6533b7cefe1ef96bd12576b0

RESEARCH PRODUCT

A chaque classe ses élèves : procédures et critères d'affectation à l'école élémentaire

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This paper examines the class formation procedures used in French elementary schools, specially when combination classes (with two grade levels) occur. Principals were interviewed about pupils' assignment criteria and at the same time, the class distributional properties of 70 classes were analysed. The results confirm that pupils are sorted into classrooms based on a combination of individual criteria, including gender and academic achievement, in an effort to keep to the initial mix of children. Moreover, principal and teachers assign more independent students to combination classes to ease the burden they place on teachers. These purposeful assignment procedures, which integrate academic achievement, affect the class properties and particularly the ability level within and between classes from a same school.