Magnify the Middle

Magnify the Middle is focused on increasing awareness of middle school college and career indicators, improving academic outcomes/grades, and developing a high school readiness indicator (HSRI).

Research from Chicago Public Schools (2014) found that middle school grades–particularly in 8th grade–are the main predictor of college-going and college-success rates. It is imperative that we prepare our middle school students to enter high school academically prepared so they have access to college preparatory courses, including University of California (UC)/California State University (CSU) A-G, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment courses. As leaders analyzed college enrollment data and traced these students to their middle school grades, the trends were apparent that students who were passing their core content courses with a C or better were more likely to enroll and persist at a post-secondary institution.

Middle School Transcript Analysis

Modeled after the UC/CSU A-G transcript analysis in high school, the middle school version of the transcript analysis is designed for administrators, school counselors, and other site leaders to diagnose their current school in regards to identifying a high school readiness indicator. By analyzing cohort transcripts, participants are able to see the percent of middle school students who are “high school ready” in the core subjects (math, English/language arts (ELA), science, and social science) and can disaggregate this by subject, gender, ethnicity, and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) student group. School sites are encouraged to engage in critical thinking and self-reflection about why and how their current system produces its results. Next, employing an improvement science-based approach, they are challenged to develop problem statements to begin the process of addressing unique needs. This work consists of a full-day training and subsequent follow-up, as needed. 

For more information, please email Dr. Yuridia Nava.

We are excited to invite school site teams to the Magnifying the Middle Conference: A Community of Practice for Middle School Educators. This one-day event is dedicated to empowering middle school educators and leaders with strategies to prepare students for lifelong success.

“Ensuring Opportunities of Hope in Our Middle Schools” is our theme, and this conference will focus on the Seven Drivers of Excellence:

  1. Middle School Credits: Ensuring Every Class Counts
  2. Academic Excellence: Elevating Student Achievement
  3. Personal Growth: Nurturing Social-Emotional Learning and Resilience
  4. High School Readiness: Building Strong Foundations for Future Success
  5. Benchmarks for Academic Rigor: Maximizing Performance on Assessments
  6. Family Engagement: Strengthening Family Partnerships for Student Success
  7. Mastery of College Awareness: Sparking Aspirations and Planning for College Pathways

This conference promises to inspire, equip, and connect your team as we work together to transform our middle schools into launchpads of opportunity and hope.

Date

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Time

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location

Riverside Convention Center
3637 Fifth Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Registration

https://events.rcoe.us/magnify_the_middle_conference