Being prepared to be successful at the next level is what the standards are all about. Eighth Grade is the Third Gateway Eighth grade is an important transition year for students. Eighth graders strengthen and refine the skills and knowledge they have learned in the middle grades, and prepare for high school. By this year, most students and their parents have determined what course of study they will pursue during high school and how they will meet those particular requirements. The eighth grade gateway is an opportunity for educators to be sure that all students leave the middle grades fully prepared for success in high school.
Eighth graders are familiar, generally, with standardized testing.
Students should be familiar with techniques for successful standardized test-taking, including using strategies to cope with questions about which he or she is unsure. Local requirements are very important, and may exceed the state requirements. The tests are multiple choice in order to give an objective measure of student learning. Level III is considered grade level and is the standard students must meet or exceed in order to be considered for promotion. The reason that Level III or IV is the standard students must meet is that this level of performance shows that students are well prepared for success in the next grade.