Sixth graders are in a transitional year, moving toward becoming youth. Most sixth graders are not ready to interact with seventh through twelfth graders. Although some may have the physical characteristics of teenagers, they lack the emotional and social stability to function in a youth program. No matter where they are located in a school system, they are learning content on the sixth-grade level. Usually sixth graders in middle schools have separate classes, lunches, hallways and locker areas.
