Does anyone think this situation is unfair?

[browneyes106]

In my dd's high school the grades received in classes are "weighted" according to the difficulty level of each class. So an A in an AP class is worth more than an A in an honors, regular or remedial class. This weighted gpa is used to determine class rank. So someone with As and Bs in AP/honors classes would be ranked ahead of someone with straight As in regular or remedial classes. I thought this was pretty common-doesn't your cousin's school do that?

If not, I wouldn't have a problem with kids having a petition to change the weighting/class ranking system in general. However, a petition aimed at preventing a particular kid from graduating with honors? I think it's very tacky and mean-spirited. How does that student graduating with honors even impact them? They are in NHS and presumably they are graduating with honors. It's really too late for the class rank issue to affect them...college applications should all be in by now.

Also, your cousin is the NHS advisor-does she even have any influence on determining who graduates with honors? If the student meets the established criteria, I think it's unfair to take it away from her this late in the game.JMO.

At my cousin's school the AP and honors grades are weighted. Regular and special ed classes are weighted the same. Since it is a smaller school most students don't start taking AP classes until junior year.

I think there reasons the NHS students upset because there some scholarships offered by state universities and colleges that are given to students in the top 15% my cousin pointed that out to me right away.Some of these scholarships get awarded in the early summer. Another issue that my cousin mentioned is that the special ed student didn't pass the state high school competency exam. She had that a few students who aren't NHS members are upset that the girl will be getting honors even though she pass the competency exam.

 

[Allison]

Basically it means getting an honor cord, asterisk by the name, and being ranked in a certain percentage. Due the GPA of the girl she has around 3.8 GPA and there are NHS members whose GPA's are slightly below that. I agree with you it probably happened because of small senior class.

So, the issue is they don't want the student to graduate with honors even though it really doesn't affect them? Do they not think the student should get the honor cord and the asterisk because somehow then they don't look as good?

If there is something about this that personally harms these other students or puts them at some kind of disadvantage, please share that because otherwise I think it's petty. (eta-just saw your post above)

There is no way I would support something like that. Your cousin should stay far away from it.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I don't see what this accomplishes except for making everyone else like a complete Horse's Butt. The girl got A's and B's in the classes that were challenging for her. She worked just as hard if not harder than some of the kids below her. Let her graduate with honors and retain her ranking in her class. I find it really sad that they are so self-absorbed that they cannot celebrate the accomplishments of a girl with several learning disabilities because they think it detracts from their own glory.

I totally agree with this. My son is a special ed student and I understand what these kids go through to achieve to their full potential. The other kids need to stop and think about what the class rankings really mean. Is being 12th instead of 11th going to keep them out of the college of their choice? A ranking might seem important to the kids now, but in the grand scheme of things, they would be better off showing some compassion to kids who have to struggle for what they achieve.

 

[hippiemama76]

The policies for this year are already set in place, and it would be ill-advised for your cousin to join this kind of witch hunt. I taught at a middle school that ended up in a similar situation, and it was an education for everyone involved.

FTR, when I was in high school, our grades were weighted 1.5 for IB, 1.0 for AP, .5 for honors, and no weight for general and remedial studies. When I applied for college (1993/1994), many applications asked for class rank, along with essay, recommendations, etc. Now there is more of a move towards just GPA and test scores so there's no point in getting worked up about class rank.

 

[browneyes106]

How do these students know the rankings? At my dd's school the rankings aren't public information, except for #1 and #2 (valedictorian and salutatorian). Of course the kids know their own, and there are always a few kids who try to figure out where everyone ranks, who is ahead of who, etc. I sincerely hope your cousin did not reveal this student's ranking to her stepson or the other students in NHS. (Not saying she did).

I also think it's wrong for people to be pressuring your cousin on this issue. I don't see how she can do anything about it. Let them go through the proper channels to get the procedure changed for the future. I don't think it's fair to anyone to change things retroactively.

My cousin said that each student knows their class rankings at the end of each semester because it gets reported on their report cards also the school rewards students based on their GPA's a the end of each semester by giving them dinner party. The girl has attended these dinners and she told several students about her ranking.

My cousin does feel strongly that the policy should be changed.

 

[robinb]

I think there reasons the NHS students upset because there some scholarships offered by state universities and colleges that are given to students in the top 15% my cousin pointed that out to me right away.

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but 15% of 61 is 9.15. Wouldn't that mean that 9-10 kids would be in the top 15% of the class? The girl is ranked 11th so this does not effect the top 15%.

 

[browneyes106]

I can see why the other kids are upset especially with a 6th grade reading level...but if this is just class ranking and it doesn;t matter beyond grad. than I say leave it alone or the kids can petition that it be changed for the future...

I can also see were they are upset due to girl's reading level. I think a lot of it has to do with class rank and the fact the girl never passed the state competency exam. Like I mentioned in a previous post one reason students are upset is because of certain scholarships that awarded on class rankings and percentages.

 

[allison443]

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but 15% of 61 is 9.15. Wouldn't that mean that 9-10 kids would be in the top 15% of the class? The girl is ranked 11th so this does not effect the top 15%.

You are correct! This girl is not in the top 15% so she is not "knocking" anyone out of the top 15% for scholarship eligibility. That sounds like a pretense to me...but gee, I wasn't in the NHS so what do I know!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Not every "A" is equal, and class rankings that do not take curriculum into account are outdated. In many schools, in order to graduate with honors, one must be a member of the NHS as well as have taken a certain number of honors classes. GPA is not, and should not, be enough.

And hard work has nothing to do with this. This is about ranking achievement, not work. And one has achieved more by passing honors classes with a "C" average than passing standard classes with an "A" average. Special Ed classes are to help those who cannot achieve passing grades in even standard classes without help. Special Ed achievement is commendable, but has no place in class rankings (with respect GPA).

I agree with the previous posters that the students and their parents need to take the ranking metrics to the board, and that the OP's cousin needs to stay out. She has no skin in this game, but if she throws her lot in with this group of kids, she will - and she could lose that skin...

 

[browneyes106]

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but 15% of 61 is 9.15. Wouldn't that mean that 9-10 kids would be in the top 15% of the class? The girl is ranked 11th so this does not effect the top 15%.

I think right now the rank doesn't effect the top 15% but I think maybe students are worried because the final percentage won't be known until a week before graduation one finals and final grades are taken.

 

[allison443]

I can also see were they are upset due to girl's reading level. I think a lot of it has to do with class rank and the fact the girl never passed the state competency exam. Like I mentioned in a previous post one reason students are upset is because of certain scholarships that awarded on class rankings and percentages.

Can she graduate without passing the state competency exam? Also, as previously mentioned, she isn't knocking anyone out of the top 15% as she is not in the top 15% herself.

I have never heard of scholarships being based on rank at the end of senior year. Usually it's after the sixth or seventh semester. That would mean a student would have to commit to the school by the national deposit/response date of May 1 without knowing whether they would get a scholarship? So they wouldn't know how much they would be paying for college? I just doubt that is a common occurrence. Are these top students going to colleges that award such scholarships? Anyone heard of specific schools that do this?

 

[robinb]

I think right now the rank doesn't effect the top 15% but I think maybe students are worried because the final percentage won't be known until a week before graduation.

But ... the rank is based on weighted grades? Right? What that means is that everyone above her is going to have to knuckle down and get all A's in case she does too . Not the worst thing in the world.

 

[browneyes106]

Not every "A" is equal, and class rankings that do not take curriculum into account are outdated. In many schools, in order to graduate with honors, one must be a member of the NHS as well as have taken a certain number of honors classes. GPA is not, and should not, be enough.

And hard work has nothing to do with this. This is about ranking achievement, not work. And one has achieved more by passing honors classes with a "C" average than passing standard classes with an "A" average. Special Ed classes are to help those who cannot achieve passing grades in even standard classes without help. Special Ed achievement is commendable, but has no place in class rankings (with respect GPA).

I agree with the previous posters that the students and their parents need to take the ranking metrics to the board, and that the OP's cousin needs to stay out. She has no skin in this game, but if she throws her lot in with this group of kids, she will - and she could lose that skin...

I agree the school's policy and the ranking system are outdated. I also think the main focus on should on ranking metrics.

 

[dakcp2001]

Like Firedacer postes, most colleges recacluate based on what level course you take, and that is how they determine GPA and rankings. Let the Special Ed student have her moment! Good for her! Sounds like she deserves a spot on the honor roll, she has had enough of a hard time in school and life, and the petition is the meanest thing I have ever heard of. These kids and PARENTS need to learn a life lesson, people always come first. There is more to life than a number. I can understand one family being upset, the one kid that got knocked down a spot out of the scholarship rankings, but this is life. You don't always win. This controversy would make an excellent college admission essay. If that is this kids ONLY hope for a scholarship than I can see how they would be upset, but again, the odds that HE would have been the ONE that would have gotten that ONE scholarship? There are a million and one scholarships out there for kids who have character, they are not all based on school rankings. Not all kids can be number one or in the top 15, and those other kids get scholarships too. MY grades in high school were pretty good, certainly not stellar and I got my first two years paid for in scholarships. It took work to find them, and perhaps these parents could put their energy into finding other scholarships rather than making one little girl feel awful about herself.

Maybe the school can make a special ranking system for special ed, like SE honor roll for the future? But serisouly how can grown adults be that mean to the poor kid and her family? Do they ahve no heart?

 

[Crystal0608]

I don't think it's unfair if by the school's own rules the spec-ed student qualifies. What ranking should she be changed to? I would not sign a petition like that, it's totally asking for a lawsuit IMO.

My husband only reads on a middle school level and has learning disabilities. He went to school 15 years to be able to graduate and would have crushed to been made a spectacle of like this.

 

[allison443]

I agree the school's policy and the ranking system are outdated. I also think the main focus on should on ranking metrics.

I agree with you the situation is unfair, and there should be weighting of grades. If there was a petition to change the weighting system, I would say that is a good idea.

However, to frame it as "a petition to prevent a certain student from graduating with honors" is awful, imho, and that's how it was presented in the op.

 

[tinatark]

Sorry, but I agree that a special ed student who is not taking high school courses should not be ranked in the graduating class.

She's obviously making great grades in her SE classes, but what type of exams are required to graduate? My boys are both in high school and will be taking several gateway exams - a graduation requirement. If OP's state has similar requirements, and this girl doesn't/can't pass them then no matter what her grades are, she shouldn't be ranked in the class. Is she on track for a high school diploma or for a completion certificate?

The problem is, no one can do anything to change the situation without looking like an ***, seemingly being mean to the SE girl. When you take the person out of the equation, it uncomplicates the situation greatly - it would make sense for you to be required to meet all graduation requirements and take high school level classes to be ranked within the graduting class.

 

[browneyes106]

Can she graduate without passing the state competency exam? Also, as previously mentioned, she isn't knocking anyone out of the top 15% as she is not in the top 15% herself.

I have never heard of scholarships being based on rank at the end of senior year. Usually it's after the sixth or seventh semester. That would mean a student would have to commit to the school by the national deposit/response date of May 1 without knowing whether they would get a scholarship? So they wouldn't know how much they would be paying for college? I just doubt that is a common occurrence. Are these top students going to colleges that award such scholarships? Anyone heard of specific schools that do this?

Many of the students are going to state colleges. A couple of state colleges here in New Mexico award incoming college freshman with small scholarships sometimes between $500-$1,000 who graduate in certain percentage, or top 10 or top 15 honors or who have a high GPA.

 

[Nancyg56]

Sounds like a bunch of those kids and parents have high intelligence IQ's and low social/emotional IQ's. I would NOT get involved, and I would not feel good about taking away a special education student's recognition for her achievement.

ITA. I would not be involved in this. I would be telling these students that there is a lot more to education than grades and that in this course they have not made the Honor Roll.

I don't see what this accomplishes except for making everyone else like a complete Horse's Butt. The girl got A's and B's in the classes that were challenging for her. She worked just as hard if not harder than some of the kids below her. Let her graduate with honors and retain her ranking in her class. I find it really sad that they are so self-absorbed that they cannot celebrate the accomplishments of a girl with several learning disabilities because they think it detracts from their own glory.

Well said. Nothing is gained by pursuing this and there is so much to be lost. If the students feel strongly about his in principle they should work to change the policy for the updcoming year. Bet they will not bother.

 

[dakcp2001]

A petition singling out just one poor kid is mean, hurtful, and shows a group of adults with no moral compass. If they have an issue with the system they are misdirecting their energy.