<p>My school didn't rank. Everyone with over a 4.0 was brought up on stage at graduation, and the principal talked a little about each one of them, what they did, what they enjoy in their free time, where they're going to school, etc (like a minute each). It was 10-12 students I believe.</p>
<p>The only student who spoke was voted on by the students.</p>
<p>(warblersrule86, IB art requires a student to make a portfolio and have it externally judged etc. There is an IB music class, but it is theory. A school cannot just call a course an "IB course", but I'm sure it can call whatever it wants "honors"... just to clarify (I was in band too))</p>
<p>Interestingly, the Miami Herald also published the final GPAs of those students. The valedictorian at Braddock, Jonathan Africa, graduated with a 5.91, while Danier Bouza, the valedictorian at Southwest, finished with 5.93. Clearly, the situation is not black and white.</p>
<p>Usually, TPTB choose the Val from among the top ranked students according to weighted GPA. This year, the Val was actually number one, but it doesn't have to be. As for Sal, it's by vote of the seniors and, at least this year, for the person most likely to give a highly entertaining speech!</p>
<p>no weighted GPS … no rankings (do provide colleges a decile though) … no val or sal so no val/sal speeches … two students are selected to give speeches; they can be any graduating senior and I’m not sure who votes but they submit speeches and a couple are selected. The speeches have been very good and made me realize there is no logic behind the val giving the speech other than tradtion (or is that superstituion (bad joke)) … why not pick the student with something useful/entertaining to say … and this is not necessaily the val (certainly not the val of my high school who was a nice guy but basically a GPA grubbing tool and had no social skills or perspective … terrible speech)</p>
<p>We have weighted GPA for class rank only. Val, Sal, & Class president (my D), give speeches along with a short thank you & goodbye from our foreign exchange students.</p>
In a similar fashion our HS has graduating students who were born in another country do a short greeting in their native language (and english) … typically this is about 15-20 students … and is very cool.</p>
<p>my d’s school does not have a val or sal. They do honor those in the top 5% by having them stand, but do not announce what order the students were ranked in. There are three student speakers, two from the top 5% voted on by the others in the top 5% and one at large from the whole class voted on by the teachers. </p>
<p>I have never heard any complaints from anyone except one girl who didn’t understand that the top 5% was figured at the end of 7 semesters instead of 8. She wasn’t there at the end of 7 and was at the end of 8. My opinion is to be there at the end of Jr. year and maintain it through Sr. year and you should be OK.</p>
<p>For God sake: It is only High school! What is the big deal? Do we still remember who the Val and Sal are 30 years ago when we graduated? What really count is getting into a college and study hard, getting a job after graduation from college or move on the graduate school. Come back 30 years from now and see who is laughing after 30 years.</p>
<p>By the way, I did graduate consistently from elementary, middle school and college as either #1 or #2. However, the ones who graduated below me are the ones who made it big and getting filthy rich today. So looking back, does it really matter what I did back then?</p>
<p>S1’s school doesn’t rank… other than for the purpose of determining Val and Sal. Those accolades are determined solely by weighted GPA. Both young men speak briefly at graduation, along with the class president, a member of the faculty, the principal and headmaster.</p>
<p>HS has honor system but actual class rank is on report cards so the kids know. At graduation students get various colors of cords, tassels, and a medal denoting specific honor and also noted in programs with a variety of symbols after name (its fun to see who has the most stuff As a parent of honors students it always amazes me how many students have nothing after their names at graduation-pretty sure most of these kids will be just has happy and successful as my honors girls. I agree with kxc1961-its only high school and no one will care about any of this in a few years.</p>
Totally agree … getting great grades in high school is a great accomplishment but the val/sal tag loses it’s weight after graduation. I have to admit I do remember our Val because he was a bit of a tool (we didn’t have weighted GPAs so he played the system to be the Val and said stuff like "I’m the Val so I’m the smartest) but I also have to admit I have no idea of anyone elses rank other than mine. The value of being Val for our guy didn’t even make it through admissions … he got smoked by a bunch of folks with lower GPAs but much tougher courses on their transcripts. I’ll never forget him because of one (to me) very funny incident given his attitude … I went to high school iin Maryland when UM wasn’t so great so we all wanted to go to UVA … he was sitting in class complaining that noone from my high school would get to go to UVA since he didn’t get in; and someone else in the class spoke up and said that’s not true I know someone from our school who got it … the val asked who and was told “3togo” and the val looked at me with eyes that were daggers … triumph of intellectual ability/interest over gaming the GPA.</p>
<p>No vals, no sals at our public. Senior scholars are the top 10% based on a published formula that considers GPA and ACT test scores. Class president and one of the senior scholars (voted on by the senior scholars) speak at commencement. I’m glad. Back in the day when everyone took the same classes the val/sal thing made sense, but now with all the different classes and formulas I don’t believe there is a “fair” method for calculation. It’s a tradition that is fast fading for all the reasons mentioned.</p>
<p>Nun…I’m curious…what was the reaction on behalf of the senior class last year to this situation? My thoughts are that what should have been a joyous celebration for student #3 was overshadowed and marred by over-controlling parents. I would venture to guess he/she was ostrocized by many of his/her classmates – what a truly unfortunate way to conclude high school. </p>
<p>Our childrens’ very competitive/ranked private prep does not rank the students except for valedictorian salutatorian purposes. This distinction is determined by weighted GPAs. At their school, all APs have the same weight, so if several kids took the same # of APs and made straight As throughout high school, they’d tie for valedictorian and there would be no salutatorian. It varies from year to year. This past year there was one val and one sal. The year before that and '09, there were three vals. The vals (and sals if there are any) give speeches. The senior class president gives the invocation. This is pretty traditional, I believe. That was the set-up back when I graduated. </p>
<p>I get frustrated at people who try to eliminate any/all competion and recognition. These are the same people who want everyone to get the trophies and everyone to always make the team, etc. Aaargh!!! Give me a break! :mad: Life’s competitive – deal with it!</p>
<p>The original post was from 2005! Someone resurrected the thread to vent about Miami Dade HS possibly not ranking to reduce “grade grubbing” (like that will make a difference).</p>
<p>So it is. I think it makes the difference. Not ranking tones it down.</p>
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<p>This is why it doesn’t hurt to keep parents away from HS and limit their involvement in Middle School imo. I agree at some point kids have to accept rankings/competitions.</p>
<p>I don’t see the harm. With al the sports awards it’s nice to see a acknowledgement for academics. What is wrong with good old fashioned competition. I can remember back to the old days of giving prizes in elem. school for highest average by subject. It made you work a little harder. In addition some colleges give special scholarships for vals. & sals.</p>
<p>OK so Sally wants to be the star of a HS sports team, works hard for 4 years, practices year round, gets special coaching…that’s fine.</p>
<p>Sammy wants the leads in the school musicalsl, works hard for 4 years, gets to know the drama and choir directors, takes voice lessons…that’s fine.</p>
<p>Susie wants to be val/sal, works hard for 4 years , takes lots of AP’s…she gets trashed for being a “grade grubber”</p>
As a parent of honors students it always amazes me how many students have nothing after their names at graduation-pretty sure most of these kids will be just has happy and successful as my honors girls. I agree with kxc1961-its only high school and no one will care about any of this in a few years.</p>