<p>ellemenope, Ranking is not just for Val/Sat. The fact is that ranking is very important to selective colleges/universities, even though they don't want to admit this.</p>
<p>At my S's public HS a single B dropped one out of the top 10% (no weighting of AP or honors courses, though most kids load up with as many as possible), and there were over 40 valedictorians. Since most kids, even those ranked 185/405, were placed in top 20 schools (many not in top 10% at Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Chicago, etc.), I'm not sure that ranking is as important as how an overall transcript is evaluated,</p>
<p>Idad, your s must in one of those so-called ivy feed high schools. Ranking is the way to go if your high school is less known to selective colleges.</p>
<p>wzzzz, even at high schools which are not "Ivy-feed" schools, rank has become less and less important to the colleges during the admissions process. So many high schools do NOT rank now, many are in the situation which idad describes where there are multiple vals, it's become less and less of a factor. The so-called 'distinction' has lost its distinction, so to speak.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, I believe most parents in cc, would try to help their s or d to improve ranks if their schools use weighted gpa. I wish I knew the CC when my son was freshman in high school.</p>
<p>Guess I'm in the minority of cc parents. I couldn't tell you what my Son's rank is right now. I'm just making sure he's challenging himself, but also not taking classes just because he thinks they are what the adcoms want.</p>
<p>wzzzz, I honestly don't know what most parents on CC would do to 'help' their childrens' rank. We never focussed on that as parents of our 4 Ds, the three of whom who are already in college all were accepted by selective schools. Their schools did not focus on rank either, and they were not at schools which had multiple vals and sals. Frankly, I think it has gotten ridiculous in many areas of the country, and that is why it has lost any real meaning to many college admissions departments. </p>
<p>Iderochi, I share your minority status. :)</p>
<p>wzzzz: My S's school is an inner city public, that while known to top tier colleges, would not be considered a feeder school.</p>
<p>lderochi, I agree with you 100%. My point is that each school system should inform all parents about its ranking system in the freshman year. As for parents and students, they can make their own decisions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Each school system should inform all parents about it's ranking system in the freshman year.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Lol - our school changes their system every year! Now they've stopped giving extra points for honors classes but started doling out extra points for good results on the state standardized tests. Try explaining <em>that</em> to colleges!</p>