“But I assume you will agree that if 50,000 students achieve a 4.0, there still should be some possible way to rank them within that level.”
Agreed, all things being academically equal, you have to find another way to rank them. That’s where other things besides grades should come into play. Wow, this kid can draw, too. Or play the trumpet. Or shoot baskets. Well-rounded kids are more qualified for college success — and life happiness — than someone who takes yet another advanced math class, when they’ve already passed calculus.
A cheerleader who also passed calculus shouldn’t be penalized for being seventeen and enjoying life.
A GPA simply is not and cannot be the only measure of potential college success. They’re kids — not robots.
And again, Sunday-to-Sunday grind — and 10.0 GPAs — is not the American system. I don’t remember voting to change it to the Chinese system. I don’t want it here.
There is no such thing as "academically equal."
If two students score exactly equal over a high school career, that indicates inadequacy of the rating system, not exactly equal performance.
Grades are not intended to rank a person's worth or value. They're supposed to be rankings of academic performance. Nothing more but nothing less.