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Magnify the Middle

Magnify the Middle is focused on increasing awareness of middle school college and career indicators, improving academic outcomes/grades, and developing a High School Readiness Indicator (HSRI).

Research from Chicago Public Schools (2014) found that middle school grades--particularly in 8th grade--are the main predictor of college-going and college-success rates. It is imperative that we prepare our middle school students to enter high school academically prepared so they have access to college preparatory courses, including University of California (UC)/California State University (CSU) A-G, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment courses. As leaders analyzed college enrollment data and traced these students to their middle school grades, the trends were apparent that students who were passing their core content courses with a C or better were more likely to enroll and persist at a post-secondary institution.

Middle School Transcript Analysis

Modeled after the UC/CSU A-G transcript analysis in high school, the middle school version of the transcript analysis is designed for administrators, school counselors, and other site leaders to diagnose their current school in regards to identifying a high school readiness indicator. By analyzing cohort transcripts, participants are able to see the percent of middle school students who are “high school ready” in the core subjects (math, English/language arts (ELA), science, and social science) and can disaggregate this by subject, gender, ethnicity, and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) student group. School sites are encouraged to engage in critical thinking and self-reflection about why and how their current system produces its results. Next, employing an improvement science-based approach, they are challenged to develop problem statements to begin the process of addressing unique needs. This work consists of a full-day training and subsequent follow-up, as needed. 

For more information, please email Dr. Yuridia Nava.

We are excited to invite school site teams to the Magnifying the Middle Conference: A Community of Practice for Middle School Educators. This one-day event is dedicated to empowering middle school educators and leaders with strategies to prepare students for lifelong success.

“Ensuring Opportunities of Hope in Our Middle Schools” is our theme, and this conference will focus on Seven Drivers of Excellence:

  1. Middle School Credits: Ensuring Every Class Counts
  2. Academic Excellence: Elevating Student Achievement
  3. Personal Growth: Nurturing Social-Emotional Learning and Resilience
  4. High School Readiness: Building Strong Foundations for Future Success
  5. Benchmarks for Academic Rigor: Maximizing Performance on Assessments
  6. Family Engagement: Strengthening Family Partnerships for Student Success
  7. Mastery of College Awareness: Sparking Aspirations and Planning for College Pathways

This conference promises to inspire, equip, and connect your team as we work together to transform our middle schools into launchpads of opportunity and hope.

Date

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Time

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location

Riverside Convention Center
3637 Fifth Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Registration

https://events.bizzabo.com/739594

Empowering Middle School Achievement for Long-Term Success

Are you ready to reimagine what’s possible for your middle school students? Join the Magnify the Middle Network, a year-long, research-based professional learning experience designed to strengthen middle grades systems through collaboration, data-informed practices, and equity-centered action.

This initiative was launched by the Riverside County Education Collaborative (RCEC) and has been successfully implemented across five districts and twenty-three schools since 2018.

Who Should Attend?

We invite teams of three to six educators committed to transforming middle school outcomes. Ideal participants include:

  • Administrators.

  • Teachers/department leads.

  • School counselors.

  • Other: Professional development specialists, teachers on special assignment, instructional coaches, coordinators (Advancement Via Individual Determination, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Positive Behavior Intervention System), etc. 

Together, your team will explore how to design a middle school experience that sets students up for long-term success in high school, college, and career.

What your team will gain:

  • Middle School Transcript Analysis
    Understand how course-taking patterns influence high school readiness and college-going outcomes.
  • The Research That Matters
    Explore findings from the University of Chicago’s Middle School Matters research and why these years are critical.
  • Seven Proven Drivers of Success
    Learn about the seven key drivers that positively impact middle-grade student outcomes.
  • School Audit & Action Planning
    Assess your current systems and develop a customized improvement plan aligned to student needs.
  • Data Literacy for Middle Grades
    Strengthen your team’s capacity to use data to drive strategic and equitable decisions.
  • Field-Tested Best Practices
    Gain insights from schools and districts in the RCEC that have successfully transformed their middle grades.
  • Culture Beyond Incentives
    Learn how to build a sustainable, college and career-going culture through systems-level change and evidence-based practices.
  • Ongoing Coaching & Support
    Receive year-round coaching support to help implement, refine, and sustain your learning. Consider building in time within your team’s schedule to engage meaningfully with your coach.
This network promises to inspire, equip, and connect your team as we work together to transform middle school education into a launchpad for opportunity and hope.

Dates

Friday, September 26, 2025
Friday, November 7, 2025
Friday, January 23, 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026

Time

8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location

Riverside Convention Center
3637 Fifth Street
Riverside, CA 92501

Registration

https://events.rcoe.us/MagnifyTheMiddleNetwork