@FallGirl I think that there are some kids (or parents) that do game the system. For example I know of kids who did not take environmental science in 8th grade–which was the recommendation for advanced students–but instead took it in 9th grade so it could be taken (and weighted) as an honors class. They doubled it up with honors bio, rather than have a non-honors class in their gpa.
Our school does not send student’s rankings, but does have a val and sal. So that extra 5% bump in a grade could help. Plus the school designates top 5% and 10%tiles.
To me, if that kind of manipulation was done intentionally (and it was), then I would say they gamed the system.