Campbell Hall has announced refinements to its high school mathematics and world language course placement process to better align with students’ learning needs. Under the updated system, placements will still be based on the average of first and second trimester grades. However, final Math placements will now incorporate a diagnostic assessment, all three trimester grades, and teacher feedback on critical thinking and problem solving skills.

    Heather Rios, high school academic dean, believes that this change allows for students to truly build upon their skills and be placed into a course that better correlates with that growth. To Rios, cultivating intellectual curiosity and internal motivation are difficult under a system that assesses a student’s ability prematurely.

    “l feel that this change will allow Campbell Hall to better align itself with its academic philosophy of self reflection and mastery of essential skills,” Rios said. “Our academic philosophy really implies that [growth and educational development] really take time and I believe that this system is more in tune with that goal.”