District 155 Explores Eliminating Class Rank

Do you think District 155 should eliminate class rank?

The local school district is exploring the option of eliminating class rank at its four high schools starting with next year’s freshman class, according to a District 155 press release. Information sessions were held in recent days at District 155 high schools with the final session scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Prairie Ridge High School auditorium. 

A growing number of ”high-performing” school districts have done away with class rank, including Barrington 220, Glenbrook District 225, Highland Park/Deerfield District 113, New Trier District 203, Maine Township District 207, District 211, and District 214, according to the news release.

“The change in ranking practice is motivated by the desire to give students a more meaningful high school experience while allowing them the best opportunity to attend the college of their choice,” according to the news release. “Class rank can negatively—and falsely—represent students in high-performing schools when compared to less successful high schools. For example, a student in a District 155 school may be outside the top 10 percent in class rank but still score a 28 on the ACT, while an applicant at a lower performing school could be in the top 5 percent with an ACT score of 25. In that scenario, the District 155 student would be unfairly disadvantaged in the admission process.”

District 155 officials said the idea to examine class rank was proposed by a current teacher and has the backing of school leadership teams, division leaders, and district personnel.

Once feedback has been received from parents at the information sessions, the proposal may progress to the board of education for final approval.

More information and research related to class rank is available here.

Do you think District 155 should eliminate class rank?