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What matters is mastering the basics in the primary grades. There's no reason a student should be promoted to the 4th to 6th grades without being on grade level.
If they are behind...............they will never catch up.
I actually disagree with this, too. My DS struggled to get up to grade level in reading for most of the earlier elementary years, due to a learning disability that made it more difficult for him to process and retain information, while it didn't impact his math skills as heavily (because math is taught in a more drilled and practiced manner to begin with), it did make it reading significantly more challenging.
It was not until 5th grade that something finally clicked, and he was able to not only catch up to his grade level, but to exceed grade level, and he's consistently maintained above grade level scores on his tests since.
I don't believe holding him back (which was never suggested by the school) would have been of benefit to him, in fact, being that he was particularly sensitive about being behind, I think it would have been detrimental to his drive and ability to succeed.
I think maintaining the structure of the lower elementary grades is important, but maintaining lower classroom sizes in those grade (which studies show does increase student achievement) so kids are able to get more individualized attention is the best way to go... IMO, based on my personal experience.
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Actually Sarah I think we agree.
No one would be “held back” because there would be no grade designations. Only skill level groups. 6, 7 and 8 y.o.s can work cooperatively. A child might be in an advanced math group but a less advanced reading group and an average language arts group.
Small groups. Team teaching. Students who are struggling in some way and not blossoming would be spotted very early and remedies could be put into that child’s individual plan.
As students moved on to 4th & 5th grades, additional measures would be made available to support any weaknesses and foster strengths.
There’s no excuse for the fact I got 8th graders reading 5 grades below level. Students need a basic minimum 5th grade skill set to be considered literate in our society.
My students were never going to attain that. Fixes needed to start back in pre-K with vigorous Head Start programs. There needs to be a community outreach to counter the effect of the streets and violence and drugs.
Many of my students would drop out before graduating. They were 16 in 8th grade. And that meant low paying jobs or unemployment. And the cycle of poverty would come 360 degrees. Young girls getting pregnant. And the cycle continues for their children.
The system is badly broken and you can see it most clearly in cities.
That’s what I meant when I said we need to remediate in the primary grades. Not all students can come into their own later on. Your son had the advantages of a supportive home environment.
Some kids need extra attention, for a variety of reasons, in order to thrive and succeed in the classroom. What I call TLC.
Too many of those kids get “socially promoted”. Oh, you’ve failed 7th grade for 2 years. Time to “promote you” to 8th grade.
So…………….that’s why I would structure “my” school differently. 
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