Moving Away From Class Rank

1. Moving Away From Class Rank Does Class Rank truly tell the whole story for college admissions? Wisconsin Dells Oct. 9, 2012

2. Traditional vs. Weighted

3. Why move away from Class Rank? …because rank is misinterpreted, it can negatively impact students and taint the school atmosphere.

4. Why Change? – Reason #1 • The reliance on class rank in college admissions is misleading and fosters student behaviors that we educators view as counter productive to the learning environment. These include: (1) Avoidance of challenging classes that might impact GPA/Rank. (2) Excessive competition with classmates. (3) An unwillingness to take an intellectual and academic risk. (4) Increased pressure from students and/or parents to inflate and/or change grades. (See chart on next slide)

5. College Ratings of the Importance of Various Factors in the Admission Decision: Fall 2008

6. Why Change? – Reason #2 • Class rank is based on the assumption that all students are taking the same courses taught by the same teacher. This is not true. Students take varying classes, from various teachers and courses are taught on varying levels. Using class rank in this system can bring about inequities.

7. Why Change? – Reason #3 • Cumulative grade-point averages may include courses from other accredited educational organizations or other high schools whose grading policies are not in alignment with ours. Including these courses in the calculation of class rank is inherently unfair.

8. Why Change? – Reason #4 • Without reporting class rank, college admissions offices are forced to review more important factors, such as: • Rigor of the student’s curriculum • Student’s activities and accomplishments • Test scores.

9. Why Change? – Reason #5 • Although college admission offices frequently use class rank as a clear marker for admission; rank is never entirely reliable. Grade changes for one student affect the entire class and the number of students in the class is fluid. Both of these factors make rank less than reliable. • Thus by moving away from class rank we are causing admission offices to take a closer look at our students.

10. Why Change? Reason #6 • Many schools that have changed to the Laude System or similar type systems are reporting higher standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) • Students are applying to and being accepted to “high profile” colleges.

11. Rank vs. Laude Comparison

12. Rank vs. Laude Comparison

14. Nationally and Statewide the Change is Coming • According to a report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) – Nationally, 55% of the high schools do not report class rank and this percentage is growing annually.

15. Change is Coming (cont.) • Closer to home, here are a few of the Wisconsin schools that have moved away from class rank: • Madison West • Edgewood High School • Verona High School • Neenah • Superior • Whitefish Bay High School • Since we started many others are joining the ranks. We have worked with 9 other schools.

16. Our Laude System Policy • Started with the Class of 2011 (started when they were sophomores), the Laude System replaced the out dated class rank system. Class rank will not be routinely provided to colleges for admissions purposes. The transcript will report the student’s cumulative grade point average with an accompanying Laude point score and distinction. A cover letter will be provided to the colleges explaining our Laude System.

17. Laude Overview • We proposed a change to the Laude System from the Class Rank System because it allowed us to recognize and encourage students to take appropriate courses that would better prepare them for the future. This system is a point based system that combines Laude Points with a students GPA, under our normal grading scale. This system rewards a student for taking designated honors courses and the student will earn 1 honor point (per semester) or .5 honor point (per semester) for taking designated honors courses. (Please note that a student must successfully complete the course to earn honors points.) Under the current proposal, students taking Advanced Placement Courses and/or Project Lead the Way Courses will receive 1 honor point per semester for each of these courses taken. For all other courses designated as Advanced Standing or Honors, the student will receive .5 an honors point per semester. (The reason for the difference is that AP and PLTW courses require the teachers to attend special advanced training and the curriculum is nationally audited for rigor.)

18. Laude Overview (cont.) • It is our hope that this system will be a truer system and will allow the recognition of a wider range of students. Under the Laude system students must meet two criteria – under our present system the student must minimally have a 7 semester C.G.P.A of 3.2 and have earned a minimum of 16 honors points (based on career). Once a student meets these requirements they can earn one of the following distinctions: • Cum Laude (With honor/distinction), • Magna Cum Laude (With great honor/distinction) • Summa Cum Laude (With highest honor/distinction).

19. Laude Overview (cont.) • To Qualify for Cum Laude or Higher: A student must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA (7 Semester) and have earned a minimum number of Honor Points (16) (based on career). • Who did the Laude System start with: The committee recommended that this policy would startwith the 09-10 school year and would start with the Class of 2011 (sophomores at that time). Designated Honors courses already taken by a student in the class of 2011 or 2012 were grandfathered in. (In reviewing the designated honors offerings, this had a minimal impact in the final outcome.)

20. Laude Overview (cont.) • All State Honors Scholarship: By law this scholarship still has to be based on GPA, but the Laude system is used as the first tie breaker - Refer to Board Policy 345.52 (Present wording needed to be changed to reflect the Laude System. • 3 Graduation Speakers: The Class President will do one speech, with 2 at large speakers coming from the pool of students that have earned Summa Cum Laude (at 7 semesters). This pool of students will be asked if they are interested in speaking and if they agree they will be placed on a ballot and voted on by the senior class and the HS Faculty. • Distance Learning Courses – Will only be considered if they are offered through River Valley High School or the course has been approved through the AP Audit as a certified Advance Placement Course.

21. Courses and proposed Courses with Laude Point Distinction AP and PLTW courses = 1 honor point per semester for each course completed and passed AP Offerings – U.S. History English Language and Composition English Lit. and Composition Chemistry Environmental Science Calculus Probability and Statistics Music Theory PLTW Offerings - IED – Intro. to Engineering Design POE – Principles of Engineering CIM – Computer Integrated Manufacturing

22. Courses and proposed Courses with Laude Point Distinction (cont.) Adv. Standing and Depart. Designated Honors Courses = ½ honor point per semester for each course completed and passed. Advanced Standing Offerings – Animal Health and Nutrition (All presently offered) Crop and Soil Science Accounting 1 Accounting 2 Accounting 3 Computer Business Applications 1&2 Electronics Independent Auto Technology Transportation Welding 3 Elementary Algebra w/Applications Media in Business

23. Courses and proposed Courses with Laude Point Distinction (cont.) Newly Designated Honors Offerings – Foreign Language – Spanish 3/4/5 and French 3/4 Business – Accounting 3 Math – Math 4 and Algebra 2 Science – Physics, Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology English – Accelerated English 9 and 10 (sunset 2010-11) Social Studies – World History Music – Honors Band and Choir Art – Honors Studio Art

24. Will Colleges Accept This System? • Yes – without the neat indicator of rank admissions officer will have to look closer at applicants and consider the following: • Rigor of curriculum • Test Scores • Recommendations • High School Record • Talents and Activities • Mitigating Factors • Personal Essays

25. Will this Help or Hurt our Students? • Based on the information we have gathered from our personal observations and from other schools who have moved away from Class Rank – the resounding answer is that it will help. • This new system causes colleges to look beyond class rank and take a closer look at the students full body of work. • Other schools have seen a higher acceptance rate to colleges and especially to the more competitive colleges.

26. In Conclusion • High Schools must find a way to make colleges look beyond a student’s class rank and to make them more aware of students’ achievements and future potential (advice from the College Board). • This system will do this, and it gives colleges a clearer picture of a students’ academic rigor/achievement.

27. In Conclusion (cont.) • The statistical shortcomings of high school rank are enough in themselves to make the use of rank in a college admission dubious. • We can provide admissions offices with well documented information that places the student’s performance and accomplishments in context of his or her opportunities without jeopardizing their chances of admission to appropriate post secondary institutions.

28. Laude Honors Courses • AP and PLTW courses = 1 honor point per semester for each course completed and passed • AP Offerings – U.S. History • English Language and Composition • English Literature and Composition • Chemistry • Music Theory • Environmental Science • Calculus • Probability and Statistics • Advanced Placement Prerequisites: • AP Chemistry - Chemistry, Physics, and Algebra II or consent of instructor. • AP Language/Literature and Composition - B or better in Accelerated English 9 and Accelerated English 10 and current English teacher’s recommendation. • AP Environmental Studies – B in Biology and Taken or enrolled in Chemistry and/or Applied Chemistry/Physics • AP U.S. History – B or Better in U.S. History • AP Calculus – Successful completion of Math 4 (B or better). Consent of instructor if below a B in Math 4, approval will be based on: Work ethic, Attitude, Likelihood of success. Consent of instructor may occur in special cases • AP Music Theory – Membership in a performing ensemble, Junior/Senior status, strong knowledge and practice of reading music. • AP Probability and Statistics - Successful completion of Algebra II (C or better). Consent of instructor if enrolled in Algebra II, approval will be based on: Work ethic, Attitude, Likelihood of success. Consent of instructor may occur in special cases. • PLTW Offerings - IED – Introduction to Engineering Design • POE – Principles of Engineering • CIM – Computer Integrated Manufacturing Adv. Standing Courses= ½ honor point per semester for each course passed with a B or better in the course to receive the honor credit) • Animal Health and Nutrition • Crop and Soil Science • Accounting 1 • Accounting 2 • Accounting 3 • Computer Business Applications 1&2 • Electronics Independent • Auto Technology • Transportation • Welding 3 • Newly Designated Departmental Honors Courses– ½ honor point per semester for each course passed. • Foreign Language – Spanish 3/4/5 and French ¾ • Business – Accounting 3 • Math – Math 4 and Algebra 2 • Science – Physics, Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology • English – Accelerated English 9 and 10 • Social Studies – World History • Music – Honors Band and Choir • Art – Honors Studio Art (May be AP pending audit)

29. How Do I Calculate My Laude Score? Reminders: • - You must have a 3.2 cumulative G.P.A. or higher and a score of at least 16 honor • points Laude status. Any students with a GPA of 3.1 or less will not have honors points • calculated toward a Laude score. Please Note – Final Laude Scores are based on 7th semester • CGPA and 8th semester honor points. If after final 8th semester calculations are calculated • and a student ‘s 8th semester CGPA qualifies them for a Laude score /distinction they will receive • certificate after graduation and their Laude Distinction will be noted on their final transcript. • - You must successfully pass and complete a class to receive the designated honor • points. • Add up the number of honor points you have earned • My total honors points: • Multiply your total number of honor points by your cumulative G.P.A.   • My cumulative G.P.A. • My Total Laude Score: • Laude Distinctions: • ● Summa Cum Laude (With Highest Honor/Distinction), 50 or more honor points • ● Magna Cum Laude (With Great Honor/Distinction), 32 – 49.99 honor points  • ● Cum Laude (With Honor/Distinction), 16 – 31.99 honor points

30. Laude Honors Chart

31. Contact Information Kim Kaukl River Valley High School 660 Varsity Blvd. Spring Green, WI 53588 kkaukl@rvschools.org 608-588-2554 ext. 224