In our school system, everyone is in the same track through 6th grade. Starting with 7th grade, the kids get tracked as follows:
* ~1% of kids: Placed into Honors Algebra in 7th grade
* ~1/3rd of kids: Placed into AE pre-algebra in 7th grade. Must maintain an A to get into Honors Algebra in 8th grade, else depending on grades put into AE or Standard in 8th grade.
* Remaining kids: Placed into standard pre-algebra. Must achieve at least a B to move up to AE in 8th grade.
We go to a public school system, but the average student is at the 90th percentile. For many kids getting into AE in 7th grade and honors in high school ends up being quite difficult, and there is a lot of movement down the tracks because kids couldn't keep up their grades.
This is what our school district USED to do before the new Common Core changes. Only we had
~10% in H. Algebra in 7th.
~60% in Pre-Algebra.. to take Algebra in 8th.
~30% in "7th grade math" to take Algebra in 9th.
