A Farewell to Farewells

Mia Zanzucchi

If you’ve ever attended a high school graduation, chances are you’ve heard a valedictorian speech. The Valedictorian, derived from the Latin phrase vale dicere, or “to say farewell,” is a tradition at many schools. The valedictory speech is historically given at the conclusion of the ceremony by the top ranked student of the graduating class.

However, changing times calls for changing policies. Starting with the graduating class of 2014, or this year’s juniors, the valedictory speech, as well as the whole entire class ranking system, will become a thing of the past. Many colleges, as well as other academic programs, ask for your class ranking. They like to see students in the top quarter, top ten, or top five percent of their graduating class. But of course, as a number of schools are ceasing to rank their students, your percentile or class rank has become an optional field in many cases.

Students at West Jessamine are ranked based on a point system (see below) spanning from the day they enter high school as a freshman, to the end of their senior year. There are four points when class rankings are calculated: at the end of both the fall and spring semesters for the junior year and the senior year. High school credits earned in middle school do not count toward the class ranking point system. Students who transfer in from any other school, even East, after the start of the spring semester their junior year aren’t eligible for valedictorian.

But starting with the class of 2014, the Latin Honor System will replace class rankings. In 1869, Harvard College became the first college in the United States to implement this system. Used almost solely by American schools, the Latin Honor System has three levels of honor, as defined by Jessamine County Board policy. Cum laude, or “with honor,” will be awarded to students whose GPA ranges between a 3.5 and a 3.749 over their whole high school career. Magna cum laude, or “with great honor,” will be for students who have earned an overall GPA ranging from 3.750 to 4.099. And for the crème de la crème, summa cum laude, or “with highest honor,” will be given to those who have a 4.1 GPA or above.

Why the switch? Many find the class ranking system to be unfair. Often times, only a small margin separates the top quarter of a graduating class. Some students know how to play the system, and do so by taking easy classes to rack up points. West Jessamine High School Assistant Principal Dr. Wells also adds that, because both East and West now follow the same system, a transfer between schools will now become easier.

Unweighted Courses	Weighted Courses
A = 4 points	A = 5 points
B = 3 points	B = 4 points
C = 2 points	C = 3 points
D =  1 point	D =2 points
F = 0 points	F = 0 points