The effect of homogeneous ability grouping in math class on student achievement and attitudes about math

Abstract

In this investigation the students in fifth through eighth grades were placed in math classes based on their ability (homogenous grouping). MAP math test scores and teacher input were used to group the students by their ability. This treatment was implemented to see if there was a change in student achievement and to see if there were any student attitude changes about math. The post-treatment results indicated that students MAP test scores varied greatly for each individual but 82% of students increased their scores from the pre to post-treatment. The results indicated that the percent increase in MAP test scores were the highest during the pretreatment. The above grade level students had a 6.5% increase, at grade level had a 5.5% increase, and the below grade level had a 6.8% increase in their MAP test scores. During the post-treatment the group of students that were most affected by the ability grouping were the above grade level students. They had a 4.2% increase in their MAP test scores during the treatment year. The students that were at grade level had a 2.3% increase in their MAP test scores. The students that were negatively affected by the ability grouping were the below grade level students. They increased their scores by .3% in the treatment year. AIMSweb Concepts and Applications increased following the treatment from 8.1% to a 16% increase in the test scores. AIMSweb Computation scores decreased in overall percent gains from a 17.7% to an 11.1% following the treatment. Students' attitudes about math were more positive after the treatment but the students said that there was little benefit to their science class when they were in ability groped math class.