Valedictorian Selection
See below for information regarding valedictorian selection.
- Valedictorian Selection Structure
- Valedictorian Application
- Quality Points System
- Class Rank Guideline
Valedictorian Selection Structure
The Valedictorian & Salutatorian are chosen by Committee
- Principal
- Guidance Coordinator
- 3 Faculty Representatives
Based Upon Overall Rubric
Factor | Max Points |
---|---|
Scholastic Achievement |
|
School Leadership | 4 |
School Involvement | 3 |
Proposed Commencement Speech | 2 |
Attendance | 1 (excepting major illness) |
Discipline |
No ISS or OSS |
ATTENDANCE
*consideration given to major illness
*excessive tardies to school will diminish the score
0 | .5 | 1 |
---|---|---|
3% or more of total days absent | 2% to 2.9% total days absent | less than 1.9% total days absent |
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
The highest level of leadership in the school is defined by:
Took active, dynamic, and long-standing leadership roles in the school
Significant initiative is evident in at least one project
Based Upon Rubric (score assigned by the Selection Committee)
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
No leadership | Minimal leadership in organizations | Assumed leadership occasionally in organizations | Assumed an active leadership role in organizations |
|
SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT
The highest level of school involvement is defined by engagement in a well-rounded variety of activities with significant overall time commitment.
Based Upon Rubric (score assigned by Selection Committee)
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Minimal involvement in school activities | Some involvement in school activities | Substantial time commitment to school activities | Well-rounded with significant time commitment |
Process Notes:
- Senior resume and application are used to determine initial level of involvement and leadership
- Committee narrows to finalists who are interviewed to determine Valedictorian (runner-up is Salutatorian)
Valedictorian Application
Use the following link for the Valedictorian Application (Word form)
Quality Points System
Souderton Area High School does not publicly report students’ individual class rank. For college admissions, counselors will report a student’s cumulative weighted grade point average (WGPA), and will report the range, mean, and median GPAs for the student’s class. If required for scholarships, armed forces, etc., counselors will report decile rank (10%, 20%, etc.) based on a quality point system. While SAHS does not report class rank, the ranks are used to establish students’ decile rank.
For the purpose of determining the top 5% of students for Valedictorian selection and for invitation to the Scholars’ Banquet at the end of junior and senior years, students who are in the top 5% based upon either quality points or WGPA after the 3rd Quarter will be included.
See below for an example of how quality points are used to determine decile rank.
No type of ranking will appear on a student’s high school transcript.
Quality Point System
Example of quality points calculation:
Student A
Course | Grade | Numeric Equivalent | Course Credit | Course Weight | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
English 9 Honors | B | 3 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 3.75 |
Modern US Hist. Acad. | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Algebra I | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Total QP | 11.75 |
Student B
Course | Grade | Numeric Equivalent | Course Credit | Course Weight | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
English 9 Honors | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 5.0 |
Modern US Hist. Acad. | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Algebra I | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Total QP | 13.00 |
Student C
Course | Grade | Numeric Equivalent | Course Credit | Course Weight | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
English 9 Honors | B | 3 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 3.75 |
Modern US Hist. Acad. | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
Algebra I | A | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
French 1 | C | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
Total | 13.75 |
Based on the above examples, despite the C in French I, Student C would be ranked number one in the class because this student took more courses and had more quality points. Student B would be ranked second and Student A would be ranked third.
Two types of GPA are calculated at the High School – a weighted and an unweighted GPA. GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the total of credits. Using our student examples from above:
Student A had 11.75 quality points and 3 credits. This student would have a weighted GPA of 3.916. In order to calculate an un-weighted GPA Student A’s quality points would have to be adjusted by removing the course weight. Therefore Student A would have 11.00 un-weighted quality points and an un-weighted GPA of 3.666.
Class Rank Guideline
Souderton Area High School does not publicly report students' individual class rank. For college admissions, counselors will report a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA), and will report the range, mean, and median GPAs for the student's class. If required for scholarships, armed forces, etc., counselors will report decile rank (10%, 20%, etc.) based on a quality point system. While SAHS does not report class rank, the ranks are used to establish students' decile rank. See below for an example of how quality points are used to determine decile rank.
No type of ranking will appear on a student's high school transcript.