The practice of sorting students into groups based on assessed academic performance or perceived learning potential is a widespread pedagogical approach. These arrangements, often implemented within a classroom or across an entire school, seek to cater instruction to the specific needs and capabilities of learners. An example includes separating students into reading groups based on reading comprehension scores, or creating different mathematics classes for students with varying levels of mathematical proficiency.
This method is utilized with the aim of enhancing instructional effectiveness by facilitating targeted teaching strategies and differentiated content delivery. Proponents argue that it allows educators to better address the unique learning styles and paces of individual students. Historically, the approach has been employed as a means of managing diverse student populations and optimizing resource allocation within educational institutions. However, its efficacy and potential consequences have been a subject of ongoing debate and research.
