Wisconsin Dells might start holding students back

Students who want to advance from eighth grade to high school may have to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 1.5.

The requirement will be added to the revised Spring Hill Middle School Student Handbook that comes before the Wisconsin Dells School District School Board on June 16 for approval.

My first thought was: we don't do that already?

But the story contains more details (here's the link). Students who aren't automatically advanced have to do summer school - I'm not clear on what happens if they don't do well there.

My second thought was: isn't holding them back (embarrassing!) just going to make it harder? Won't they just be more likely to tune out and then drop out?

My third thought was: well, you do need some standards somewhere.