Throughout the state, school districts including Lewisville ISD, have changed how high school students should be ranked academically. At Monday’s meeting, the district board of trustees decided that students will have the option to include their class rank on their transcript.
According to The College Board Class ranking is a mathematical summary of a student’s academic record compared to those of other students in the class.The compilation of courses and grades is converted to an overall grade point average (GPA). The higher the GPA, the higher the student’s class ranking. Having the option to remove your class rank based on certain circumstances was a huge debate for LISD.
This change will not affect the class of 2018 but will start with the current juniors. By state law students who are ranked in the top 10 percentile are required to include their rank. Therefore they will not have the option of excluding their class rank.
Senior Arusha Patel believes that the district should have voted on this issue a long time ago.
“Me and my friends were discussing this issue as juniors,” said Patel. “I just can’t believe that we are just now talking about this.”
The Texas 10 Percent Plan allows automatic admission to public colleges in Texas for students in the top 10 percent of their class, making it required for their transcripts to have ranks. Since the board voted in favor of this, It now makes it easier for every type of student.Several other districts have changed the practice of class rank. For example, Highland Park ISD only ranks the top 10 percent and no other students receive a rank.
Sophomore Mackenzie Hill said class rank is not beneficial for people who are doing well in their classes but aren’t ranked high.
“It’s a very unfair situation,” said Hill. “As a district we shouldn’t be demeaning anyone with a number and make them feel any less of themselves.”
Class ranks will be displayed at the end of the second nine weeks of the student’s sophomore year and again at the end of the fourth nine weeks. Juniors and seniors would then receive it at the end of each nine-week period.
