Edina Replaces Specific Class Rank with GPA Decile Rankings
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Edina High School Class Rank Initiative
Mission Statement
To critically review the advantages and disadvantages of reporting class rank for Edina students and its impact on the increasingly competitive college admissions process across the United States.
Recommendation
Replace the practice of reporting specific class rank with a system utilizing GPA distribution by deciles -- both weighted and unweighted -- to take effect for the Edina High School Class of 2008 .
Edina High School Class Rank Parent Forum
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Which high schools, colleges and universities were surveyed as part of the Class Rank Task Force’s research?
Seventy high schools with academic profiles similar to EHS were surveyed; 74% responded. Forty colleges and universities (selected on the basis of number of EHS students to apply and matriculate annually) were contacted for telephone interviews; 75% were reached and interviewed.
- How does EHS currently report class rank to colleges and universities?
Currently (2007), EHS reports two class ranks on transcripts: an unweighted rank, based on a cumulative unweighted GPA, and a weighted rank, based on a cumulative weighted GPA.
- Why change the current system? (“Is it broke and should we fix it?”)
Class rank alone is a number without detailed context and can hurt more students than it helps in the college application process. Replacing the practice of reporting a specific class rank with a system which reports GPA distribution by deciles, both weighted and unweighted (as seen in charts on the last page), will show precisely where a student’s GPA sits within the context of his or her graduating class. In a high achieving school like EHS, where a number of students hold strong GPAs, context is no small matter. In the current system, for example, the difference between an unweighted rank of 1 and an unweighted rank of 55 may be less than .37 of a point.
- How will the proposed change impact students at the top?
The decile/GPA distribution chart will still allow admissions officers to see exactly where a student stands. Students with high GPAs will sit at the top of the deciles chart, and a savvy admissions counselor can determine rank from deciles context. However, colleges and universities do not consider grade point average distributions as actual class rank. Consequently, admissions counselors do not need to include this information as a statistic in their profile of admitted students. The result: admissions committees can look holistically at a student rather than dismissing him or her on the basis of a single class rank number.
- Will the new system impact scholarship opportunities for top students?
The deciles/distribution chart would provide ample information for scholarship purposes and would continue to reflect the achievement of those who are at the top of the class.
- What is the national trend in regard to reporting class rank?
Following a national trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years, the majority of high schools surveyed stated that they no longer reported class rank. The majority of colleges and universities indicated that the omission of class rank is not harmful to applicants as long as sufficient information exists to contextualize a student’s academic performance. Colleges surveyed made it clear that more information is preferred over less on a transcript.
- Were there any negatives reported in your findings among schools that discontinued reporting class rank?
Absolutely none. In fact, many schools reported increases in acceptance rates, in particular with the middle to upper middle range students, and with public universities that use cut-offs. Many of the high school surveys made comments about the benefits, such as reduced competition among students; willingness to take more challenging courses, and just a better overall learning environment without the constant worry of class rank.
- How will this change appear on the high school transcript?
Starting with the Class of 2008, student transcripts will no longer report rank. The transcript will continue to report a weighted and unweighted GPA as in the past.
- How will this change appear on the high school profile?
The following page provides examples of weighted and unweighted GPA distribution charts by deciles. A similar set of charts showing both weighted and unweighted GPA distributions by deciles will either appear on or accompany the EHS profile beginning with the Class of 2008. These charts will serve to place a student’s GPA within the context of his/her graduating class.
Updated September 10, 2007