“The goal would be to have a higher rank and possible valedictorian-ship within the high school” - the HSs that do not rank, obviously do not use val’s, sal’s labeling. The top of the class, #1 ranked is determined by college. It may be obvious without any labeling. If you are one of those with GPA=4.0uw, which is the highest possible GPA at the school that does not weigh and there is not way under sky that you take only easy classes as even Regular classes at such school are taught at the higher level than most other schools teach their AP classes, then you are a val., but only in your own head and only by the college determination.
I am NOT talking about some kind of hypothetical HS that exists only in my brain, I am talking about actual HS that also happen to offer college classes in collaboration with one of the top 4 year college in the same state. Here is the description of this particular college straight from the internet: “A highly selective liberal arts college offering students an academically challenging curriculum”. The college credits received in these classes have this top college name attached to them. While they are taught to classes full of HS students (full may mean 10 - 15 kids), they are also taught by instructors who have been teaching at colleges.
Isn’t it an awfully attractive and rewarding game to play?
Taking the health class at the Community College is NOT attractive or rewarding by any stretch of imagination and I feel sorry for the kids who are engaged in such an unrewarding activity. In my eyes, they are losing the focus what is HS should be about.