Class Level Expectations, an explanation for students and parents 
The music educators at Lincoln-Way East High School have outlined what every student should be able to do by the conclusion of each school 
year. These benchmarks are known as Class Level Expectations (CLE’s). The purpose of CLE’s is for students to have 
meaningful feedback about their progress and for teachers to have a tool at which to better assess student growth 
against. Placement in high school ensembles is measured by the number of students with high CLE’s. 
Every unit, students must “pass off” a specific number of CLE’s (the exact number depends on the instrument). Students 
can move as fast as they want through the curriculum as long as they meet the requirements. Parents are encouraged 
to check frequently with student progress during each school year. 

An example of CLE’s in Band:
Freshman Perform all major scales, two octaves, at quarter note = 120bpm
Sophomores Perform all minor scales, two octaves, at quarter note = 140bpm
Juniors Perform IMEA scales at quarter note = 120bpm