Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/289973 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
IDB Working Paper Series No. IDB-WP-1434
Publisher: 
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Washington, DC
Abstract: 
This article relies on a large-scale field experiment in Mexico to measure the effects of two ability-grouping models (tracking and heterogeneous/bimodal groups) on student learning outcomes during middle school. Both strategies yielded an average learning gain of 0.08 of a standard deviation. We find l arger a nd m ore p ersistent effects among initially high-achieving students and no significant effects among low achievers. Students in top tracking enjoyed multiple advantages, particularly a concentration of high-performing peers and a very homogeneous classroom, that facilitated the teacher's work and increased students' effort l evels. Bimodal classes fostered greater effort levels among top students, while teachers induced less competition and allocated more time to practice and feedback activities, to the detriment of lecture time. Our results support the allocation of students to homogeneous classes to maximize performance gains among top students without hurting low achievers. Fostering inclusive learning among weaker students would require complementary investments under both models.
Subjects: 
Peer effects
Tracking
Bimodal classes
Middle school
Field experiment
JEL: 
C93
I21
I28
O15
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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