Student mobility, the movement of students between schools, is a significant concern for schools and school districts because it is associated with negative outcomes for the individual students moving, the school experiencing mobility, and non-mobile students. A prior study conducted by the Kinder Institute's Houston Education Research Consortium in partnership with 10 Houston-area school districts revealed frequent student mobility, with districts regularly exchanging students during and between school years. Middle school was found to be a common time when students exit from district public schools.
To examine student experiences and motivations behind middle school student mobility, this study utilizes parent survey and interview data collected in 2022 from Arroyo Independent School District, a pseudonym created to protect anonymity.
Key findings
- While many parents were satisfied with their middle school experience, there was a sense that safety, academics, and communication changed or became more challenging between elementary and middle school.
- Among the families interviewed who left the district, 43% (13 of 30) were motivated by residential opportunity or constraint, 43% (13 of 30) were motivated by school, and 13% (4 of 30) were motivated by reasons not related to housing or school.
- School-motivated exiters were concerned about bullying, safety, and academics, and spoke of the challenge of resolving these concerns as further motivating their exit.
