The bugaboo that is social promotion. Here is what one study says .."the committee reached the conclusion that low-performing kids who are held back in a grade, compared to similar low-performing kids who are promoted, do less well academically. They also do less well socially, and they are much more likely to drop out." Personally I feel that there needs to be more synergy between elementary and the middle schools. I like the idea of more "transition" grades. Read the article.