NEISD Rank in Class

• Courses required for graduation, up to a maximum of 26 credits, taken in grades 9-12, through the end of the seventh semester, will be used to calculate class rank. This will include credits for elective courses required for the:
  • Foundation High School Program-Distinguished Level of Achievement (FHSP-DLOA)  regardless of what graduation program is pursued.
• Elective courses that produce the highest weighted grade will be used to calculate rank. Class rank will be based upon a weighted grade average (WGA).
• Weighted grade averages (WGA) are determined by multiplying each semester grade of a ranked course by a rank factor and computing an average. The rank factor recognizes differences in level of difficulty between Advanced Placement, Pre-Advanced Placement, and Regular coursework.

Course Level & Rank Factor

• Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Credit AP: 1.29 
• Pre-Advanced Placement, Honors, GT non-AP, and Dual Credit non-AP: 1.15 
• Regular: 1.00
   
• The weighted grade average (WGA) determines the rank in class. The student earning the highest WGA is ranked number one and all others take the following positions in increasing numeric order. Ties in rank will be broken using the most courses taken given a weight of 1.15 and/or 1.29.
• Students are ranked with the group of students with whom they entered grade nine, called their cohort. Preliminary unofficial class standing reports will be issued to students following the second and fourth semesters of high school. Official class standing will be issued to students following the sixth and seventh semesters of high school. Class rank is determined using a weighted system that supports academic achievement and rigor. 
• The students rank will be reported as “number (___) out of (___) number of students” in their cohort.
• Summer school courses will be included in the calculation of class rank, including high school credits earned in the summer after grade eight.
• Courses that do not count for class rank include those that are taken:
• more than once
• for pass/fail credit
• through credit by exam
• in middle school
• with an ARD exemption
• for which no credit is available
• during summer foreign study
• second semester of the final year

The rank policy for students entering high school in 2021 is attached.  There are changes to the multiplier and the distribution dates.  

Overall Weighted Grade Average / Honor Graduates

• Students achieving high standards of academic excellence shall be recognized at the graduation ceremony as honor graduates based on the following criteria:
• Completion of the FHSP-DLOA for students who enter HS in 2014-15 and thereafter;
• Accumulation of a minimum of 52 semester classes of coursework by the time of graduation; and
• Overall weighted grade average (WGA) for all courses taken in high school through the end of the seventh semester is greater than or equal to 90. The rank factor listed above is used to determine the overall weighted grade average.
• Honor graduates meeting the criteria specified above shall be designated as follows: 

Honor Graduate Designations Cumulative Grade Average 

• Summa Cum Laude: 100+
• Magna Cum Laude: 95-99
• Cum Laude: 90-94