<p>Our school doesn’t rank students at all. Here is the criteria our schools uses:</p>
<p>“The valedictorian is selected at the beginning of May by the assembled faculty. Academic GPA through the senior year among students who have been at the school since at least the beginning of 10th grade is the primary criterion for selecting the valedictorian. Personal conduct and positive participation in the school’s culture and activities are also considered; negative facts (such as a serious act of misconduct, especially academic dishonesty, at any point in a student’s record) may be considered as disqualifying. The faculty reserves the right to not award the top academic student if the faculty determines that another high-level academic student stands as a considerably better character example to the community. It is possible for co-valedictorians to be selected. The faculty may also select a salutatorian from the senior class, a student of high distinction beneath the valedictorian.”</p>
<p>As you can see, this can be very subjective. Some people hate that this is not black and white and there can be some perceived "favoritism. But if a school does not truly rank there students, how else can they do it? Is this similar to how other schools who don’t rank students select the valedictorian?</p>
<p>Schools that don’t rank still can “rank” students for selecting a valedictorian. It’s not that hard to sort the GPA UW/W whatever the case maybe.</p>
<p>I think “we don’t rank” just means that they don’t publish the rankings they calculate. But if they said it like that they’d probably get more people whining about wanting to see it anyway. </p>
<p>9 years ago DS ended up third. The top three had the same number of AP classes, honors classes, and A’s in everything. #1 opted to take electives, including study hall, that were P/F, #2 did a few that way, and DS took unweighted yearbook class (editor for 3 years) and choir, and GPA dropped. We all felt that was really unfair.</p>
<p>On the plus side, he cleaned up the department awards and val and sal received nothing.</p>
<p>My school doesn’t have a valedictorian due to a lame tie in the past where they didn’t want to have co-validictorians, so they removed the position all together. It’s really stupid, especially considering that the justification is now that they don’t want to leave any of the top students out because of others working hard too.</p>
<p>Why? Because I have taken more credits than them. That’s right, I am being put at a disadvantage for taking summer school every summer just so I can take as many AP classes as all the others. </p>
<p>^
Happens to me too. I hate how my GPA is lower because I have more credits, but it’s just something that happens I guess.</p>
<p>My county and school doesn’t rank. Yes, they truly don’t rank. There is no valedictorian. period. We have a keynote speaker, student speakers that apply to speak, and the SGA and class officers. </p>
<p>^Same. My school got rid of val, sal, and all rankings about a decade ago. Class officers speak, and distinguished graduates (4.0+ GPA) can submit a speech if they want to speak. Honestly, I think it works better that way because there would be a tie otherwise. </p>
<p>I feel like having a valedictorian is somewhat pointless these days because so many kids have such high GPAs and whatnot. It’s not so much as trying to make every kid feel special as it is just being a big headache.</p>
<p>At my school you need to apply to be valedictorian and grades are just a one consideration. Last year we ended up with 3 valedictorians, it’s super rigged and depends on how much teachers like you. </p>
<p>At our school, everyone with a 4.0 is valedictorian, so this year we’ve got 15-20. Last year, one of our valedictorians didn’t take any advanced weighted classes whatsoever. </p>
<p>It’s not a big deal to me. It’s just a title to collect, and I’d much rather have my 3.95 with the most rigorous classes than a 4.0 with easy classes.</p>
<p>My school ranks but ranks aren’t taken into consideration for either title. The graduating class votes six people in and then the principal picks two students to speak. </p>
<p>So in a way, your school’s system is better than the one in my school.</p>
<p>My school follows a similar, flawed system. It’s really unfair, because I have taken way more (numerically) and more difficult classes than my peers, yet I am ranked behind some of them because I took an extra non-weighted class. My schedule is FAR more rigorous than my peers and my UWGPA is a 4.0. Outside of school, I have achieved WAY more than they have (from an objective perspective). Even being at a sub-par high school, I will end up not being valedictorian, even when everyone in my grade knows I have the highest level of achievement.
I’ve been advocating for a change to the system, but the bureaucracy that is public school will take a long time to fix this. </p>
<p>Honestly, I’m not sure Val/Sal is a bureaucracy worth fixing. It’s just a title in the end. Care about how much more you have gained from your work and grades and all, and know it will serve you better in the end. Isn’t that what really is the intent of the title? To signify someone who is highly achieving and ready for life? If you know you are, you don’t need a title to tell you that.</p>