5430 - CLASS RANK
The Board of Education acknowledges the usefulness of a system of computing grade point averages and class ranking for high school students, both to inform students of their relative academic placement among their peers and to provide students, prospective employers, and institutions of higher learning with a predictive device so that each student is more likely to be placed in an environment conducive to success.
The Board authorizes a system of class ranking, by grade point average, for students in grade(s) 9-12.
The grades of students transferring to the high school from a chartered community or nonpublic school will be recognized; however, such students shall have no established class rank for purposes of graduation honors, such as Valedictorian, etc., until such time as they have completed four (4) semesters.
Students entering the high school from non-chartered or home-based schooling shall have no established grade point average (GPA) or class rank for purposes of graduation honors, such as Valedictorian, etc., until such time as they have completed four (4) semesters.
No student shall be eligible for graduation honors, such as Valedictorian, etc. unless they have been enrolled for four (4) consecutive semester(s) prior to the final semester utilized for purposes of determining such honors.
The Superintendent shall develop procedures for the computation of grade point averages and the assignment of class rank to implement this policy which shall include a statement of the methods for such computation and assignment to be made available for those to whom a student's grade point average or rank in class is released.
Determination of Top Five Percent (5%) and Top Ten Percent (10%) for the Governor's Merit Scholarship and Ohio Guaranteed Admission Programs
To encourage high-achieving students to attend a college or university in Ohio, the state has established the Governor’s Merit Scholarship ("GMS") and the Ohio Guaranteed Admission ("OGA") programs. The GMS provides up to $5,000 per year for up to four (4) years in financial assistance to high school graduates who are identified as being in the top five percent (5%) of their class. Additionally, the OGA guarantees the top ten percent (10%) of each graduating high school class undergraduate admission to every Ohio public college and university, as well as participating Ohio private colleges and universities.
For the purpose of implementing the GMS and OGA, the District shall determine which students fall within the top five percent (5%) and the top ten percent (10%) of their class. Students who are enrolled in a high school that is designed to support and assist students in need of academic intervention (“Success Academies”) may be eligible for nomination, provided that they have a GPA reasonably commensurate with other nominees in the District. Students who graduate early may also be considered. An early graduate’s GPA and class rank from the previous academic year will be used to determine eligibility.
Determination of a student’s membership within the top five percent (5%) and the top ten percent (10%) of the class shall be based upon grade point average ("GPA") at the end of the student’s junior year and calculated in compliance with state law and guidelines established by the Chancellor of Higher Education.
The provisions stated in this policy establish the criteria for determining class rank and for determining a student’s membership within the top five percent (5%) and top ten percent (10%) of the class.
The top five percent (5%) of high school graduates who are nominated for the GMS shall be restricted to the number communicated to the school or School District by the Ohio Department of Higher Education through the GMS portal.
The top ten percent (10%) of high school graduates who are nominated for the OGA shall be restricted to the number communicated to the school or School District by the Ohio Department of Higher Education through the GMS portal.
In such cases where ranking by GPA results in a tie, the District will determine which student(s) are nominated for the OGA and GMS programs based on the following factors:
- scores on standardized college entrance examinations (e.g. ACT, SAT);
- GPA for core or college-preparatory coursework;
- the number of advanced standing programs, including honors, advanced placement, college credit plus, international baccalaureate, and advanced career-technical education classes taken.
The District shall not consider a student’s stated or unstated post-graduation plans when submitting nominees.
The District will report to the Ohio Department of Higher Education ("ODHE") the identity of the students who qualify for GMS and OGA utilizing the secure GMS portal by October 1 each year in the student’s senior year. The District will also provide the student’s email address, or if preferred, a parent/guardian email address, when nominating students. The Ohio Department of Higher Education will notify students of the award offer by November 1st. The District will inform all nominees after November 1 by email in writing.
Revised 2/17/11
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