Smart Math Grouping: How to Use IXL + Illustrative Math Data to Power Equitable Math Intervention

As school leaders, we’ve all felt the tension: We have a ton of math data, but not a clear system to act on it. Between IXL skill scores, Illustrative Math performance tasks and formative assessments, it can be hard to know how to group students, personalize instruction, and accelerate growth.

Here’s one strategy that works: triangulating IXL and Illustrative Math data to create targeted math intervention groups, across classrooms or even across grade levels.

📊 Why IXL and Illustrative Math Work Together

These tools offer different (but complementary) insights:

• IXL provides diagnostic and real-time skill-level mastery, giving visibility into gaps by domain or standard (e.g., fractions, place value, algebraic thinking).

• Illustrative Mathematics (IM) provides conceptual understanding through rich tasks, problem-based learning, and formative assessments tied to unit learning goals.

By using both, you can: ✅ Spot foundational skill gaps and conceptual misunderstandings ✅ Identify students ready for enrichment ✅ Support intervention with precision, not just hunches ✅ Build skill-based groups that actually reflect student need

🧠 Make It Visual with SchoolOps.ai

Instead of printing spreadsheets or toggling between dashboards, use SchoolOps.ai to bring it all together.

SchoolOps.ai helps schools:

• Pull IXL diagnostic scores and skill trends

• Analyze Illustrative Math task performance

• Flag students for targeted small groups across both programs

No more guesswork. Just actionable insight.

🔢 How to Build Math Intervention Groups with IXL + IM

Here’s a protocol you can use with your math leadership team or PLC:

Step 1: Gather and Sort Data

• Pull student-level data from:

  • IXL Diagnostic by domain or standard

  • IM task performance or end-of-unit assessments

• Use a triangulation matrix:

  • Group A: Below basic in IXL + not meeting IM tasks in the same domain/standards

  • Group B: Basic in IXL + partially meeting in IM  in the same domain/standards

  • Group C: Proficient in IXL + meeting IM; OR not proficient/meeting in one or the other

  • Group D: Advanced in IXL + exceeding in IM (Enrichment)

Step 2: Identify Skill Focus

• For Groups A & B: Pinpoint domains, skills or standards for re-teaching (e.g., fractions, geometry) in small groups

• For Group C: Use formative curriculum assessments or error analysis to reteach and prep for future units

• For Group D: Plan acceleration activities or cross-grade challenges

Step 3: Build the Intervention Block

• Assign students to small groups across classrooms or grade bands

• Assign interventionists, paras, teachers, or math specialists to lead focused instruction

• Use targeted tools:

  • IXL skill plans tied to current IM unit

  • IM Center support materials and diagnostic tasks

Step 4: Monitor and Regroup

• Track IXL progress and IM task scores weekly or biweekly

• Use SchoolOps.ai or a spreadsheet to get real-time data on students, visualize trends and determine when students are ready to move groups

🧾 Free Resource: Math Intervention Group Planning Template

This editable template includes:

• Student grouping tab

• Triangulation matrix by domain

• Staff assignments

• Reassessment checkpoints

Sign Up to Get our Math Planning Template + SchoolOpsAI Free Trial

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Too often, math intervention is reactive. But when we combine the right data tools,  like IXL + IM, and make it visual and actionable, it becomes equitable, targeted, and growth-oriented.

School leaders have the power to shape math instruction that works for every learner, and tools like SchoolOps.ai help make that vision doable.