Navigating the Journey to High School

By Lauren Cooke, Director of Secondary School Placement 

Having spent the last 15 years of my career working in K-8 schools, I have watched hundreds of eighth graders stand at the edge of high school. It is always a moment marked by tension and uncertainty. Finding the right environment for ninth grade brings up big questions for both students and parents, and the pressure can easily feel overwhelming.

Yet, this work is precisely why I fell in love with secondary school placement. My perspective is shaped by the touchpoints I share with our students throughout their middle school journey, whether introducing them to analytical writing in Grade 6 English, exploring identity through “The House on Mango Street” in Grade 7, or walking alongside them as an advisor. Because I know who they are long before the placement process begins, helping them figure out who they are as learners and guiding them as they choose their next step is one of the most special milestones in education.

Think back to kindergarten. For most kids, that initial school choice was made entirely by their parents. Eighth grade changes the dynamic. For the first time, students have a real voice in their educational journey.

That shift looks different for every child. For students applying to independent schools, it involves visits, essays, and interviews. For students heading to their local public high schools, it means shifting from a small grade of 30 peers to a class as big as 400, choosing tracks, and mapping out high school courses. In both cases, the core work is identical: students are asked to take ownership of their learning and think about the kind of community member they want to be.

Because we ask a tremendous amount of these 13-year-olds over a few short months, the load can feel heavy. They juggle regular classwork while visiting campuses, reflecting on their values, and preparing for major life changes. It is a significant effort, but every single year, they rise to the challenge.

At Rashi, our job is to ensure no student or family carries that weight alone. We build a network of support anchored in long-term relationships across the entire building. Teachers who have taught these students for years capture each child’s unique voice in recommendations. Administrators run mock interviews to help kids practice speaking with adults, and gain comfort highlighting their unique strengths and areas for growth. Advisors hold regular check-ins to meet with kids, helping them stay grounded, and tethered as they process their thoughts and navigate each step of the journey.

That multi-layered support encourages our students to approach the process with open minds. During our fall Lunch & Learn sessions, admissions representatives from Boston-area schools visit our campus to talk with eighth graders. Students frequently sit in on presentations for schools they had not originally considered, simply because they want to hear new perspectives. Crucially, these sessions give our kids space to ask about what Jewish life, culture, and community look like at prospective schools. They aren’t just looking for academic fit; they are looking for environments where their values and Jewish identity will be welcomed and celebrated.

We believe that knowing how to interview well is a fundamental life skill. Interview preparation is compulsory, and helps all of our students share stories that highlight their unique gifts. At the same time, it teaches them how to talk about their areas for growth in an authentic way. It is not about polishing them or making their answers formulaic; it is about giving them the chance to reflect, self-examine, and stay thoughtful and curious about themselves — the exact same way we ask them to engage in our classrooms every single day.

That sense of self-awareness shows up clearly once our students take their next steps. At our fall Alumni Panel, 12 Rashi graduates returned to speak with our current eighth graders about life in high school. They represented a wide mix of public and private programs. Hearing them speak with clarity and confidence made one thing clear: our students adapt wherever they go, carrying the core values they developed at Rashi into any high school environment.

Watching an eighth grader step fully into who they already are — a self-aware, confident student equipped to contribute positively to their next academic community — is the most rewarding aspect of this work. The process requires real effort, but it deepens the qualities that have defined them all along. Ultimately, when admissions officers and high school leaders meet our graduates, what stands out most is who they have been growing into since Pre-K: young people with critical minds, compassionate hearts, and the confidence to write their own future.