What exactly does “tracking” and “ability grouping” accomplish in classroom settings? While some advocate for their use finding these programs increase student performance; others find the use ineffectual and promote inequality. Ability grouping typically refers to a single classroom of students of varying abilities who are then instructed according to their academic needs. This is used mostly in elementary levels. The student groups are set up by subject area and regrouped as student needs and performance changes. Tracking is done through a series of classrooms which go through a progressive set of classwork to work on specific academic tracks or a specific set of curriculum. High school level is where this type of program is used.
