High school class has 44 valedictorians with 4.0 GPA

[matcom]

<snip>

Back in the day, class valedictorian was the standout scholar of the senior class, the acknowledged brain.

This year's 406-member graduating class at Garfield High School features 44 valedictorians. Forty-four students with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages who, over seven semesters of mostly honors and Advanced Placement classes, have never earned less than an A.

Even for a school with a reputation as an academic powerhouse, it's a record number: Last year Garfield had 30 valedictorians; the year before, 27.

Skeptics say that so many students with perfect 4.0 GPAs is evidence of grade inflation; admirers say it's the product of smart, hard-working students at a school that encourages academic success.

Either way, the multiple valedictorians at Garfield are reflective of a national trend of rewarding a number of high-achieving students at graduation rather than singling out one.

And nationally, Garfield may be just mid-range. Bullard High School in Fresno, Calif., is graduating 58 valedictorians this year.

"I don't think we're giving away the grades," said Carolyn Barge, Garfield's senior counselor. "These kids are taking every AP and honors class they can get their hands on. They take six classes every semester. They're just amazing kids."

Traditionally the highest-performing student, the valedictorian gives the final address at graduation. But the increasing number of straight-A students has led some schools to abandon the award altogether.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002336475_garfield15m.html

[AX10]

1. Either these kids are very smart or there's something...

going on here.

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. I graduated with a 4.1...wankers!

and I still was 35th in my class

[DS1]

3. Obviously this must be deciced by a swimsuit competition for the ladies

and a BBQ cookoff by the guys.

mmmm, chili, steak, and young firm titties.

..can't WAIT till next year :D

[Guy Fawkes]

5. Can't we reverse that?

[DS1]

6. Ok, how about both

one way on day one, the other way on day two. Tallied score wins.

Let's see those fuckers get perfect grades while spending all their time in the gym :D

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Guy Fawkes]

4. We no longer have 'weighted' grades...

so you can take all core or "block" classes (meant to be extremely easy- made for kids with a less-then-avg. IQ) and still be valedictorian.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I think we need to make our classes a bit harder

[Left Is Write]

8. I graduated high school with a 3.6, which earned honors.

Getting a 4.0 was a major accomplishment; one of my older sisters did it (and she also earned a 4.0 in college, got a fellowship to grad school, and got a 4.0 in grad school).

44 out of 406? 11% of the students? That seems high.

[Shell Beau]

9. That is either one easy school or we are in

the twilight zone!

[RPM]

11. Grade inflation

gotta keep the parents happy....

:eyes:

[Shell Beau]

15. Well I wish that was going on when I was in school then.

Would have been nice!:7

[RPM]

10. my school gave it to all 4.0s and over or the single highest below 4.0

only smart thing my school ever did.

[TlalocW]

13. I was one of two for my class. The year before me...

Had 4. All brain-dead cheerleaders (not all cheerleaders are bad, but these were) who had taken four years of home ec electives.

Unfortunately, I had to go to all the high school graduations as I was in band. That year was torturous having to listen to them. The year before was even worse because the valedictorian fancied himself a great singer and sang a song instead of gave a speech.

Cringe City.

TlalocW

[redqueen]

14. Didn't they go back through middle and grade school?

I thought valedictorian was for ONE person... at one high school I attended they did indeed have to go back to grade school grades in order to determine the actual winner.

[radwriter0555]

16. At the Wildwood School in West LA last year, the 16 graduates netted

at total of $260,000 in GRANTS for college. That didn't even count the scholarships.

It's a private democratic day school in West Los Angeles modeled a bit after Summerhill.

[AngryAmish]

17. the one way to settle this: "Battle Royale"

44 person, no holds barred, over the top rope Battle Royale. It would certainly make graduation more interesting.

[DrGonzoLives]

18. I think grade inflation just jumped the shark

n/t

[Nikia]

19. It sounds like they need to make the classes harder

They could at least make the AP and honors classes more difficult. Require more work. Grade the papers and essays on tests harder. They are not doing these students any favors. I graduated with a 3.97 and wish that my classes in high school would have been harder. I went to an academically challenging college and was shocked when I ended up with Bs and Cs on my assignments. I wasn't slacking off either. At my college, acceptable work was graded as a C, good work was graded as a B, and exceptional work was graded as an A. In high school, acceptable work was graded as an A.

[ComerPerro]

20. My HS valedictorian was a complete idiot

She just did all of her homework (usually with help) and cheated on tests. I'm not saying that to be bitter, either. I've actually seen her do it.

I didn't really give a shit about it though. I barely did any homework or anything in highschool and still had a 3.5 thanks to my test scores...