Class Rank and Graduation Recognition

What is class rank?

The College Board defines class rank as “a mathematical summary of a student’s academic record compared to those of other students in the class.” Class rank is a way to see how your academic achievements measure up to those of your classmates.

Your class rank is determined by comparing your GPA to the GPA of the people in the same grade as you. So, if you are a junior and your high school has 500 juniors, each of them will receive a number, 1-500, with the person who has the highest GPA ranked #1. If there are 500 people in your class and your class rank is 235, then 234 of your classmates have a higher GPA than you, 265 classmates have a lower GPA than you, and you are in the 53rd percentile of your class.

Class rank offers a way for colleges to see how your academic achievements compare to those of your classmates. For example, you may attend a high school that gives very few A’s and you have a transcript with mostly B’s and C’s, this may make your GPA lower than the average applicant’s GPA at some colleges. However, admissions officers will see by your high class rank that you were one of the best students in your grade, and this will strengthen your application.

Conversely, if you have straight A’s but only took easy classes or went to a high school that gave many A’s, you may have a great GPA but your class rank may not be particularly high because a lot of your classmates received the same grades you did.

How is class rank calculated?

The following criteria apply to all students in calculating GPAs used in determining class rankings:

1. Students shall receive weighted grade points corresponding to the level of difficulty of the courses taken.

2. A GPA is determined mathematically using all grades earned.

3. The GPA is based on high school courses taken in middle and high schoool through 11th grade and the first semester of the senior year.

Recognition for academic honors shall be given to the following graduating seniors:

1. Valedictorian—highest ranking student

2. Salutatorian—second-highest ranking student

3. Third Honor -- third-highest ranking student

Students must be enrolled full time at the home base school and meet the minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT or equivalent score on the ACT to be eligible for ranking.

Every class taken for high school credit and having a recognized TN course code will be counted in the weighted ranking of students based on a maximum grade of 100 before the weight factor.

To become valedictorian, salutatorian, a student must be enrolled in the high school at least five (5) consecutive semesters preceding the final semester. The final semester shall not be used in determining class standing.

In the event of a tie, class rank will be determined by using weighted numerical grades in Advanced Placement and Honors courses and numerical grades in all other courses according to the grading system. Should there still be a tie, the ACT composite score will be used to determine rank.

Beginning with the Class of 2017, students are recognized at graduation using the Latin Honors system. This system is widely used in the United States and around the world to recognize academic achievement. This method of recognition uses three levels of honors, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude.

The highest level of honor is Summa Cum Laude which means “with highest honor”.

The next level of honor is Magna Cum Laude which means “with great honor”.

The other level of honor is Cum Laude meaning “with praise or with honor”.

The GPA range for attaining each level of honor is established by each school. Students graduating with any of these levels of recognition will wear stoles as part of their academic regalia during the graduation ceremony.

Students attaining these honors will also be recognized in the local newspaper and in the graduation program. All of these students will also be part of a photograph taken prior to the graduation ceremony at each school.

This method of recognition at the graduation ceremony in no way impacts class rank. Students who have an ACT Composite score of 21 or higher will be ranked in accodance with PCSS Board Policy 4.602. Class rank will be noted on the student’s academic records and final transcripts.