FILE:  IHC

CLASS RANKING

The Plaquemines Parish School Board shall require all class rankings to be based on a cumulative grade point average.  Any student who aspires to graduate in the top of his/her class and graduate with honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude, Salutatorian, and Valedictorian) must follow all requirements of the curriculum. 

For each graduating senior, the cumulative grade point average shall be the average of all credits - regular, honors, advanced placement, summer school, and driver's education as credited on the transcript and calculated to five (5) decimal places.  Valedictorian, salutatorian, and honors rankings shall be based on the cumulative grade point average calculated.

More than one student may be awarded the position of valedictorian or salutatorian if those students have identical grade point average when calculated to five (5) decimal places.  Additionally, no student shall be penalized from being valedictorian or salutatorian because he or she took additional courses beyond twenty-four (24).  If a student taking courses beyond twenty-four (24) makes all A's in these extra courses, and after the twenty-four (24) credits with the highest possible quality points are compared, and all grades are equal with students taking fewer subjects, such students shall tie for valedictorian or salutatorian, whichever is applicable.

RECOGNITION FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Academic achievement for graduating seniors in Plaquemines Parish schools shall be recognized according to the following:

POSTING OF THE TOP TEN STUDENTS

The following timeline has been established to require posting, in rank order, the names of the top ten (10) students (the actual grade point average for these students will not be posted, only the rank order in which they are positioned at that time):

1. At the end of the second nine weeks of the junior year, the names of the top ten (10) students ranked in order will be posted; this ranking will be based on Carnegie units earned through the beginning of their junior year, inclusive of summer school and Driver's Education.
   
   

2. At the end of the junior year, or within the first ten (10) days of their senior year, a revised list of the top ten (10) students in rank order will be posted.
   
   

3. One month before the last day of senior attendance, another list of the top ten (10) students will be developed to reflect student ranking based on the assumption that these students will earn A's in all courses in which they are currently enrolled.
   
   

4. Before announcing the final selection of the school's valedictorian or salutatorian, the school's principal and the Chief Academic Officer or designee must review the grade point averages and give their signatures of approval for the final selection of valedictorian and salutatorian.

Ref:    Board minutes, 12-6-93, 7-12-99, 6-8-09, 9-5-24

Plaquemines Parish School Board