Pre-COVID Ability Grouping in U.S. Public School Classrooms

The National Center for Education Statistics released a new Data Point report today, entitled Pre-COVID Ability Grouping in U.S. Public School Classrooms. This report examines whether ability grouping was used to organize classes or students in public schools, by selected school characteristics. Findings include: During school year 2017–18, 32 percent of public schools reported that they assigned students based on their ability. Nearly half of middle schools (48 percent) assigned students based on ability, which is higher than the 40 percent of high schools, 32 percent of combined schools, and 24 percent of primary schools that used ability grouping. Thirty-four percent of schools located in suburban communities used ability grouping compared to 29 percent of schools located in cities. The percentages of schools using ability grouping to assign students was similar across categories of minority enrollment and percent of students approved for free or reduced-price lunches.