Criteria used in altering the grade structure of Catholic secondary schools to include grades seven and eight, as perceived by diocesan superintendents and secondary school principals

The research question considered in this study is: What was the rationale for placing grades 7 and 8 with a 9-12 grade structure in to 37 selected Catholic schools with a grade structure of 7-12?;This correlation study utilized a survey method to investigate the factors, as perceived by the principal and the diocesan superintendent that were influential in bringing about a change in a Catholic high school's grade structure from grades 9-12 to grades 7-12. The study focused on a population of 37 Catholic high school from throughout the United States that existed as schools with a grade structure of 9-12 in 1980 and by 1990, had changed the grade structure to 7-12. A researcher developed questionnaire was used to collect data to be used in the study. The questionnaire was divided into six sections which addressed demographic information, educational, psychological, cognitive, and financial considerations that may have affected a change in grade structure, and the perceived pros and cons brought about by the change in grade structure. Sixty-five principals and superintendents responded to the questionnaire. Respondents indicated that the psychological considerations were the most influential factors in causing a change in grade structure. A review of the ten most influential factors indicated that the respondents focused on the numerous benefits that students in grades 7 and 8 would have in joining a secondary school program.;The role of the respondent (principal, diocesan superintendent) figured significantly in the manner in which the respondents addressed the forty items in the questionnaire as being factors contributing to a change in grade structure, while neither sponsorship type of the schools, nor the size of the school were found to influence significantly the manner in which the factors were viewed as contributing to bringing about a change in grade structure.;From the literature on this topic and the responses of the respondents, it was apparent that all grade structures have their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, it cannot be concluded that one specific grade structure was more optimal than another.