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Introduction: What is Detracking?

The Shaker Heights City School District is proud of its commitment to Inclusive Excellence and educational equity, and, to that end, has focused on creating heterogeneous and inclusive classrooms in Grade 5-8, also known as “detracking.” 
 
Detracking into heterogeneous classrooms is beneficial for all students, allowing for positive peer interactions and facilitating the distribution of resources more equitably. Combining courses can accelerate the growth of students who were previously placed in lower track courses, without negatively impacting the achievement levels of students who were previously placed in higher-track courses.
 
Detracking does not remove programs such as IB Diploma Programme (IB-DP), Advanced Placement (AP), College Credit Plus (CCP) or Career-Technical Education (CTE) courses. Instead, detracking aims to increase the number of students who are prepared for each of these High School course pathways.

Recent Events

The Shaker Heights City School District has been pleased to host a series of events related to detracking.
 
Perspectives on Detracking: A Panel Discussion
 
This panel, moderated by Superintendent Dr. David Glasner, featured:

  • Dr. Marcus Campbell, Superintendent of Evanston (Ill.) Township High School District 202
  • Dr. Amanda Yurick, Associate Professor in Special Education at Cleveland State University
  • Dr. John Moore, Shaker Heights Schools Director of Curriculum & Instruction
  • Karlee Robinson, Shaker Heights Middle School Seventh-Grade Math Teacher
  • B’Lise Bradley, Shaker Heights High School Junior
  • Madeline Moore, Shaker Heights High School Junior
Watch the recording below to hear the panelists perspectives and experiences with detracking. The panel also includes a Q&A session.


 
Detracked Math: An Immersive Experience

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a Math class as students and experience how differentiation can serve different students in the same lesson. Simulations closed with a discussion Q&A.

Watch the recording below to view the Math class simulation and Q&A.



Detracked Language & Literature: An Immersive Experience
 
Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a Language & Literature class as students and  experience how differentiation can serve different students in the same lesson. Simulations closed with a discussion Q&A.

Watch the recording below to view the Language & Literature class simulation and Q&A.



Detracking Data & Research Webinar: March 6, 2024
 
The District has partnered with NWEA and Rowan University, to conduct data analysis and research for the District’s detracking efforts. Representatives from both institutions joined the District for a webinar on Wednesday, March 6, from 7-8 p.m. Participants included:
 
  • Dr. Scott Peters of NWEA (the nonprofit organization that administers the Measures of Academic Progress - MAP), who will be providing a comparative analysis to better understand Shaker student performance in relation to other similar districts and children.
  • Dr. Margaret Thornton of Rowan University, who will be leading a mixed-method research design consisting of interviews and focus groups to understand the lived experiences of teachers, students, administrators and families. These qualitative approaches will put assessment data into context by uplifting the voices of participants to guide further development. 
Watch the webinar recording below.