The document proposes moving away from using class rank for college admissions and instead implementing a Laude point system. It argues that class rank is misleading and can negatively impact students by discouraging challenging classes. It provides several reasons for the change and outlines how the proposed Laude system would work, awarding points for honors courses to recognize academic rigor. The conclusion states that the Laude system would give colleges a clearer picture of students' achievements compared to class rank.

1. Moving Away From Class
Rank
Does Class Rank truly tell the whole
story for college admissions?

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

3. 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)

4. College Ratings of the Importance of Various Factors
in the Admission Decision: Fall 2007
Considerabl Moderate Limited None
e
Grades in college prep 79.9% 14.4% 2.9% 2.7%
Strength of curriculum 63.8 23.9 8.0 4.3
Admission test scores 58.5 30.9 8.0 2.7
Grades in all courses 51.6 40.1 6.1 2.1
Essay or writing sample 25.8 37.9 19.9 16.4
Class rank 23.4 43.8 23.4 9.4
Demonstrated interest 22.0 30.3 23.9 23.9
Counselor recommendation 21.1 40.4 28.1 10.4
Teacher recommendation 20.8 40.0 28.6 10.5
Interview 10.8 23.7 35.8 29.8
Subject test scores (AP, IB) 6.8 32.2 34.9 26.2
Extracurricular activities 6.5 45.7 32.8 15.1
SAT II scores 6.2 13.8 28.2 51.8
State graduation exam scores 4.4 13.7 28.7 53.3
Work 1.9 24.2 46.8 27.2

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

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

10. Nationally and Statewide the
Change is Coming
• According to a recent 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 yearly.

11. 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

12. Our Laude System Policy
• Beginning with the Class of 2011 (current
sophomores), the Laude System will replace the
present 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.

13. Laude Overview
• We are proposing (a change to) the Laude System because it
allows us to recognize and encourage students to take appropriate
courses that will better prepare them for the future. This system is a
point based system that gets combined with a students GPA, under
our normal grading scale. This system will reward a student for
taking designated honors courses and will earn the student 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
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.)

14. Laude Overview (cont.)
• It is our hope that this system will be a fairer system and
will allow the recognition of a wider range of students.
Under the Laude system students must meet two criteria
– under our present proposal the student must minimally
have a 3.2 C.G.P.A and have earned a minimum of 5
honors points. 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).

15. Laude Overview (cont.)
• To Qualify for Cum Laude or Higher: A student must
have a 3.2 cumulative GPA and have earned a minimum
of 5 Honor Points (tentative).
• Who will the Laude System start with: The committee
is proposing that this policy will start with the 09-10
school year and will start with the present sophomore
class (Class of 2011). Designated Honors courses
already taken by a student in the class of 2011 or 2012
will be grandfathered in. (In reviewing the designated
honors offerings, this will have a minimal impact in the
final outcome.)

16. Laude Overview (cont.)
• All State Honors Scholarship: Will be determined by the
student(s) with the highest Laude point total. The tie breakers will be
as spelled out in Board Policy 345.52 (Present wording will need 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. 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.

17. 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 Composition
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Calculus
Probability and Statistics
PLTW Offerings - IED – Intro. to Engineering Design
POE – Principles of Engineering

18. 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
(#Being revised by MATC) Accounting 1
Accounting 2
Computer Business Applications
1&2
Communication for Success#
Electronics Independent
Auto Technology
Transportation
Welding 3

19. Courses and proposed Courses
with Laude Point Distinction (cont.)
Proposed Honors Offerings –
Foreign Language – *Spanish 3/4/5 and *French 3/4
Math – *Math 4 and *Algebra 2
Science – *Physics and *Genetics
Art – AP Art History and AP Studio Art
English – *Accelerated English 9 and 10
Social Studies – *World History
Music – AP Music Theory, Senior Honors Band and
Choir
Tech Ed. – PLTW CIM
(*Presently Offered)

20. 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

21. Will this Help or Hurt our Students?
• Based on the information we have gathered from
other schools who have moved away from Class
Rank – the resounding answer is that it will help.
• This new system will cause 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.

22. 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).
• The system we are proposing will do this,
and gives colleges a clearer picture of a
students’ academic rigor/achievement.

23. 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.