Class Rank

The following provisions shall apply to students in the graduating classes of 2022 only.

Class rank is determined by averaging all grades earned in courses taken in grades 9–12 for high school credit, including the summer immediately preceding the beginning of grade 9, that satisfy the Foundation Plan with an Endorsement graduation requirements, to a maximum of 26 credits, with the following exclusions: courses evaluated as pass/fail; local credit courses; or courses with grades exempted in accordance with a student’s individualized education plan (IEP).

A student’s class rank is calculated and based on an incremental denominator using the grades from eligible courses that will produce the highest weighted numerical grade average.

Courses are categorized as Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 and assigned weights are applied to semester grades. The weighted grade average is rounded to the nearest thousandths place. Unweighted numerical grades are recorded on student’s official documents, such as progress reports, report cards, and transcripts.

In order to receive honor graduate recognition, including valedictorian and salutatorian, a student must have completed the Foundation Plan with the Distinguished Level of Achievement and be ranked in the top 15 percent of his or her graduating class based on an unrounded cumulative average. The student’s class rank will be calculated through the third nine-week grading period of the senior year to determine honors conferred during graduation activities. The grade for the third nine-week grading period is used as the semester grade for this purpose.

Tier 1: AP^® and dual credit courses are increased by eighteen (18) points per full semester completed.

Tier 2: Honors/PreAP^® and capstone CTE courses are increased by ten (10) points per full semester completed.

Tier 3: Full-year on-level core, elective, and CTE courses and semester courses required for graduation are increased by two (2) points per full semester completed.

Tier 4: All other eligible courses are included and the actual grade earned is used in the calculation of the student’s weighted grade average.

When a student transfers grades for properly documented courses from an accredited school, the campus will assign weight to grades based on the categories and grade weight system used if similar or equivalent courses are offered to the same class of students.

When a student transfers from a non-accredited school, including a home school, the District shall accept and/or assign grades in accordance with administrative regulations. See the BISD Secondary Grading & Reporting guidelines for more information.

The following provisions shall apply to students beginning with the graduating class of 2023 and beyond

The District shall only rank the top ten percent of the graduating class.

The District shall include in the calculation of weighted grade average semester grades earned in high school credit courses taken at any grade level that satisfy graduation requirements under the foundation program, unless excluded below, up to a maximum of 20.5 credits with the following exclusions: The calculation of class rank shall exclude grades earned in any course for which a pass/fail grade is assigned, any local credit courses, or any course with grades exempted in accordance with a student's IEP.

The calculation shall include failing grades.

A student's weighted grade average shall be calculated in accordance with administrative regulations and based on an incremental denominator using the grades from eligible courses that shall produce the highest weighted numerical grade average

The District shall categorize and weight eligible courses as Advanced courses and On-Level courses in accordance with provisions of this policy and as designated in appropriate District publications.

Advanced Courses: Eligible AP, Honors, and dual credit courses shall be categorized and weighted as Advanced courses. (Multiplied by 1.1)

On-Level: All other eligible courses shall be categorized and weighted as On-Level courses. (Multiplied by 1.0)

The District shall record unweighted numerical grades on student transcripts.

For additional information, see class ranking policy at EIC (LOCAL).