Ability Grouping

Ability grouping is the common educational practice of separating students based on actual or purported ability in the same grade into different instructional groups with differing levels of aptitude or achievement. At the elementary school level, teachers often sort students into smaller groups within the classroom for reading or math instruction; this practice is often referred to as within-class or homogenous-ability grouping. Teachers may also practice within-class grouping by selecting out a few students to either receive more specialized help if they are performing below their peers, or to provide more challenging material to high-achieving students. In middle and high school, older students may be placed into different classrooms, classes, or course sequences based on either real or expected academic achievement and/or completion of prerequisite ...