Stakeholder Forum High School Class Rank Fred Heid, Superintendent

Background In November, we recommended to the D300 Board of Education that class rank be eliminated. We also recommended that the recognition of valedictorian and salutatorian be eliminated. Both changes are recommended to go into effect for the class of 2019 (incoming freshmen). No change for the classes of 2018, 2017, and 2016.

Why Eliminate Class Rank? Rank encourages unhealthy competition, not healthy collaboration. Rank discourages exploration of a well-balanced course of study. A mismatch exists between students’ perceptions of its importance and the reality in admissions offices, thereby creating unnecessary stress. Colleges report that class rank is one of the least important factors for admission. By removing class rank from the equation, colleges are forced to take a more holistic look at the student.

Districts that have Eliminated Rank 86 Hinsdale Central and South 95 Lake Zurich 99 Downers Grove North and South 202 Evanston 203 New Trier 113 Deerfield and Highland Park 115 Lake Forest 117 Antioch and Lakes 121 Warren 125 Stevenson 128 Libertyville and Vernon Hills 200 Wheaton North and Wheaton- Warrenville 200 Oak Park-River Forest 203 Naperville Central and North 204 Indian Plains, Metea, Neuqua, and Waubonsie 204 Lyons 205 York 207 Maine East, South, and West 211 Conant, Fremd, Palatine, Schaumburg 214 Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Hersey, Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling 219 Niles North and West 220 Barrington 225 Glenbrook North and South 303 St. Charles East and North 304 Geneva

Importance of Class Rank (Colleges rating “considerably important”) Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

Recommendations from the National Association of Secondary School Principals Guiding Principles: Schools should hold high expectations for all students and should promote academic excellence for each and every student, not just a select few. Students should assume a well-rounded, rigorous, and challenging course of study that consists of core academic courses as well as a variety of elective courses. Schools should encourage and recognize academic excellence in a spirit of cooperation, not intense competition that sets one student against another. Weighted grades [should] not be used to sort students and determine who receives recognition. The success of one student should not be at the expense of another student. Source: E. Hoover, Class Rank, GPA, and Grading

Recommendation: Establishment of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude Instead of valedictorian and salutatorian recognition, we recommend establishment of Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude recognition. Students with outstanding academic records will receive honors upon graduation. To qualify, students must meet the cumulative grade-point averages specified below and have no failures or incompletes. Honors recognition will be awarded as follows: Cum Laude = 3.50 to 3.69 GPA (unweighted) Magna Cum Laude = 3.70 to 3.84 GPA (unweighted) + other factors Summa Cum Laude = 3.85 to 4.00 GPA (unweighted) + other factors Additional factors to be included in Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude may include items like attendance, citizenship, volunteerism, extra-curricular involvement, and enrollment in challenging classes; we are interested in your feedback on these items. The appropriate graduation honors will be indicated on the diploma and on final transcripts, beginning with Class of 2019.

Next Steps Compile community feedback Make recommendation to the D300 Board