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I disagree with the policy to the extent it is trying to discourage competition or reward outstanding students.

But I think there is a real problem nowadays with grades. When I was in school, the grading system was very clearcut, class choices were minimal, and I never heard of any kind of gamesmanship when it came to grades. The valedictorian was the best student, and there was no quibbling about it.

Now, there are these very elaborate grading systems, and it's clear that many kids game the system to achieve higher GPAs.

The people proposing this are complete idiots, but you are so right about the gamesmanship involved in the top ranks at large high schools. I graduated last year as Salutatorian (out of more than 600), losing by a few hundredths of a point (we use a 0-100 system instead of college style GPA). The guy who beat me took a bunch of basic level classes, instead of college level AP courses, so he had to do about half the work I did, but the joke is on him because it will take him four years to graduate college, and it will only take me 2.5 years (I am classified as a senior and I started in fall of 2002, but some of the hours don't apply to my degree). As for not having a social life, I was on the swim team, and in several clubs, and had time for fun outside of school also. I just got by with 5 hours of sleep per night. I worked harder last year than I am this year taking 18 hours in college (the maximum you are allowed to take without special permission from the dean), but it was still an incredibly fun year. Life is as fun as you make it.

I agree with your points.

Would appreciate your reaction on the following.

State sets up an Academy of Science, Math & Computing for high school juniors and seniors to live on college campus. The students apply and through a process of evaluation of test scores, grades, interviews, and recommendations are selected. (Approximately 70)

School districts are given a choice of presenting high school diploma, if they elect to maintain student on the roles, the school district would receives a % of the money allocated for each student. District receives money also for high test scores from that student.

Student who attends academy takes college courses and is not ranked at the academy. GPA is what it is.

The high school offers limited honors classes (taught by high school teachers) that gain students college credits and these classes are weighted at .05% for each 1/2 credit hour.

The high school that elected to keep the academy student on the roles for the money, will not weight all the college classes taken at the academy, only those similar to ones offered at high school. Example, school does not offer calculus II, so this class would be given the same weight as normal high school math class.

Reason stated that it was not fair to the high school students, because if all college classes were weighted then that academy student's ranking would be # 1 and GPA would be above 5.0.

So to be fair to the rest of the high school students they would rank the academy student #36 and GPA 3.9, and these are the numbers that would be placed on permanent transcript. However, the high school would attach a letter to the transcript explaining why they had ranked the student #36 and GPA of 3.9. Further stating if student were ranked based upon college credits student would be ranked # 1 with gpa above 5.0.