Final answer:
Being placed on an advanced track can lead to increased motivation due to high expectations and a peer group of similar ability, but it can also lead to decreased self-esteem if it fosters a self-fulfilling prophecy of lower expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the textbook, being placed in an advanced track has several effects on students. While educators often believe that students on an advanced track benefit from being with peers of similar abilities and might receive more individualized attention from teachers, conflict theorists suggest that tracking can perpetuate inequalities. Specifically, these theorists argue that tracking can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies, where students might live up to or down to the expectations set for them by teachers and society. This could result in a range of outcomes, depending on the track a student is placed in, including increased motivation if the expectations are high or decreased self-esteem if the expectations are low.