The social climate of the early secondary school may be partially responsible for deteriorating parent-child communication and increasing misbehavior among early adolescents. Six hypotheses derived from this assertation were tested by surveying 501 parents and 661 students. The students, in grades 5 through 8, were enrolled in 10 schools that move students from elementary to secondary school between grades 6 and 7. Student and parent questionnaires were constructed to measure school social climate with respect to home-school relationships, parent-child communication patterns, and alienated or deviant behavior. Data analysis included analysis of variance, t-tests, Pearson correlations, partial correlations, and regression procedures. The study found that, as students enter secondary school, they experience a significant, abrupt decrease in home-school relationships and degree of parent-child communication. An abrupt increase in reports of alienated or deviant behavior also occurs. The results indicate that the linkage between the home and school environments breaks down significantly as students enter secondary school and that this change is detrimental to both environments. The implications for administrators and teachers are pointed out. Tables and charts illustrate the findings. (MLF)