Class Rank Course Weight

1
Class Rank / Course Weight

• Proposed System for Council Rock

2
Committee Members

• Committee Members
• Charlie Cassady, Lynn Cariello, Ric Cargas, Barry
  Desko, Al Funk, Charles Lambert, Susan McCarthy,
  Joy McClendon, Ann Naragon, Tim Rothrock, Ellen
  Short, Bev Stapleton, Ann Marie Strauss, Nicole
  Ventresca
• Consulted with and incorporated feedback from
• Curriculum Coordinators (14) High School
  Department Chairs (23)
• 14 months of study review

3
Why Consider a Change to our Current System?

• Our goal was to review our current practice to
  make sure it best represents our students.
• Ensure our system is fair and reasonable.
• Make changes if / when our research suggests
  changes should be considered.

4
Our Research ShowsSurveyed 36 School Districts
over 150 Colleges/Universities

• There is no right or best system.
• High Schools use a variety of systems.
• Class ranking systems (once a common practice)
  have declined significantly.
• Of the 26 high school responses - 18 no longer
  rank.
• Colleges no set standard, but seek to
  understand a students achievement measured
  against the districts curriculum.
• Other resources Formal / Informal contacts,
  Professional organizations, etc.

5
Current System in CR

• Weighted Class Rank
• Unweighted GPA

6
Weighted Class Rank

• All courses are weighted (4, 5, 6, 7, 8.)
• This weight is then multiplied by the students
  final grade for the class.
• Cumulative points earned then result in a rank
  ordering of all students in that graduating class
  at the end of each year.

7
Unweighted GPA

• Students receive points for each grade (A 4 B
  3 C 2 D 1 F 0)
• These points are then multiplied by the course
  credit.
• Total points are then divided by the number of
  credits attempted (maximum GPA 4.0)

8
Proposed System for Council Rock

• No Class Rank System.
• Weighted GPA.
• Begins with the Class of 2011 and all subsequent
  classes.
• Current system will remain for classes of 2009
  2010.

9
No Class Rank

• We will no longer keep a public ranking
  of students.
• We will no longer recognize valedictorian(s) /
  salutatorian(s).

10
Weighted GPA

• Designed to reflect a students achievement
  against the most rigorous course of study
  offered.
• Grades weighted for AP and Honor Courses.
• New maximum GPA 4.5 (w/ current course
  offerings)

11
High School Profile

• New Profiles will be developed.
• Profile will provide a complete picture of our
  programs and our students.
• Included will be information on
• High School Curriculum
• SATs / ACTs
• AP
• GPAs
• Grade Distributions
• Etc.

12
Next Steps

• Board action revocation of Board Policy 214.
• Presentation to high school faculties.
• Focus group meetings with students / parents.
• Presentation to high school Parent Forum.
• Publication changes Program Planning Book.
• Focus during all Program Planning Meetings for
  students and parents.
• Implementation beginning 2008-09 school year.