Board still struggling with class rank issue
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

Metuchen

METUCHEN — Class rank or no class rank, that is still the question.

“Before the end of the school year, we will have a final public debate and make our decision,” said Board of Education President Ronald Grayzel at the Feb. 22 board meeting.

Board members have wrestled with the question of retaining class rank figures for more than a year.

“The committee is split; we have listed the pros and cons of class rank,” said Sandra DeLuca, chairwoman of the committee. “We are not recommending one way or the other.”

But they did find an alternative plan, the Red Bank plan, which has worked well for the students at a private Red Bank school, she said.

“I have spoken to the school officials there, and they say they have no problems with the plan, it’s a win-win solution,” said DeLuca.

The plan offers a senior student and their parents the option of putting their grade-point average (GPA) on their high school transcript that will be sent to colleges.

“The option is binding, so you can’t change your mind in the middle,” said DeLuca. “The student has to ask themselves what would represent them the best to the colleges they are applying to.”

Schools Superintendent Theresa Sinatra as well as others on the board and some parents said the plan was appealing because it catered to both sides, but needed more research.

“I would want to hear what their committee, as well as the students have to say,” said Sinatra. “I also would want to ask, for example, the Rutgers University admissions, if 20 students apply and 10 apply with their grade-point average on their transcripts and 10 do not, how do they deal with that?”

Last year, six out of 200 students who graduated from the private Red Bank school put their GPA on their transcripts, said Deluca.

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) 2005 March Report, 61 percent of high schools rank nationally; four out of five public schools rank; and one out of five private schools rank.

The top factors in college admissions are grades in college preparatory classes, standardized test scores and grade-point averages, according to the report.

“The college application essay, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, demonstrated show of interest in the college or university, and class rank fill in the missing pieces to the top factors,” said DeLuca.

Committee members cited both the pros and cons of class rank.

“If we eliminated class rank, it would eliminate competition among students and ensure that students are not disadvantaged in the college admission process,” said DeLuca. “The reason we would retain class rank is because we have always done it this way. We need a valedictorian and salutatorian speaker at graduation. Ranking motivates students, and some colleges require rank.”

The committee also made recommendations if class rank was eliminated.

Internal, confidential ranking should be maintained on basis of weighted GPA for scholarships or other similar purposes, DeLuca said.

The grade-point average could be released only to students and parents, but valedictorians and salutatorians would continue to be honored, she said.

If the board decided to eliminate ranking, implementation should begin with the class of 2010, DeLuca said.

Citizens for Quality Education (CQE), a broad-based citizens group formed several decades ago, favors eliminating class rank, said CQE member Jackie Gibson.

“We are in favor of using a very detailed school profile instead of reporting the student class rank to colleges,” Gibson said. “Class rank does not benefit the majority of MHS [Metuchen High School] students because selective colleges are less likely to admit students who fall below the top 10 percent. Reporting class rank works against more students than it helps.”

CQE suggested provisions that may be made to report rank such as when an individual student requests it, a student has placed within the top five percentile of his or her class, or when a student has placed in the No. 1, 2 or 3 spot at the top of his or her class.

Gibson worried that students weren’t challenging themselves because of class rank.

“It shouldn’t be about saving your class rank by taking the easier classes, it should be about taking the challenging courses that you’re interested in,” she said.

According to the NACAC 2005 report, 72 percent of students went off to four-year colleges, and 21 percent went to two-year colleges from high schools that did not report rank.

Board member George Trapp favored keeping class rank.

“Competition is a daily thing,” said Trapp. “It’s a reality we all need to face.”

Principal John Novak said he was glad the decision was not up to him.

“I really don’t know what I would decide,” said Novak. “I would recommend not to change, but it’s not a strong recommendation.”