This paper presents results from a 3-year longitudinal case study of 10 racially and socioeconomically mixed secondary schools participating in detracking reform. It explores how broadly held conceptions of intelligence intervene in efforts to detrack schools and examines new constructions of intelligence and how they fit into school detracking.…

Briefly sketches some of the circumstances and beliefs that led to the institution of tracking for managing student diversity. Suggests how these social, political, and historical factors can continue to sustain deleterious tracking practices. Offers some promising directions for altering ability grouping and tracking. (PS)