EHS proposes changes to valedictorian selection

Traditionally, the valedictorians have also led the graduation ceremonies.

“We began the current system because we wanted to recognize more students and put them in a better position to obtain college scholarships,” Rodgers said. “It’s served its purpose, but the feedback we are getting from the colleges is suggesting that there is very little correlation between being named a valedictorian and getting a scholarship.”

Rodgers said most colleges today look closely at ACT scores and overall weighted grade point averages.

A weighted GPA calculation gives students more credit for completing more difficult courses, such as advanced placement courses or dual enrollment classes through a university or junior college.

“Some of our students have shown some displeasure with the current system,” Rodgers said. “Community members and some of our teachers think the current system lacks credibility and doesn’t truly recognize the students who took more difficult courses while attending EHS.”

Under the current system, GPA’s are calculated at end of first semester.

Rodgers said naming the valedictorians and honor graduates in January has led to some students becoming complacent during their last weeks of school.

In the new system, which has yet to be approved by the board, only students pursuing an advanced diploma would be eligible to be a valedictorian, salutatorian or honor graduate.

To graduate with honors, students would have to complete two foreign language courses, algebra II with trigonometry, pre-calculus and at least three advanced placement or dual enrollment classes.

“Our ultimate goal is to prepare these students for college,” Rodgers said. “There’s no advantage for them to take the more rigorous route in the current system and I believe this is going to expand our AP program and push our students to a new level.”

Much like other schools across the country, the new system would leave room for only one valedictorian and one salutatorian.

The students GPA would be weighted depending on their course selection and the student with the highest GPA would be named valedictorian.

Rodgers said the new system would also recognize the top 10 students as honor graduates.

“I’m a traditionalist and one of my favorite things about EHS is the valedictorians conducting the graduation ceremony,” Rodgers said. “We will still have a place for our top students during the graduation ceremonies.”

The new system would also figure class rankings near the end of the second semester, which Rodgers said would likely be sometime in May after the students have taken their final exams.

Rodgers said if the new system is officially approved, it would take effect on the current eighth graders, who are scheduled to graduate in 2017.

Rodgers said it would not be fair to change the calculation process for grades that began the ninth grade under the current system.

Superintendent Aaron Milner said the board would also be discussing a reduction in the number of credits required to graduate from Enterprise High School in the near future.

EHS currently requires 27 credits to receive a diploma, which is three more than the state’s required 24 credits.

“We will be having a discussion in future months about the benefits of changing the number of credits,” Milner said.

Rodgers said the new method of valedictorian calculation is still a work in progress.

“Status is very important, but at the end of the day this is what’s going to better prepare them for college when they arrive,” Rodgers said. “Our school’s credibility is on the line.”