Schools

Students Won't Know Class Rank Under Proposed Policy

Proposal is meant to change academic culture at Montville Township High School.

A new policy that would end the practice of Montville Township High School students knowing their class rank and having it reported on their student records and transcripts could become official this month.

The proposed change was introduced at the June 18 Board of Education meeting and could be adopted by the board at its July 23 meeting after a second reading, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Casey Shorter said.

The new policy is meant to change the culture at the high school, where class rank can be a distraction, discourage students from taking non-weighted classes they're passionate about, be defeating for those ranked at the bottom, and not necessarily an accurate reflection of how well students are doing, according to findings of a task force that explored the issue.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried listed some of the findings when explaining why he was recommending the elimination of class rank.

It also could mean some students whose college applications would be dismissed based on class ranking will be given a closer look, officials said.

Despite the criticism of class rank, the district still will rank students by GPA for when reporting class rank is required for students to apply for certain colleges or scholarships, the proposal says. And the district would continue its tradition of naming the class valedictorian and salutatorian, Fried has said.

The new policy does end the policy of class rank being reported to students, and on transcripts.

"Class rank shall not be reported to individual students or any outside institution or organization except where such reporting is required for application to such institution or organization," it says. "... Rank in class shall not be entered on students’ records or transcripts."

The existing policy (PDF) says, "Rank in class shall be entered on students’ records and on all transcripts in whole numbers."

The new policy also omits a line saying the board acknowledges the usefulness of informing students "of their relative academic placement among their peers."

It adds, "The Board further acknowledges that some scholarship granting organizations and similar institutions require students to report their class rank in order to qualify for scholarships, grants or other such benefits."

The proposed policy is below:

5430. CLASS RANK AND GRADE POINT AVERAGES

The Board acknowledges the usefulness of a system of computing grade point averages and class ranking for secondary school graduates to provide students, prospective employers, and institutions of higher learning with a predictive device so that each student is more likely to find himself in an environment conducive to success.

The Board further acknowledges that some scholarship granting organizations and similar institutions require students to report their class rank in order to qualify for scholarships, grants or other such benefits.

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Class Rank

The Board authorizes a system of class ranking, by grade point average, for students in grades nine through twelve. All students shall be ranked together. Class rank shall be computed by the final grade in all subjects for which credit is awarded.

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Any two or more students whose computed grade point averages are identical shall be given the same rank. The rank of the student who immediately follows a tied position will be determined by the number of students preceding him/her and not by the rank of the person preceding him/her.

Grades earned in summer school programs shall not be included for calculation of class rank.

Class rank shall not be reported to individual students or any outside institution or organization except where such reporting is required for application to such institution or organization.

Grade Point Averages

In recognition of the heavier burden of advanced work, grade point averages shall be weighted by awarding extra credit for each AP and honors course as follows:

Grades            AP Courses        Honors            Other

A+     97-100            5.3                     4.8              4.3

A     93-96                 5.0                     4.5              4.0

A-     90-92                4.7                     4.2              3.7

B+     87-89                4.3                     3.8              3.3

B     83-86                 4.0                     3.5              3.0

B-    80-82                3.7                     3.2              2.7

C+     77-79                3.3                     2.8              2.3

C     73-76                 3.0                     2.5              2.0

C-     70-72                2.7                     2.2              1.7

D+     67-69               2.3                     1.8              1.3

D     63-66                1.0                     1.0              1.0

D-     60-62              0.7                    0.7              0.7

F     Below 60         0            0               0

 

A student’s grade point average shall be entered on his record and shall be subject to the Board’s policy on release of student records. Rank in class shall not be entered on students’ records or transcripts.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures for the computation of grade point averages to implement this policy. He/she shall prepare a statement of the methods for such computation and assignment to be made available for those to whom a student’s grade point average or rank in class is released.

Grades earned in summer school programs shall not be included for calculation of class rank.



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