Hmm, there are no two sides about, either you know math or you don't and if you don't, you get moved to a lower class.

As long as class placement is based upon educational achievement and rigorous & objective test results, I have no objection with this policy. Unfortunately, the gray area, a "slippery slope", begins when schools assign students to advanced classes because of race, national origin, or vague statements that "they have promise". Let's keep it simple. If you can demonstrate advanced math skills, you win. If your math is marginal or sucks, you lose. That's what education is about --- sorting the wheat from the chaff.

@OldMV

Only exception to that is if you've had a terrible teacher, as I did in 8th grade. He was seriously horrible, and basically had given up teaching at all. He would have us read the textbook ourselves in class and do the problems, then check our answers in the back of the book. No guidance, no lecture, nothing. I'm a really good student (went on the get an advanced degree) but even I struggled to learn anything in his class. He should have been fired, but I suspect through support of the teachers union he somehow still had a job after years of doing this.

I was a full year behind in math by 9th grade and placed in remedial math but I knew I was capable of much more if given a chance. I was able to convince the school dean to let me back in the regular math program. I worked my tail off that year and it was a struggle, but I did finally catch up and do well.

If the school had proceeded as you suggest - placement based on nothing but test scores - I would have never had a chance to catch up. There needs to be some way to take other factors into consideration besides just test scores (but I agree with you race etc should not be a factor).

Many high school districts have adopted an "open enrollment" process into advanced placement classes, which is to be applauded because it does/did open up access for many students. I agree with Not So Fast - extenuating or unusual circumstances must always be a factor, too, in determining placement.