The option of using a middle school model of education to help smooth the transition from elementary school to high school will be explored by the Central Kitsap School District in December and March.

If adopted, the middle school model — sort of a half-elementary and half-high school type of experience — would replace the junior high school system currently in place.

Once a decision is made on the model, the board will also look at the possibility of shifting sixth-grade students from elementary school to the middle school or junior high system.

But for the time being, students will see no changes.

“The school board is in an information-gathering stage right now,” said David Beil, Director of Community Relations at Central Kitsap School District.

“Sixth grade students could move in the future but currently it wouldn’t be prior to the 2016-2017 school year,” Beil said.

The final decision, he said, would be based on what is best for students.

This year’s shift of ninth-graders to the high schools left more space at the three junior high schools, prompting the board to look at making the changes.

The move from elementary school to high school can be a challenging time for students.

Elementary schools typically have the same teacher for every subject and have students grouped by grade level. There are few transitions between classes and no, or limited ,electives.

In contrast, the high schools have a different teacher for every subject, students and teachers are grouped by subject, there are several transitions between classes and a wide variety of electives are offered.

Junior highs are a “junior” version of high school, Beil said, while middle schools have the same teacher for more than one subject, fewer transitions from class to class, and expanded access to electives.