<p>"I think it's in poor taste to throw a tantrum about graduation honors, no matter how unfair the system might be. High school sucks in general. That's not news. It's moot now, and you can move on to more important things."</p>
<p>I agree. It speaks to character. The school had a nice solution.</p>
<p>I just watched the video and don't think she came across badly at all. Based on what she said, I hope her parents have consulted a lawyer to determine the exact wording of the Texas law- she may well have a case if the law only states that the scholarship must go the graduate(not senior) with the highest GPA.</p>
<p>My former District in TX did the following: The early grad received a rank, but it did not affect the rank of the 4-yr. grads. In this case, she would have been ranked #1, but NOT val. The 4-yr grad with the #1 rank would be val.</p>
<p>She is a Dedman Distiguished scholar at UT, which will mean about $40,000 for her over 4 years. The 4 year Val is also going to UT. And I was mistaken-he is going to be in the Honors Program at UT but she isn't (or at least didn't mention it in her bio).</p>
<p>Last night on the news they showed her transcript on TV, for the purpose of showing "RanK: 1." I was trying to read as much of it as I could in the seconds that I had. (My kids said, "This is why we should have Tivo...") Anyway, I was able to see that she took AP English Lit as a Freshman or possibly a sophomore. "No one" is allowed to take that class before Senior year. If you aren't in a sport, there are limited electives offered to the Freshman...my son had to take Art in 9th grade, just to fill up his schedule. He's such a reader, he probably would have done pretty well in AP English Lit...I didn't know I could request such a thing.</p>
<p>My point is that this young lady has been allowed to take courses that would boost her GPA that others are not allowed to take. I think she should be content and proud.</p>
<p>As for the statement about taking HS classes in middle school, in MS they can take Spanish I, HS math (Algebra or Geometry), IPC (no longer allowed but was back then) and Keyboarding (1/2 credit.) So at most she got 3 1/2 HS credits in MS. If she took more HS classes in MS, exceptions were made for her.</p>
<p>pipmom, I'd tell her to save her money. It's a straight-out 100% loser.</p>
<p>IMO dad's a bigtime whiner and is embarrassing his daughter. Mine would have sewed me in the bedsheets and beat me with a mop handle.</p>
<p>AND they BOTH are going to go to UT Austin!</p>
<p>I get so irritated about the "exceptions." I know someone who's trying to get her son out of a required course for sophomores so he can take something else he'd prefer. Well, my son would have loved to have gotten out of that required course, too! I don't know whether she was successful. I certainly hope not. </p>
<p>A sense of entitlement is pet peeve of mine. Rules are for "others."</p>
<p>All the AP tests and brains in the world don't make up for a lack of grace, and given that the school created a special honor for her, the family needs to act with grace and class and move on, already. Calling the newspapers and getting all bent out of shape is tacky, and speaks to the kind of people who just want to amass honors to amass honors. Aren't her positive accomplishemnts enough?</p>
<p>I agree, Youdon'tsay. I think that if the school requires something stupid, the parents should BAND TOGETHER and try to get the thing changed for everyone. You know how Texas requires that Communications Applications (speech) class? The kids who take debate and oral interp think it is ridiculous that they have to take Comm App, because they are already doing what the class teaches, but at a higher level. (The oral interp class even uses the same textbook!) That seems like a situation where the parents need to band together and do something.</p>
<p>At our school, debate is an allowed substitute for Speech class.</p>
<p>Yes, as a Dedman Distinguished Scholar she will get a 13,000/year scholarship renewable for 4 years provided she maintains a 3.5 GPA. In addition, as a National Merit Semi-Finalist, she would get 1000 for freshman year. As an NMF, which she won't be till next year at best, she would get 3000 for freshman year and 4000 every year thereafter as long as she's enrolled full time. Given UT's costs- there is still anywhere from 8-10K uncovered on the table. I think the Val scholarship could be used for that. The Dedman, however, cannot be combined with any other UT scholarship. </p>
<p>She is in an Honors program at UT. UT has several Honors programs- 2 in Liberal Arts,1 in Engineering, 1 in Business, etc. As a Dedman, she is either in Plan II or Liberal Arts Honors. I think I remember Plan II for her. </p>
<p>Clearly she took courses early. This is not that unusual if she met the requirements for taking them. She may have done summer school or an online course- Texas has a number of these available and schools will give credit for them. At my d's Texas school, grades obtained during these types of courses are not considered in the GPA, although they fulfill graduation requirements. Apparently at Anjali's school, these types of grades would factor into the GPA. Again, rules are rules and apparently they're not the same at every public school in Texas. </p>
<p>I think the way the school handled it for the graduation ceremony is fine, allowing her to receive the honor and make a speech. In my mind, the real issue is the Texas Valedictorian scholarship. As she said in the video- she is ranked #1, but will not be submitted as the Val to the TEA- Texas Education Agency that governs the Val scholarship. </p>
<p>I think she deserves that money. I also think that because the school districts' policy did not fairly account for this type of student, the young man should also get the money. Believe me, there's enough money since so many Vals in Texas don't go to college here.</p>
<p>TEA</a> Correspondence Item
[quote]
It is the district's responsibility to determine the highest ranking student. Under no circumstances should a student ranked lower than "highest" be given these two documents. Determination of which student is named "highest ranking graduate" at each high school is a decision which rests strictly with the local district. Local school boards should adopt and adhere to a policy that outlines the criteria for determining honor graduates and the method by which a student is selected. State law contains no provision that give the Commissioner of Education or the Texas Education Agency any decision making authority in this area. Students should present the declaration to the college or university upon admission and retain the certificate for personal use.</p>
<p>Declarations are numbered and recorded to your district. You should receive a sufficient number of certificates and declarations to award one per high school in your district. Each high school may award only one student except in the case of a tie as specified in the Attorney General's opinion below:</p>
<p>An institution of higher education is authorized to issue scholarships to more than one person in any case in which the relevant school district certifies a tie for the title of "highest ranking graduate," pursuant to Section 54.201 of the Texas Education Code.</p>
<p>Although this opinion authorizes the issuance of more than one certificate in the event of a tie for "highest ranking graduate," the criteria for identifying such students must be stringently applied. It is the district's responsibility to establish a selection process that will result in the identification of the single "highest ranking graduate." In rare cases in which more than one student meets the district's criteria for selection, two certificates may be issued; however, in no event will more than two certificates be issued for one high school.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As I said , it's a loser. I did see that in some rare occurrence that I can't actually fathom happening under most usual rules, 2 can be issued. I was not aware of that. This would not be such a case.</p>
<p>Cur- what happens if two people have the exact same GPA and meet whatever other requirements there are in place in the district for Val? The principal cannot submit both names? That would be really unfair, particularly if both are planning on attending Texas schools.</p>
<p>There aren't any "weighted" courses offered here in summer school-only "regular". Dual enrollment (with a community college) courses are not weighted, nor are extension/online courses.</p>
<p>Pipmom, it would be a real longshot that kids would have idential GPAs (from first grade on they get number-not letter-grades.) But who knows, they are probably busy drafting a tie-breaker policy right now!</p>
<p>Thanks, cur. didn't see you post till after mine. </p>
<p>Missypie- Again another example of how the rules are different depending on what public school and system a student attends. Are you in her district?</p>
<p>One thing that is pretty incredible is how many of our Sals and Vals stay close for college. This year our district has one Dartmouth, but then 2 UTs, one A&M and one University of Oklahoma. Last year our Val went to Baylor.</p>
<p>Cur- you're right- this case would not be a Tie situation and the law clearly puts determination at the school district level. She could, however, challenge the School District's determination of "highest ranking graduate". Probably wouldn't get anywhere there either, though.</p>
<p>Yes, Pipmom, we're in the same district. There are two HS and my kids go to the other one, but the course offerings, weighting policies, etc. are identical.</p>
<p>Missypie- the two last year were identical in GPA. Both were 100% HISD students. But, no real issue over who would get the scholarship since both went out of state. </p>
<p>This year- Val will go to Yale, Sal to Rice. #3 - Princeton. Her class rank issue, while painful, did no real harm. </p>
<p>Again- in my mind re: Anjali is not whether the situation hurts, but does it do harm? Depending on her financial situation, of which I know nothing, it may be causing harm.</p>