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This Class is Rank(ed)
This Class is Rank(ed)
Lauren Badger
As seniors and juniors at Flagstaff High School begin to look into colleges and explore the application processes, a question arises regarding class rankings- are they important? Will it affect my chances of getting into my dream college? And the fact is, not really. AP College Board says that differences in grading standards between high schools around the country make class rankings less reliable, meaning colleges look more at SAT and ACT scores. And, from this fact, another question arises- should class ranks even exist if they aren’t useful when applying for colleges? Is it healthy as a motivator and qualifier for student academic ambition? Many students around Flag High feel neutral on this subject, as many either didn’t know their class rank, or simply didn’t care.
A senior I interviewed with a class rank of 12 out of 328 says she didn’t even know her class rank until prompted to check, and that she doesn’t really think it matters at all. It doesn’t motivate her to work harder, and the competitive aspect doesn’t matter unless going to a very local college. This sparked an interesting conversation within our AP statistics table, as the other girls agreed, adding that being in the top 10% at Flag High won’t guarantee you a spot at Harvard. In fact, Flag High doesn’t even acknowledge valedictorian anymore- for reasons unbeknownst to students. The only reason class ranks are beneficial is because of the competition and motivation they are capable of creating, for the people who care. However, in comparison to the conflicts it creates between students, it seems as though class ranks really aren’t worth all the hype. It seems a bit counterintuitive to have students encouraged to get good grades to beat their friends, or take extra Advanced Placement classes to pass the person in 1st. Instead, students should be able to do as they please without stressing over a ranking, especially when many colleges don’t look at class rankings.