The current study aimed to explore the weaknesses of the junior high school system in Israel, a country whose first junior high schools (Grades 7-9) were established in the early 1970s and whose educational system differs from the systems of Europe and North America in terms of structure, ideology, and control. Based on semistructured interviews with role incumbents in the junior high school system, the study found major difficulties in areas such as student behavior, student achievements, personal attention, inter-school transition, resources, clear policy, and so forth. Implications for the planning of grade configurations worldwide are suggested. (Contains 1 table.)