The Impact of Middle School Connectedness on Future High School Outcomes in a Black American Sample

High levels of school connectedness have been shown to be associated with positive outcomes for adolescents (e.g., higher levels of self-worth and higher test scores); however, the impact of school connectedness during early adolescence has not been studied in relation to school-related outcomes during later adolescence. The current study explores the effects of school connectedness in middle school (MS) on high school (HS) outcomes in a sample of Black Americans living in low-income areas of Alabama. Results indicate that higher levels of MS connectedness were significantly related to a higher probability of enrollment in the last 2 years of HS, higher levels of school connectedness in HS, and lower probability of suspensions in HS. High levels of school connectedness in middle school were significantly related to positive outcomes in HS.