As we head into mid-April, it's hard to believe that it is already time to start thinking about class placements for next year. We share in your desire to provide the absolute best classroom experience and environment for your child(ren). The student placement process is one of our most important responsibilities we have as school leaders. We follow a set of established criteria in order to build balanced classes which allow for optimal teaching and learning environments.
Our placement philosophy is as follows:
Classes are heterogeneously grouped. This means that each class has a mixture of ages (within the grade level), balanced boy/girl ratios, maturity levels, and academic ability.
Quantitative Factors. This means that across all rooms at the same grade level, there should be gender-balanced, non and limited English Learner students, Special Education students, and ethnic/racial diversity.
Academic Factors. Every effort is made to arrange student placement so that each classroom has a mixture of different ability levels in literacy, math, and language but in workable groups.
Social Factors. It is carefully thought through and determined in which class the child’s potential leadership will be encouraged, with which group of children the child’s personality will best fit, and which teacher will best support growth and development.
Parent Input. We allow families to share their environmental requests to indicate the type of classroom environment they would like their child to be placed in (not specific teacher names) where parents feel they will be most successful. This is just one piece of data we consider in the scope of everything else.
Teacher Input. We allow current grade level teachers to also provide input based upon first hand classroom knowledge of who their student should and should not be placed with along with other factors they know about the learner. Those factors may include:
History of work habits
Level of self-direction and initiative
Ability to work independently
Ability to participate in cohesive, academic learning groups, regardless of grade level
Ability to adjust easily and get along well with others
This is a process that we began to work on in May and spend a significant amount of time in the determination process to get it ‘just right.’ We recognize that the culture and dynamics of a classroom community have a tremendous impact on student success and outcomes.
Due to that impact, we do not take requests for a specific teacher. However, as mentioned above we do invite and welcome parent input about the type of learning environment your child does best in.
You can provide this input electronically through the PowerSchool Parent Portal by completing the "2025-26 Class Placement Information" form. The form is available now and will close on Friday, May 2nd.
