Concerns about how to maintain an equitable system of class rank at Mahomet-Seymour High School during adjusted models of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted building leadership, including Principal Chad Benedict, Counselor Tim Lybarger, Division Chairs and Mahomet-Seymour School Board Member Colleen Schultz to re-evalute the district’s honor system.
During the Nov. 17 school board meeting, the school board was presented with a model to move away from the GPA-ranked model into a system that the collegiate system uses, making a “more equitable recognition plan for current and future MSHS students,” according to a presentation by Benedict.
The discussion began at the board level in August when Schultz asked for the topic to be discussed at the board level. At that time, division heads began researching the possibility of removing class rank for the class of 2025.
But the administrators began to see that after students could only receive a pass/fail grade during second semester of the 2019-20 school year, the weighted grading system to determine GPA and class rank adversely affected those who took weighted classes.
Those students did not receive the “points” that contribute to GPA, thus affecting their overall class rank.
The realization prompted the administration to look at ways to modify the honors recognition system beginning with the Class of 2022. The Class of 2021 will continue to be ranked per their GPA.
The Class of 2022 and 2023 will be recognized in a blend of the previous system and the new system.
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.9 to 4.34 or are in the 21% – 30% of their class will receive high honors; students with a cumulative GPA of 4.35 to 4.74 or are in the top 11% – 20% of their class will receive highest honors; and students whose Cumulative GPA is 4.75 or higher or are in the to 10% of their class will qualify to have colored chords to wear during the graduation ceremony.
The Class of 2024 will be recognize for their cumulative GPA. Students whose cumulative GPA is 4.35 to 4.74 will receive high honors and students whose Cumulative GPA is 4.75 or higher will receive highest honors. Qualifying students would have colored chords to wear during the graduation ceremony.
The graduation ceremony will still have speeches that will be solicited by a committee made up of administration, counselors, and speech teachers. Nominated students will send a speech to the committee for final selection.
The administration believes that changing to the new model will alleviate unnecessary stress for students while also ensuring that the education each student receives as they work toward college or career readiness is based on the path they wish to pursue rather than how their class rank.
Mahomet-Seymour follows districts like Unit 5, Lincoln-Way High School District 210, Joliet Township High School District 204, Consolidated High School District 230, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233, Marian Catholic High School, Lemont High School, and Providence Catholic High School and Crete-Monee High School in moving away from the class ranking model.
Many college and university admissions departments have stopped using class rank as an admissions factor, rather looking at college and career readiness for every student.
While board member Jeremy Henrichs said that he appreciated the work that went into the proposal, he thinks “excellency should be honored at the highest levels” and “even though we’re trying to help with those stress levels that we miss out on an opportunity to learn how to cope with some adversity.”
Henrichs said that he is concerned that removing the ranking system will take away the opportunity for students to learn how to set goals, how to adjust if they miss them and that they won’t be able to compare themselves in the job market.
“I feel like we’re taking some opportunities away from our students to really learn and grow as young men and women into adults,” he said.
Benedict said that he and the staff reviewing the changes also talked about some of the same things, looking at student’s mental health was something the district has been something the district has been working towards.
Within the new model, students would be competing against themselves, Benedict said, working towards their personal goals.
Henrichs added, “I think we have to think about, are we really helping their mental health by removing a stressor, where a stressor is an opportunity to learn everything else in life.”
Henrichs was the only board member to vote against the new honor system.
Benedict said making the change now will help students choose classes beginning in January.
