<p>We are investigating the possiblity of going to this type of a system for academic honors as opposed to, or in addition to, the Val/Sal designation.</p>
<p>If you HS uses this system, would you please let me know what is used for the GPA cutoffs at each level?</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>I can tell you that my daughter graduated with "Highest Honors", which meant she had at least a 3.5 (unweighed). She also had a "Four Year Academic Award", which meant she took the four core classes each of the four years, and received no lower than a B in any of them. Actually, she did not take math her senior year, but took 9th grade math in the 8th grade and had four CREDITS of Math, not four YEARS. But they must have counted that anyway.</p>
<p>Each of these awards allowed her to wear an additional cord and/or gold tassel at graduation.</p>
<p>No cords allowed at our graduation except for NHS sash. They can take pictures with cords, etc., at Seniors Award Assembly. We have val/sal and magna, summa, and cum laude. Top 2%, top5% and top 10%. Noted with asterisks next to names in the program, and they graduate in a certain order. Top ten graduates in their order, the rest alphabetically.</p>
<p>My sons attend a private (Jesuit) college prep HS that does not rank students. Valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen by popular vote of the senior class to give speeches at the Senior Awards Assembly (Salutatorian) and at commencement (Valedictorian). This has nothing to do with grades, although the students chosen are usually -- but not always -- in the top 10 - 20% of the class.</p>
<p>At graduation, degrees are distributed in alphabetical order.</p>
<p>To be eligible for "First Honors" designation, a student must have a weighted GPA of 3.9 or higher. This is simply noted in the graduation program with a symbol next to the student's name. Other symbols are used to designate National Merit Semi-Finalist/Finalist or Commended, National Achievement Scholarship Finalist, and National Hispanic Scholar, and National Honor Society member.</p>
<p>Anyone else - please??</p>
<p>Summa: 4.05+ (weighted)
3.90+ (unweighted)</p>
<p>Magna: 3.95-4.049
3.80-3.899</p>
<p>Cum: 3.80-3.949
3.70-3.799</p>
<p>Summa: Top 5%
Magna: Top 10%
Cum Laude: Top 15%</p>
<p>Using weighted GPAs after 15 nine week grading peroids (Each year consists of 4 nine week peroids, two per semester).</p>