Latent Profile Analysis: Comparison of Achievement versus Ability-Derived Subgroups of Mathematical Skills

This study compares latent profiles derived from student subgroups of varying levels of mathematical skills defined by achievement and ability assessment scores. Achievement and ability cut scores for identifying students at both ends of the mathematics spectrum were applied and the resulting latent profiles within each condition were compared. The research utilized latent profile analysis to identify student profiles with achievement scores from the Iowa Assessments and ability scores from CogAT. The participants consisted of 50,998 second-grade students in a Southeastern state. The finding revealed varying demographics and patterns of ability and achievement for each condition, underscoring the need to acknowledge students with diverse learning styles and the distinct dynamics between achievement and ability scores to use for identifying students who may benefit from tailored educational programs.