As students enter the eighth grade, KDES teachers and support staff prepare them for transition to high school. Students receive guidance in the areas of academics, health, responsibility, and independence. When KDES students complete eighth grade, they are automatically eligible to continue their education at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). Located adjacent to the elementary school, MSSD is a four-year, fully accredited, tuition-free high school with a residential and day program.