Awards at American schools

[Anonymous]

I’’m very perplexed by the awards criteria in American schools. My DC has been to two different schools and we just went to another awards ceremony.

The kids in middle and high schools receive awards for specific subjects like “math award” or “language award”, but the criteria is not clear at all.

In previous school a C student got an award in math while other students who are much more advanced in math and who compete didn’t get that award. In this school it was not the best performing kids who got the awards.

In my country of origin awards are simply based on performance.

My DC feelings were hurt when he didn’t get any awards even though he worked hard and performed better in classes than the award recipients.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes it’s a popularity contest. Teachers pick the students they like, regardless of top performance.

[Anonymous]

It’s not a popularity contest. There are students who deserves awards more than a student who got perfect scores in math.

In our high school it’s not a night of students who have the highest GPAs getting awards. They are there but there are also students there for a variety of successes.

[Anonymous]

In my school, the teachers can use whatever criteria they wish. Some will choose the kid who improved the much or put in a ton of effort. Some pick a kid who had a very memorable project or essay. Some pick the kid who is really helpful in class or who is willing to solve problems on the board in front of the class. Some pick the kid with the highest grade. Some pick the kid they like the most or who brown-nosed the most.

Don't take any of these awards too seriously.

[Anonymous]

In my kid's school, it's more about attitude and participation than grades. And competition math is certainly not part of the criteria for a math class award.

[Anonymous]

Attitude, participation, and sometimes growth/improvement are frequently criteria for elementary school (and sometimes middle school) academic awards.

Criteria are rarely completely objective for younger grades especially.

In high school & sometimes in middle school this will start to change to most awards being based on things like GPA, test scores, or competition results.

[Anonymous]

OP, would you send your child to a high school where the valedictorian went to the state flagship, or even an Ivy, but everyone else went to community college or didn’t go to college at all?

American high schools are judged, by parents, based on how many of their students go to good colleges. One kid winning all the awards doesn’t help his classmates get into good colleges. So high schools have learned to spread the wealth. School awards in particular are often used to spotlight good students who wouldn’t otherwise stand out to colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, would you send your child to a high school where the valedictorian went to the state flagship, or even an Ivy, but everyone else went to community college or didn’t go to college at all?

American high schools are judged, by parents, based on how many of their students go to good colleges. One kid winning all the awards doesn’t help his classmates get into good colleges. So high schools have learned to spread the wealth. School awards in particular are often used to spotlight good students who wouldn’t otherwise stand out to colleges.

We don't want our schools to be just about taking tests and high scores. How many times does this need to be explained?
OP, where are you from? If you prefer schools like your home country, please send your child to a school in your home country. I hate to have to say that, but I don't know what else will make you happy.

[Anonymous]

At our school we view the whole student. Grades matter, but so does work ethic and the student’s contribution to the classroom environment. Is the student a model for others, in more ways than just GPA? That’s why a student with a 94 may get the award over the student with a 99.

(Also, OP: how do you know the winner was a C student? Do you have access to other students’ grades?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school we view the whole student. Grades matter, but so does work ethic and the student’s contribution to the classroom environment. Is the student a model for others, in more ways than just GPA? That’s why a student with a 94 may get the award over the student with a 99.

(Also, OP: how do you know the winner was a C student? Do you have access to other students’ grades?)

I’d like to know the answer to that. Plus do you know anything else about him ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, would you send your child to a high school where the valedictorian went to the state flagship, or even an Ivy, but everyone else went to community college or didn’t go to college at all?

American high schools are judged, by parents, based on how many of their students go to good colleges. One kid winning all the awards doesn’t help his classmates get into good colleges. So high schools have learned to spread the wealth. School awards in particular are often used to spotlight good students who wouldn’t otherwise stand out to colleges.

Schools are doing away with valedictorians anyway.

[Anonymous]

American schools aren’t about academic achievement these days.

[Anonymous]

Immigrant here. Just stop comparing, OP. I've seen first hand, over multiple schools and many years, how it can all too easily turn into a popularity contest. My young adult with special needs put in a ton of effort throughout K-12, but this was invisible to his teacher and he never got any awards geared towards "effort". And one high schooler who is gifted (not just straight As but several grades ahead in math and always contributes the right answers in class, etc) and has never gotten any achievement awards either. They're both introverted kids who are polite to all but aren't loudly making friends with teachers and students and emoting all over the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. Just stop comparing, OP. I've seen first hand, over multiple schools and many years, how it can all too easily turn into a popularity contest. My young adult with special needs put in a ton of effort throughout K-12, but this was invisible to his teacher and he never got any awards geared towards "effort". And one high schooler who is gifted (not just straight As but several grades ahead in math and always contributes the right answers in class, etc) and has never gotten any achievement awards either. They're both introverted kids who are polite to all but aren't loudly making friends with teachers and students and emoting all over the place.

At our high school kids with special needs weren’t left out. There was a huge variety of abilities at awards night. Sports weren’t highlighted at our school which is in a chill liberal town with middle class, upper middle class and super rich neighborhoods. It has its problems like any high school but they tried to acknowledge the variety of students they had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, would you send your child to a high school where the valedictorian went to the state flagship, or even an Ivy, but everyone else went to community college or didn’t go to college at all?

American high schools are judged, by parents, based on how many of their students go to good colleges. One kid winning all the awards doesn’t help his classmates get into good colleges. So high schools have learned to spread the wealth. School awards in particular are often used to spotlight good students who wouldn’t otherwise stand out to colleges.

We don't want our schools to be just about taking tests and high scores. How many times does this need to be explained?
OP, where are you from? If you prefer schools like your home country, please send your child to a school in your home country. I hate to have to say that, but I don't know what else will make you happy.

Obviously, the mastery of subject is reflected in grades and tests.

So it sounds like these awards are participation trophies.

In our schools very straight forward - everyone knew everyone’s grades and where you stood.

There was no official class ranking. There were no awards other than something like cum laude graduation. There was no SGA and definitely o sports awards.

I’m beginning to think all this fluff is invented at American schools so kids can get into colleges.