Reply #14: The high school that my kids went to have done this for years

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

The high school has been rated as one of the top high schools in Massachusetts. Consequently, people with the means to do so moved there for the school system. They graduate a number of kids each year who have perfect A averages, and took as many honors classes and AP classes as they could fit in. The school and the students are so competitive that kids were having stress and anxiety issues trying to be at the very top of the class.

So now the school only gives out class rank in quintiles, and the valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen based on a contest for the best essay. There are many excellent writers who are not #1 in their class, so this is giving them a chance for the spotlight and giving the graduation attendees much more interesting speeches. Kids are still stressing over grades, but some of the anxiety is relieved by de-emphasizing class rank.

BTW, the high school has a 98% rate of kids going on to college, has many kids getting perfect scores on SATs, and send 30 or so kids to ivy league schools every year.

And right now, both the girls' soccer and field hockey teams will be playing for the state Division 1 titles on Saturday. The football team broke a state record a couple of years ago by winning 50+ football games in a row, also at Division 1 level. There is no lack of competition with these kids!

So, everyone, take a deep breath. Whether the Boulder schools have decided to go this route for the same reasons or not, don't condemn this out of hand. To be honest, I had the same reaction when I first heard of what the high school was doing, but I have seen the results and they look OK to me!