Class Rank to Weighted GPA Transition

Nipmuc Regional High School believes in a comprehensive definition of success that goes beyond traditional metrics to include the diverse talents, interests, accomplishments, and growth of students. Additionally, Nipmuc Regional believes that ranking students may have a negative impact on their learning and well-being by limiting their course of study, creating an unhealthy sense of competition among their peers, and encouraging practices that do not align with our district’s beliefs about learning. In alignment with these beliefs, beginning with the Class of 2027, Nipmuc will not rank students.

Nipmuc will calculate a cumulative weighted grade point average (GPA), which will be located on each student’s transcript. The GPA will be calculated at the end of junior year based on this quality point scale. The GPA for students who have transferred to Nipmuc at any point will include grades from the previous school(s). Each year, Nipmuc will include a histogram like the one to the right on the School Profile. The graph will show the number of students in each GPA range from the highest to the lowest GPA in the class. There are 145 students in this sample data set.

Class Rank and College Admissions

Click through the slideshow below to see what college admissions representatives say about using class rank in their admissions decisions.

Perspectives from College Admissions

Sharing Student Success

Nipmuc Regional High School is one of approximately 400 schools across the globe that is a member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC). Nipmuc’s membership in MTC allows students to create Mastery Learning Records - formal school records that highlight each student’s strengths through a personal statement, a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates their accomplishments, and an overview of the skills each student mastered during their high school experience. Mastery Learning Records can be used as part of the college application process or as a part of a job application process as a way to develop and share each student’s story of success with an audience beyond the school.

Valedictorian/Salutatorian

Nipmuc Regional will report the valedictorian and salutatorian for each class in recognition that this information may support students' application for scholarships.

Student Recognition - Portrait of a Learner Awards

In order to celebrate students’ diverse talents, interests, accomplishments, and growth - Nipmuc Regional has developed awards that align with our school’s guiding principles. As part of the celebration of each senior class, students will be recognized with Portrait of a Learner awards. These six awards align with the different competencies in the Mendon-Upton Portrait of a Learner. These awards will be presented annually to students whose Mastery Learning Records highlight unique accomplishments of students as global citizens, mindful learners, skillful collaborators, effective communicators, inspired innovators, or solution seekers.