What is Heterogeneous Grouping?
Heterogeneous grouping refers to (a) grouping arrangements in which whole classes of students of varying intellectual ability learn together in one classroom or (b) within-classroom groupings in which students of varying abilities learn together in cooperative learning arrangements. This grouping practice is associated with efforts to assure high academic standards for all students and to allow all students the benefits of access to high-level instructional practices. In contrast to heterogeneous grouping, many middle grades schools group young adolescent students by their ability levels for all or part of the day. Ability grouping (also known as homogeneous grouping or tracking) is based on educators’ judgments of students’ abilities. When assigning students to tracks, educators examine prior test scores or other performance measures they have administered or that have been provided by educators from other grades or schools. Students are then grouped with others who have been judged t
