 Ability grouping is  the educational practice of grouping students by potential or past achievement for a relevant activity. Ability groups are usually small, informal groups formed within a single classroom. It differs from tracking by being less pervasive, involving much smaller groups, and by being more flexible and informal. While a teacher could easily move an individual student from the "red table" to "blue table" ability group, tracking is a formal designation that often persists throughout a students' entire school career. In a tracking system, the entire student population is assigned to different classes (or schools) according to their perceived academic potential. Students attend all classes only with students whose overall academic achievement is the same as their own. Among younger students, a tracked school may teach the same underlying subjects, such as reading and mathematics, in different styles, speeds, or depth. Among older students, the students in different tracks are usually given the opportunity to learn only subjects that are deemed appropriate for their track. For example, a student in a " college " track is usually not permitted to study blue-collar vocational skills like welding. Social effects Social stigma can be reduced by giving groups neutral names (e.g., colors, rather than  "remedial group"). Flexible group assignment and regular re-assignments reduces stigma (Aydin and Tugal 2005).
alt=Three young boys sit at a table with their teacher. The teacher points to the words that one boy is reading in his textbook.|400x400px| Ability grouping is often used while teaching basic reading skills. Ability grouping is the educational practice of grouping students by potential or past achievement for a relevant activity. Ability groups are usually small, informal groups formed within a single classroom. It differs from tracking by being less pervasive, involving much smaller groups, and by being more flexible and informal. While a teacher could easily move an individual student from the "red table" to "blue table" ability group, tracking is a formal designation that often persists throughout a students' entire school career. In a tracking system, the entire student population is assigned to different classes , or even to different schools, according to their perceived academic potential. Tracked students attend all classes only with students whose overall academic achievement is the same as their own. Among younger students, a tracked school may teach the same underlying subjects, such as reading and mathematics, in different styles, speeds, or depth. Among older students, the students in different tracks are usually given the opportunity to learn only subjects that are deemed appropriate for their track. For example, a student in a " university " track is usually not permitted to study blue-collar vocational skills like welding. Social effects Social stigma can be reduced by giving groups neutral names (e.g., colors, rather than "advanced group" or "remedial group"). Flexible group assignment and regular re-assignments reduces stigma (Aydin and Tugal 2005).
A
alt=Three young boys sit at a table with their teacher. The teacher points to the words that one boy is reading in his textbook.|400x400px|
A
often used while teaching basic reading skills. Ability grouping is
R
(or schools)
, or even to different schools,
R
Students
Tracked students
R
college
university
A
"advanced group" or