William Tennent High School Class Rank and GPA

William Tennent High School Class Rank and GPA

WTHS Class of 2013 • Currently the graduating class is not ranked. • There are 3 levels of distinction for the graduating class: – 3. 9+= Summa Cum Laude (~98%) – 3. 6+= Magna Cum Laude (~92%) – 3. 3+= Cum Laude (~86%)

Current Issues • At WTHS, we do not have a numerical rank which has translated into us not having a valedictorian or salutatorian. Historically: Rank order was used to denote #1 and #2 in the class. GPA calculation was done at the end of the 3 rd marking period of their senior year.

Current Issues: Graduation • This year’s class, currently 4 students are summa cum laude and will sit on stage. • Historically: Top 25 students in the class were honored during Awards Night and in addition, sat on the stage during graduation.

Current Issues • The current classes at WTHS do not receive a graded weight for Honors, only for Advanced Placement classes. • Historically: Students received equal weight for Honors and Advanced Placement courses of 1 quality point on a 5. 0 scale. – Example: 100% in academic= 5 quality points – 100% in Honors or AP class= 6 quality points

Current Issue • Transcripts of students graduating this year do not have class rank or percentile distinction. In addition, the various levels of cum laude will also not be present on the transcript. • Historically: Class Rank was denoted on the transcripts for the graduating class of 2012 and prior.

Current Actions • If a college is requiring a rank, we have been able to provide them a percentile rank. • Top 1%, Top 5%, Top 10% and Top 20%.

Current Actions • For any other internal reasons such as for scholarships, we can calculate a rank for the students. We are currently working under the Top 1%, Top 5%, Top 10% for these opportunities. • Students are still not provided a rank or percentile if this information is needed. • If needed by a college or a scholarship is requiring this information we have/will provide that information to the organization or school.

Future Plans • In the fall of 2013, WTHS will be forming a small group of stakeholders from the staff to evaluate current practices regarding GPA and class rank while comparing and analyzing a group of surrounding school districts and how they address these topics.

Future Plans • We will be collecting data on: – – – GPA Scales Class Rank or Level of Distinctions Weighting of Course Levels Graduation Requirements Class Schedules

Data Collection Districts • • • Central Bucks Council Rock Hatboro Horsham Neshaminy Palisades Pennsbury Methacton Upper Moreland North Pennridge