In a study of 13,000 students, researchers discovered that those who had changed schools four or more times by sixth grade were about a year behind their classmates, and the students in these schools with high churn were a year behind by fifth grade.

Transient students show lower school engagement; make poorer grades, especially in math; have lower standardized test scores; boast a higher dropout risk; and lose three months of reading and math learning—each time they switch schools.