Survey finds schools shying away from naming valedictorians

For years, it's been the crowning achievement of high school students' academic efforts, but a growing number of schools no longer find the practice of naming a valedictorian beneficial to students.

Nearly 50 percent of U.S. schools surveyed for a recent national report no longer rank students, but the tradition still holds a strong grip on Southeast Missouri schools.

High schools, many in suburban areas, have moved away from the practice of class ranking in the past decade, citing concerns about unhealthy competition and the obstacles ranking creates for students who have high grade point averages but aren't named valedictorian or salutatorian.

"But the bottom line is there is good research and reason for us to take a careful look at how these decisions are made," said Dr. Mike Cowan, principal at Central High School. "We have to be open to that here, because many of our kids are competing for top slots in colleges across the country."

Critics of class ranking say students with higher grade point averages from competitive high schools are being passed over for students with lower grade point averages who are valedictorians in less competitive schools because some colleges' admissions policies place much importance on that title.

One of Central High School's top students from the class of 2004 says the valedictorian and salutatorian titles are just a formality.

"There are a lot of things that can make students stand out to colleges. Class ranking is one minor detail," said Sonia Tikoo, salutatorian at Central High School. "Overall, the best students will get the best grades and end up at the top."

Jackson High School 2004 valedictorian Ashley Bartels sees value in the title.

"A lot of people say it's just a name," Bartels said. "But if someone works that hard for it, they deserve the recognition."

Only 53 percent of the nearly 800 high schools across the United States that participated in the National Association of College Admissions Counselors annual State of College Admission report use a class rank system. Many of the respondents indicated they're considering abandoning class rankings.

That trend is also found in colleges and universities. In 1993, class rank was listed as the second most important factor in college admission on the national survey. This year's survey lists class rank as fourth in importance behind college prep course grades, standardized admission test scores and grades in all courses.

Other local schools say they have not considered eliminating the class rank system, although the process of ranking students varies from school to school.

At Eagle Ridge Christian School, students must have a 3.8 grade point average to be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian. If no seniors make that cutoff, the school will not recognize a valedictorian or salutatorian.

This year, four of six graduating Eagle Ridge students made the 3.8 grade point average cutoff, and with such a small class, administrator Janice Margrabe said competition can be tough.

"Sometimes it comes down to grades from their freshman year," said Margrabe. "One grade can be the difference in the whole four years."

Margrabe said her students track each others' grades.

"They're good-natured about it. It's not a bad thing, sometimes it gets other students in gear," Margrabe said.

At Jackson High School, counselor Sarah Nussbaum said the title of valedictorian or salutatorian still carries significant weight for her students applying to colleges. However, because of college scholarship deadlines, many seniors actually use the grade point average from their junior year on applications.

"If you hold the No. 1 spot going into your senior year, you can put it down on an application," Nussbaum said. "Then, if that changes at the end of the year, it's up to the college to award a scholarship or not."

Jackson recognizes not only a valedictorian and salutatorian, but also the top 10 percent of the senior class at graduation. The top 10 percent is based on grade point averages at the end of the students' seventh high school semester, or halfway through their senior year, but valedictorian and salutatorian results are figured after the final semester and announced for the first time at graduation ceremonies.

"It's very competitive because our students are so academically oriented," Nussbaum said. "Some students have valedictorian as a goal before they're even in high school."

cclark@semissourian.com

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