Class RankClass RankHonoring Academic Rigor and Honoring Academic Rigor and

Preparation for Success in CollegePreparation for Success in College

Class RankClass RankHonoring Academic Rigor and Honoring Academic Rigor and

Preparation for Success in CollegePreparation for Success in College

Why Do We Rank Students?Why Do We Rank Students?

Class rank is used solely for the purposes Class rank is used solely for the purposes of:of: college admissioncollege admission scholarship eligibilityscholarship eligibility

College SuccessCollege Success

Research shows that the most Research shows that the most important factor for success in important factor for success in college is the rigor of coursework college is the rigor of coursework taken in high schooltaken in high school““The best predictor post-high school The best predictor post-high school success is the quality and intensity of success is the quality and intensity of High School curriculum” High School curriculum”

Cliff Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box, U.S. Department of Education

Why Did NEISD Develop the Current Policy?Why Did NEISD Develop the Current Policy?

Under the previous policy:Academic and Non-Academic courses had the same value i.e.

Office Assistant vs. English Cheerleading vs. Calculus, etc..

Class rank was not a true indicator of rigor and academic preparedness for college success.There was a lack of incentive for taking rigorous coursework, and Multiple students were tied for rank

Differences Between the Previous Policy Differences Between the Previous Policy and the Current Policyand the Current Policy

The current policy uses cumulative The current policy uses cumulative weighted rank points weighted rank points for selected for selected courses courses

The previous policy used an overall The previous policy used an overall Grade Point Average for all coursesGrade Point Average for all courses

What Does the New Rank Policy What Does the New Rank Policy MeMeasureasure??

The policy measures each student’s The policy measures each student’s academic performance and rigor in academic performance and rigor in selected courses:selected courses: English English mathmath sciencescience social studiessocial studies foreign languageforeign language All Pre-AP and AP coursesAll Pre-AP and AP courses

HS Academic Excellence CommitteeHS Academic Excellence Committee

Convened in 2002-2003 Responsibilities:

Review current rank in class policyStudy various ranking scenariosProvide Superintendent with recommendations for change

Common Goal Ensure rank in class represents academic

preparation for college success Fairness and equity for students

The student with the most points is ranked #1.

How is Class Rank determined?How is Class Rank determined? How is Class Rank determined?How is Class Rank determined?

• Semester grade x Rank Factor = Rank Points

• Sum of all Rank Points = Cumulative Rank Points

• Cumulative Rank Points of each student compared to all students in class = Rank Position

2006 Class Rank Clarification Process2006 Class Rank Clarification Process

In Summer 2006, the NEISD Board of In Summer 2006, the NEISD Board of Trustees approved revisions that went Trustees approved revisions that went into effect immediately based on input into effect immediately based on input obtained fromobtained from

parents parents

counselors counselors

administrators administrators

district staffdistrict staff

What Are the New Revisions?What Are the New Revisions?

Increase existing rank factors for all Increase existing rank factors for all Advanced Placement (AP), Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Honors courses:and Honors courses:

• Pre-AP/GT-Pre AP/Honors = 1.15 previously 1.1 was used

• AP/GT-AP = 1.29 previously 1.2 was used

What Are the New Revisions?What Are the New Revisions?

• Increase existing rank factors for all Increase existing rank factors for all Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Honors courses:Honors courses:

• Pre-AP/GT-Pre-AP/Honors = 1.15 previously 1.1 was used

• AP/GT-AP = 1.29 previously 1.2 was used

What Are the New Revisions?What Are the New Revisions?• Exclude all Summer School and Evening

School courses from rank

• Limit the number of semester courses used in the calculation of class rank to no more than eight per semester (the highest eight ranked grades will be used)

• Include all AP and Pre-AP non-core courses in calculation of class rank

• Break any ties between students by using a secondary indicator based on the number of courses taken for which a weight of 1.15 and/or 1.29 was given

How Did NEISD Communicate How Did NEISD Communicate the New Policy?the New Policy?

How Did NEISD Communicate How Did NEISD Communicate the New Policy?the New Policy?

Spring 2004• District meetings held at high schools to explain the new ranking policy—middle school parents invited• Supporting materials posted on the Guidance Website

Fall 2004• Counselors held small group meetings with ninth graders to review

important topics including rank

Spring 2005• HS and MS counselor held meetings with groups of students to explain

graduation requirements and rank• General orientation meeting held prior to course fair held in January• High school course catalog contained graduation requirements with reference to class rank and a separate rank policy explanation—printed in a special section for incoming 9th graders

How Did NEISD Communicate How Did NEISD Communicate the New Policythe New Policy

How Did NEISD Communicate How Did NEISD Communicate the New Policythe New Policy

Fall 2005• Counselors held small group meetings with ninth graders to review important topics including rank

Spring 2006•HS counselors met with groups of ninth graders to review requirements for graduation and important topics such as class rank•General orientation meeting held prior to course fair •Detailed letter mailed home with end-of-year report card explaining new policy clarifications Updated supporting documents posted on Guidance website

Summer 2006•North East Connections mailed to all residing in NEISD with a special article, “Update: High school rank system changes.”

Fall 2006•Students received Class Rank on their report card for 1st nine weeks with an explanatory handout HS counselors held Class Rank meeting for all 10th and 11th graders and their parents

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How Did The New Policy Influence How Did The New Policy Influence Rigor?Rigor?

Top 30 Pre-AP/AP CoursesTop 30 Pre-AP/AP Courses

Current Sophomores (2006-2007)

#1 Position

Distribution of Ranked Courses by LevelDistribution of Ranked Courses by LevelCurrent Sophomores (2006-2007) in Top 10%Current Sophomores (2006-2007) in Top 10%

10 Ranked Courses, 47, 53%

11 Ranked Courses, 1, 1%

12 Ranked Courses, 39, 44%

13 Ranked Courses, 1, 1%

14 Ranked Courses, 1, 1%

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Current Juniors (2006-2007)

Distribution of Ranked Courses by LevelDistribution of Ranked Courses by LevelCurrent Juniors (2006-2007) in Top 10%Current Juniors (2006-2007) in Top 10%

20 Ranked Courses, 39, 46%

22 Ranked Courses, 31, 36%

24 Ranked Courses, 15, 17%26 Ranked Courses, 1,

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Why not consider an Why not consider an Overall Rank Average?Overall Rank Average?

Student A Student B

Rank ExampleRank ExampleCurrent Juniors (06-07)Current Juniors (06-07)Rank ExampleRank ExampleCurrent Juniors (06-07)Current Juniors (06-07)

Total Ranked Classes     18

Rank points      1913.7

5

Ranked GPA      106.31

9

Position: Cumulative     206

Position: Ranked GPA     23

Total Ranked Classes     24

Rank points       2277

Ranked GPA       94.9

Position: Cumulative     14

Position: Ranked GPA     211

ALG II-PRE-AP 76 87.4

ALG II-PRE-AP 74 85.1

BIO PRE AP 92 105.8

BIO PRE AP 86 98.9

CHEM PRE AP 82 94.3

CHEM PRE AP 80 92.0

ENG I PRE AP 89 102.4

ENG I PRE AP 87 100.1

ENG II PRE AP 87 100.1

ENG II PRE AP 88 101.2

GEOMETRY PRE-AP 89 102.4

GEOMETRY PRE-AP 83 95.5

LATIN II 85 85.0

LATIN II PRE-AP 82 94.3

LATIN III 87 87.0

LATIN III 82 82.0

SPANISH I 94 94.0

SPANISH I 96 96.0

COMP SCI PR-AP 86 98.9

COMP SCI PR-AP 86 98.9

W GEO-PRE-AP 89 102.4

W GEO-PRE-AP 88 101.2

W HISTORY 90 90.0

W HISTORY 82 82.0

ALG II-PRE-AP 90 103.5

ALG II-PRE-AP 89 102.4

BIO PRE AP 97 111.6

BIO PRE AP 97 111.6

CHEM PRE AP 90 103.5

CHEM PRE AP 92 105.8

ENG I PRE AP 96 110.4

ENG I PRE AP 97 111.6

ENG II PRE AP 99 113.9

ENG II PRE AP 98 112.7

GEOMETRY PRE-AP 92 105.8

GEOMETRY PRE-AP 97 111.6

JAPANESE I 98 98.0

JAPANESE I 94 94.0

SPANISH I 99 99.0

SPANISH I 99 99.0

W HIS-PRE-AP 96 110.4

W HIS-PRE-AP 95 109.3

The Problem with AveragingThe Problem with Averaging

1085.4 Rank Points108.54 GPA

1395.9 Rank Points107.38 GPA

Example: Students Sorted by Example: Students Sorted by Rank GPARank GPA

Average Rank GPA

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Example: Students Sorted by Example: Students Sorted by Cumulative PointsCumulative Points

Pattern of data suggests that both quantity and quality of coursework are important

Conclusion:Many calculation methods are possible for determining students’ class rank. However, a cumulative rank point total honors both quantity and quality of students’ academic course work.

Current Sophomores (2006-2007)

#1 Position

Questions?Questions?