Misha Ketchell of The Conversation conducted a study in China which indicated that low-achieving 12-13 year old students significantly bring down the academic achievement of the rest of their class.
The study considered students who repeated a grade in primary school as low achievers. Then they based the students’ academic performance on each middle school’s administrative records of mid-term test scores in three compulsory subjects (Chinese, Math and English).
It was found that the grade repeaters in the classroom reduced the academic performance of regular students in grade 7. This peer influence was largest when it came to Chinese and smallest with Math.
Repeaters did not worsen regular students nor affect the teacher’s practices, but ultimately affected other repeaters were results worsened lowering overall grade.
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