As we look toward the next school year, our leadership team and teachers have begun the deliberate process of creating new class lists for the ‘26-’27 school year. We want to share more about this journey because it is one of the most intentional tasks we undertake to ensure a successful year for every child.

Class placement is far from a random assignment. It is a multi-step process that takes several weeks and includes a variety of professional perspectives. To create a balanced and productive ecosystem in every classroom, we carefully weigh several key pillars:

• Social Dynamics: We look deeply at peer relationships. Our goal is to ensure each student has a supportive social environment where they feel safe to take risks. We look at social configurations to ensure every student is placed with a mix of friends and positive academic peers who will encourage their growth.

• Learning Styles: Every child learns differently. We work to balance classrooms so that various teaching and learning styles are well matched. This ensures the environment is conducive to the specific needs of each group of learners.

• Academic Balance: We use the data we have gathered throughout the year, including recent MAP results and internal classroom assessments. By looking at these data points, we can create balanced groups that allow for differentiated instruction and peer modeling.

• Parent Perspectives: We value your partnership. We incorporate the specific feedback many of you shared in our February survey regarding your child’s unique learning needs and the environments where they have thrived in the past.

• Professional Insights: This is a collaborative effort. Your child’s current homeroom teacher provides "whole child" insights into daily habits. Our counselors look at social-emotional wellbeing, while specialists (music, PE, art, Arabic) share how your child thrives in creative or physical settings. Finally, school administration reviews these lists to ensure they align with our school-wide goals for equity and balance.

As we are now in the final stages of data collection and list creation, we are no longer accepting additional parent input. We also want to remind our community that we do not accept requests for specific teachers. Our placement process focuses on the overall composition of the classroom and the balance of the entire grade level. This approach allows us to create the best possible learning environment for every student. While this is a complex puzzle, it is one we approach with great care. We thank you for trusting our professional judgment as we work to find the best fit for every learner.

Warmly,

The ES Admin Team

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