Sixty-nine percent of students and faculty surveyed at Nashua High School South believe that students in extensions- and
foundations-level classes are treated differently outside the classroom.

Nashua schools divide students into four types of classes based on academic performance: foundations, extensions, honors and Advanced Placement. According to South Principal Keith Richard, foundations classes teach the fundamental standards of the course.

"As level increases, so does rigor of classes," Richard said.

There are many stereotypes about students in extension and foundation classes. After surveying students and faculty at South, 84 percent of respondents said they believed students in extensions and foundations classes misbehave more than students in honors and AP classes.

Furthermore, 75 percent of those surveyed said extensions and foundations students do not try as hard as AP and honors students.

Extensions and foundations students hear these stereotypes all the time. Katie Parker, a senior in extensions at South, said while she doesn’t hear stereotypes verbally, she does notice they exist.

"It happens on social media a lot," Parker said.

When junior James Walsh was asked if he heard any stereotypes, he said that they were not so much vocalized, but were implied. He tried to keep a positive attitude.

"When I was in a foundations class, I didn’t care that they thought I was stupid, because I knew I wasn’t."

Some teachers at South disagree with leveling due to stereotypes and their effects on education.

"I believe leveling students is a not good idea" said mathematics head teacher Kellie Gabriel. "Specific to learning mathematics, many students believe they are not good at math at a very young age and it becomes a permanent belief into adult years."

Kenneth Heaton, a teacher at South, agrees that certain associations applying to grade levels exist. His solution is to have more unleveled classes.

Some students believe that leveling should remain the same.

"The system isn’t broken, so why fix it?"South senior Shannon Joyce said. Joyce takes mostly honors classes and said unmotivated students could hold an entire class back.

Alana Bethea is a senior and Hailee Whitesel is a junior at Nashua South.