Class Rank Elimination Finding to Have Additional Hearing

A class rank task force for Montville schools has made a "very strong recommendation to eliminate class rank" and Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried expects to make a recommendation on the subject to the Board of Education soon.

The task force shared its findings at the April 8 Board of Education meeting, and Fried said the district plans to schedule an additional town meeting for parents.

The finding was reached after conversations with neighboring high-achieving high schools, talks with college admissions offices and review of academic research, Fried said.

Studying class rank's effect on students and on the college admission process was one of the school district's goals for the school year, and the task force was formed to take a closer look at what the district could do to improve the class rank experience for students.

Last year, a similar task force was formed for the district to evaluate the effectiveness of its homework procedures. That task force presented its recommendations in a similar meeting fashion and at a later meeting, the board voted to implement several of the changes recommended, including teachers not giving homework on holiday breaks and several "no homework" nights throughout the year.

In addition to gathering research and meeting to discuss the topic, the task force looking at class rank also hosted a college admission expert who explained to parents the weighting of class rank in the admissions process.