"A lot of decisions about dropping out of school (are made). It is a very critical developmental period of kids of that age," said Tadlock, a former administrator at Utah State University and now dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies at Bemidji State University in Minnesota.

Junior high teachers are usually trained as secondary education teachers and are more acquainted with research for high school-aged children and less prepared to deal with problems facing 12- and 13-year-olds. If they are in middle schools, then their efforts are concentrated toward that sensitive age group, Tadlock said.

In addition, some parents are disappointed about the district's decision to return the sixth grade to elementary schools because students will miss out on electives offered in middle school.

Last year, a group of parents formed the Nebo Performing Arts Council, which is working with the district to save band, choir and orchestra for sixth-graders. They point to studies correlating music education with academic success in subjects such as math. Other studies show that older students are less likely to take up an instrument than younger students.

"Seventh grade is too late to start band and orchestra instruments; they don't excel as well," said Su Tullis, one of the group's founders. "We really wanted that early start. In fact, sixth grade is considered late throughout the country."

Parent Natalie Bowers has two children in elementary school, one in middle school and one in junior high.

"My personal opinion is I love middle school," she said. "I think it's kind of small steps to junior high. I like the sixth- and seventh-graders together and the eighth and ninth-graders. I don't like the seventh-graders with the ninth-graders."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com