While all school transitions are important, the middle to high school shift stands out. It coincides with biological, social, and cognitive changes in young people that began in early adolescence but continue into high school. These changes can be quite stressful, often disrupting students' academic performance and social and emotional well-being immediately following the transition but with lingering impacts for some. To help middle school students transition successfully to high school, state policymakers can support targeted interventions that take both academic and social stressors into account.