VALEDICTORIAN REQS

​Valedictorian/Class Rank

Students who hope to be considered for valedictorian must notify their counselor early in high school and develop a personal plan of study. While counselors support academic planning, we do not advise students on how to “become” valedictorian, as we cannot guarantee course availability or future grades. Students may face difficult choices when balancing interests, rigor, and requirements.  The valedictorian will be the student who takes the most weighted courses with the highest weighted GPA.  If Valedictorian is your student’s goal, they should consider taking both honors Earth Science and Biology in 9th grade.  Due to scheduling limits, not every course may not offered every year, making early planning critical. The total number of AP/Honors courses completed with A’s can vary.

Class of 2023 Valedictorians completed 17 weighted courses with As. 

Class of 2024 Valedictorian completed 20 weighted courses with As.

Class of 2025 Valedictorian completed 19 weighted courses with As. 

Valedictorian Criteria:

• Must earn at least 24 high school credits, including all graduation requirements.

• Weighted GPA is used (A=5.0 in AP/Honors courses).

• Valedictorian is based on GPA after eight semesters:

  1. Weighted grades are included first.

  2. Non-weighted grades are added to reach 24 total credits.

  3. Additional non-weighted A’s beyond 24 credits are excluded.

• In the event of a tie, multiple valedictorians will be named.

Note: The GPA used for valedictorian is for school use only and will not appear on the transcript. Valedictorian and class rank are determined separately.  The title of Valedictorian may not include a class rank of 1. Similarly, a class rank of 1 listed on a student’s transcript does not mean s/he will be the valedictorian.

While being named valedictorian is an impressive academic accomplishment, it represents just one measure of success in high school. Our greater goal is to help students build strong academic foundations, pursue their interests, and prepare for future opportunities—whether in college, career, or beyond.

We encourage students to challenge themselves appropriately, focus on learning, and choose courses that align with their goals and passions, not solely for rank or title. Every student’s journey is unique, and there are many meaningful ways to stand out and succeed.