A study of secondary English and mathematics classes indicated that, reflective of class inequalities in the larger society, students in higher tracks were exposed to more and higher status knowledge, better instructional quality, and more positive social relationships than those in lower tracks, who were mostly poor and minority students.…

After reviewing the importance of understanding tracking in terms of academic achievement and educational inequality, this paper describes a study that explored the day to day educational experiences of students in tracked classes and in heterogeneously grouped classes. The investigation focused on curricular content, instructional practices, and…