Anonymous wrote:It's not only harming my kid-- it harms the entire class when the top 10% and top 20% are tiny and such strong students (students strong than my daughter!) are excluded. It's just pointless and one of those carryover things nobody cares enough to stop and think why do we do this.

I'm sorry you're in this position; it's hard to reconcile these disconnects and frustrating to live through them.

Class rank is part of a school's culture — it is a logical element of an environment that sees education, at least in part, as an enterprise in which students compete against each other academically. I'm not saying that can't be done without ranking (many competitive independent schools don't rank), just that it's all part of the same cloth. There is a case to be made for that kind of environment, and many smart, reasonable people support it.

There is also a case to made against grades, standardized testing, and other forms of academic competition. Its proponents claim that they have stopped to think about, as you say, "why we do this," and there is strong and growing evidence that competition inhibits academic growth, to say nothing of emotional and social well being. That kind of environment, of course, would be unlikely to support class ranking. Many smart, reasonable people support that approach as well.

The problem here is twofold: First, it's hard to select a school that sees education as a competitive exercise, and then expect that they won't apply that approach to their various modi operandi (see: class rank). Second, it's hard to eliminate one aspect of a school's culture and expect the culture to change fundamentally because that one aspect is undone.

Respectfully, if you don't favor class ranking, I think you might consider whether the school's overall view of education is consistent with your own. If it is, you're never going to agree with any school on everything, so can you tolerate class ranking? If not, well, there's your answer. If you can, you make your peace with one aspect of a great school with which you disagree, just as you do with your job, your house, or your partner. As I've often said to families, there are no "good schools" or "bad schools" — there are only schools that are good matches for kids and families and schools that aren't.

Good luck. I know this kind of dissonance is tough.
Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

Competitive college have regional people that know the markets. Also if your daughter has straight As and is not in the top 20% she is not at a rigorous school and there is definite grade inflation.

My daughter went to NCS and the flag winner(highest GPA) there in a recent year I know had at least one B+ in an AP class.

I think there are so many pieces to what a college looks at that rank is the least of the issues. Of course they know that it is specific to a school and would vary by size of school. The most it would do would indicate that a straight A student with a low rank would indicate that the kid is not taking the most rigorous courses since others obviously have greater GPA. Don't sweat it. They will see all the details and they have regional reps whose business if to know how local schools stack up against each other.

Anonymous wrote:Something doesn't make sense. You say it's a tough school and your daughter gets all As but is not in the top 20%.


At rigorous schools there are only a few straight a students in a class. Sounds like your school has a grade inflation problem and colleges will know to discount GPA.

But, but, but, public school kids!!!!

Something doesn't make sense. You say it's a tough school and your daughter gets all As but is not in the top 20%.


At rigorous schools there are only a few straight a students in a class. Sounds like your school has a grade inflation problem and colleges will know to discount GPA.

Anonymous wrote:Is it even possible to get a parochial school to change such a policy? -- My DC went to parochial school for a time, and the administration wasn't exactly flexible.

Not sure that's why I asked. It's such an unbelievably stupid thing to do, I was thinking they can just make an announcement at next board meeting? "Schools X Y and Z stopped ranking. It's apparently unfair to our students in college admissions when they have to compete against schools that don't rank. Our cutoffs for top 10% and top 20% are excluding all A and near all A students... all in favor of ending ranking raise your hand..."

Anonymous wrote:Just tell them you are special and they should change the rules for you.

It's not only harming my kid-- it harms the entire class when the top 10% and top 20% are tiny and such strong students (students strong than my daughter!) are excluded. It's just pointless and one of those carryover things nobody cares enough to stop and think why do we do this.

Is it even possible to get a parochial school to change such a policy? -- My DC went to parochial school for a time, and the administration wasn't exactly flexible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to worry OP. Colleges all know the caliber of a particular school. An A at a first tier private or top public beats an A from a lower tiered school. They know what sort of school your kid attends will judge her vs. others from that school. So whether it shows ranks or not...she will be judged vs. others

How do they know this when there are 10,000 high schools in this country?

I can see the admissions department at UVA having a good feel for McLean or Springfield High School, but what about smaller colleges and smaller high schools.... and especially those kids applying to schools quite a distance from home. Say like a Catoctin High School student applying to Scripps???

adding ... how many Catoctin High School students have applied to Scripps in the last 5 years - probably under 5.