Students in grades TK-8 that are eligible pupils.  An “eligible pupil” is defined as a student who received deficient grades for at least one-half of the student’s coursework in 2020-2021 academic year.

TK = NT (Needs More Time)

Grades K-2 = score of 1

Grades 3-6 = D/F

Grades 7-8 = D/F or 1

Below are some studies about the effects of pupil retention.

• Jimerson, Shane, Sarah M. Woehr, and Amber M. Kaufman. 2007. Grade Retention and Promotion: Information for Parents (PDF). Bethesda, Maryland: National Association for School Psychologists (accessed April 28, 2016). 
  • Grade retention is one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout. In adolescence, retained students are more likely to experience problems such as poor interactions with peers, disliking school, behavior problems, and lower self-esteem.
• Learning Disabilities Association. 1998. To Promote or Retain?  Pittsburgh, PA:Learning Disabilities Association (accessed July 6, 2015).
  • The weight of the evidence of literally hundreds of studies shows that retaining children does not produce higher achievement. Rather than flunking students, schools should provide high quality instruction for children who find learning difficult.
• Thompson, C. and E. Cunningham.  2000. Retention and Social Promotion: Research and Implications for Policy  (PDF). ERIC Digest Number 161 (accessed July 6, 2015).
  • Retaining students, regardless of the grade at which they are retained, increases the likelihood that they will drop out of school. Consistent with the Chicago findings, the advantage for retained students declined each year and disappeared altogether after three years.