, 253-260.

There are many developmental challenges facing students during their adolescent years and can make the process of transitioning from middle school to high school difficult. The transition from middle school to high school has been found bring on increased stress levels, decreased self-esteem, declined academic performance, and heightened risk for maladjustment. Another source of anxiety during the transition period for students is the importance from peers of fitting in and belonging. The transition brings a new environment, new rules and behaviors for the student. The effects of the transition are determined by the students ability to cope and deal with the change to the new environment.

There have not been many studies that looked at the effects of the transition from middle school to high school for African American students. Evidence does suggest that minority students have a hard time with this transition. Students academic performance and their perception of themselves was largely influenced by their teachers. One study found that minority students who graduated from high school and those that dropped out of high school, both had decreased grade point averages following the transition from middle school to high school. These changes in performance may be linked to more than just the adolescent development; it may be affected by the experiences, academic and social environments. There are five challenges that African American adolescents face: stereotyping, scarcity of positive role models, lack of culturally competent schools, ethnic identity development, and emotional/behavioral reactions to discrimination.

In the school setting, African American males in school settings have been stereotyped as hostile, volatile, academically inferior, and emotionally disturbed. The negative stereotypes can be internalized, which undermines the students’ incentive to achieve. A factor that can have an impact on the academic success of African American students is the presence of a positive role model. The media and many communities and schools are lacking appropriate African American role models. In the media most African Americans suffer from substance abuse, delinquency, incarceration, homicide, low academic achievement, unemployment, poverty. A lack of cultural congruence with minority students and their families can also influence the transition from middle school to high school. Researchers have argued that schools perform a social disservice by creating self-doubt in their African American students, by perpetuating existing social inequalities and by their depreciation of African American culture and accomplishments. African American students start to explore their identity by considering who they are and what makes them unique individuals. This can be complicated by the mixed messages they receive about their identity. African American parents don’t socialize their children regarding racial issues and prejudice; this exposes the children to racial stress.

Implications for School Counselors:

African American students know the importance of education but can struggle to meet the academic demands and challenges of high school. Counselors need to provide academic support programs for African American students transitioning into high school; this could be in the form of tutors and study skills courses. A mentoring program may help provide a positive role model for African American students. Counselors should provide resources to help the African American students manage the stress and demands of the transition. The resources should help provide motivation, goals, transitioning into the new environment and problem solving skill (to help them work through stereotyping and discrimination). Counselors also need to help African American students see the importance of education. This can be done by focusing on their strengths, and working with African Americans in the community to assist in mentoring and guiding the student.