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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]6th grade math placement is ability grouped using iready scores.[/quote]

What is the difference between tracking and ability groups?[/quote]

When grouping by I-ready scores, all kids in a grade level are still in the same class, but will be assigned to small groups based on scores. The all-class instruction will be the same.

Tracking places kids in different classes with different all-class content.[/quote]

To expand on this: In middle school, the "standard" DCPS track is:
6th grade: Math 6 (no algebra, focus is math fundamentals, ratios, intro to integers)
7th grade: Pre-algebra (ratios, proportions, percentages, basic equations)
8th grade: Algebra 1 (linear equations, functions)

With this track, you can differentiate via I-ready scores, which will enable more advanced kids in each grade to go through the material more quickly and maybe do at least some of the next level work. How much will depend on the kids, the teacher, and how many kids are ready for that higher level material.

However, DCPS also offers actual tracking starting in 7th, allowing some kids to do Algebra 1 in 7th, and then Algebra 2 in 8th. This is done when there are enough kids in 6th grade math who are doing and getting through the pre-algebra work that comprises 7th grade pre-algebra. So starting in 7th, these kids will be in a different classroom and do Algebra 1 work, then do Algebra 2 in 8th, setting them up for Geometry in 9th.

There are also schools that do advancement AND tracking. This is where a 6th grader is placed in the higher track 7th grade class, based on test scores at the end of 5th or start of 6th. So these kids will take Algebra 1 as 6th graders, but *in* the 7th grade Algebra 1 class. Most schools don't have enough kids in this situation to have a separate 6th grade Algebra 1 class, though maybe Deal has done this some years? I am unsure. SH has never done that. These kids will then take the Algebra 2 in 7ths, with 8th graders. And then in 8th, the school may offer a Geometry class (I definitely think Deal has done this).

It can be hard to understand because there are three different strategies at play -- differentiation (giving kids in the same class different content based on ability), tracking (placing kids with different aptitude in separate classes within the same grade), and advancement (moving a kid to a higher grade class based on master of grade level concepts). DCPS uses all three to get kids access to appropriate content. Differentiation and advancement are also used in elementary schools and are available everywhere. Tracking only happens if you have enough kids in a grade to fill out an entire class working at the next level.[/quote]

Wait, Algebra II in 8th? What school offers that? Name names.[/quote]

Absolutely no DCPS middle school offers this.  Deal actually has enough of cohort to actually track and offer geometry as a class to 8th graders.  I don’t know of any other DCPS middle school but maybe Hardy?

A few other schools, maybe less than a handful kids, go to next grade math which might be 7th or 8th grade and not geometry. PP above is correct that there is no real tracking with enough high performing cohorts of kids to have actual an actual class of geometry.

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