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Principal Kerry Bannon explains middle-school placement criteria; parents press equity and communication concerns
Summary
At an April 9 Holliston School Committee meeting, Principal Kerry Bannon reviewed the revived criteria and point system for 7th–8th grade math and science placements, outlined upcoming assessments and communications, and addressed parental concerns that the model may be too test‑dependent and could disadvantage some students.
Principal Kerry Bannon laid out the middle-school placement approach to the School Committee and members of the public on April 9, describing a criteria-driven process the district reintroduced this school year and steps the district plans to use to give students repeated opportunities to qualify.
Bannon told the committee the placement process “was definitely not created overnight” and drew on data sources used in prior years — state test results, IXL/STAR benchmarks and common assessments. In the current point model, students aiming to qualify for advanced math will receive between 7 and 13 points (13 maximum), while science qualifying ranges were described as 6 to 11 points. The district removed teacher recommendation from the formal point model this year to limit perceived bias, she said.
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