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Percentage of schools where various methods were used to organize classes or students, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2017–18

School type and selected school characteristics Students are assigned based on their ability1   Student groups assigned to stay in classes together for two or more years with the same teacher2   Student groups assigned to stay in classes together for two or more years with different teachers   Multi-age grouping or composite classes3  
 All schools 34.1   14.8   13.6   28.1  
                 
All public schools 31.6   11.7   10.9   24.0  
                 
School classification                
 Traditional public 31.5   11.3   10.5   23.5  
 Charter school 33.1   16.5   16.0   29.8  
                 
Community type                 
 City 29.1   13.3   13.9   24.9  
 Suburban  33.9   11.2   9.1   21.5  
 Town  32.8   8.8   6.7   26.3  
 Rural  30.9   12.2   12.1   25.0  
                 
School level                
 Primary 23.9   12.7   9.0   11.3  
 Middle 48.5   6.6   12.3   14.9  
 High 39.9   10.1   11.0   58.0  
 Combined 31.8   17.4   19.5   41.3  
                 
Student enrollment                
 Less than 100 25.9   28.1   17.9   63.2  
 100–199 28.9   11.1   18.9   33.3  
 200–499 25.4   10.1   8.4   17.6  
 500–749 33.4   11.1   9.1   15.0
 750–999 38.9   11.4   11.1   19.4  
 1,000 or more 50.3   9.9   14.0   43.2  
                 
Percent of K–12 students who were approved
for free or reduced‑price lunches
               
 0–34 33.4   11.8   8.3   26.2  
 35–49 32.4   10.2   9.7   26.0  
 50–74 30.9   12.3   10.1   21.0  
 75 or more 30.2   12.0   14.1   23.4  
                 
Percent of minority enrollment in the school                
 0–24 33.0   10.1   7.9   22.2  
 25–49 32.8   11.8   8.9   24.0  
 50–74  31.4   11.2   9.9   22.5  
 75 or more  29.6   13.0   16.1   23.4  
 Data not available  25.1   21.3   17.8   60.0  
                 
All private schools 43.0   25.4   23.0   42.1  
                 
School classification                
 Catholic 37.1   12.1   25.2   20.9  
 Other religious 42.9   26.1   23.5   41.1  
 Nonsectarian 49.1   37.3   20.0   64.7  
                 
Community type                 
 City 43.0   23.1   23.7   39.7  
 Suburban  47.3   24.8   23.3   41.4  
 Town  33.3   29.9   33.2   44.5  
 Rural  40.4   27.8   17.4   45.9  
                 
School level                
 Elementary 35.9   27.1   23.6   35.5  
 Secondary 59.6   10.7   15.1   53.1  
 Combined 50.0   27.2   24.6   50.0  
                 
Student enrollment                
 Less than 100 44.7   39.9   23.2   62.4  
 100–199 34.9   15.6   32.7   26.0  
 200–499 44.0   9.2   17.1   18.8  
 500–749 50.7   3.3 ! 10.9 ! 21.1  
 750 or more 57.2   7.8 ! 8.4   26.2  
                 
Percent of minority enrollment in the school                
 0–24 40.8   24.7   21.4   38.1  
 25–49 47.0   23.5   23.9   45.2  
 50–74  46.1   29.7   25.4   49.4  
 75 or more  43.0   26.9   25.6   46.0  
# Rounds to zero.
! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).
1 Students are assigned based on their ability is often referred to as tracking.
2 Student groups assigned to stay in classes together for two or more years with the same teacher is often referred to as looping.
3 Multi-age grouping or composite classes are classes where most students who are normally in different grades are placed together.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School and Private School Data Files," 2017–18.

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