The goal should be to recognize as many people as possible at graduation. Students will be recognized in the program who at Honor Roll Graduates (3.0 or higher), Cum laude 3.2 -3.5, Magna Cum laude 3.5 - 3.7, Summa Cum laude 3.7 - 4.0, and as Senior Scholars (GPA and ACT formula listed below) This promotes students take challenging courses and not just protecting a GPA as well as showcases many more students at graduation.
Change from Valedictorian and Salutatorian to Senior Scholars
Beginning with the Class of 2004, the High School will use a formula for selecting students for top academic honors that has been used in the past to determine Academic All-State candidates. This formula uses a point system that consists of the students GPA and ACT/SAT score. The vast majority of students take the ACT, not the SAT. (Example: GPA 4.0 x 250 = 1000 points + ACT score of 36 x 27.778 = 1000 points for a total of 2000 points.) If a student takes both the ACT and SAT, we will use the test score that gives the student the higher number of points. This process is an extremely valid indicator of students academic success. If the ACT, SAT, or MASSP change to a new state approved formula, we will change to that formula as well. A rank in class will still be calculated for college enrollment purposes only.
Speakers at graduation will be chosen from the Summa Cum laude graduates (3.7 or above). The students will be contacted and asked to nominate 3 others from the group to speak at graduation. Based on the results of the student nominations, a group of teachers will interview the top choices and select at least a minimum of 3 student speakers. It is already understood that the tradition of the class president and student council president will speak as well.
The student handbook would read:
Our high school honors and values high academic achievement at its graduation ceremony. Students who maintain a Summa Cum laude GPA of a 3.7 or higher are eligible for the Senior Scholars Award. At the end of the second term of their senior year, students with honor graduate status will have their GPA and ACT scores calculated into a list. These students will be individually honored at the graduation ceremony. As in all other GPA calculations, there will be no rounding of GPA or points.