Some Dist. 214 parents say preserve class rank

Although district administrators and board members support eliminating class rank, some parents in Northwest Suburban High School District 214 aren’t convinced that would be the right decision.

The board discussed eliminating class rank at the district’s six high schools on Thursday. Officials say it makes students too competitive and dissuades them from signing up for courses they may be interested in for fear of hurting their ranking.

District 214 discussed getting rid of class rank several years ago but instead moved to a quartile system, grouping students in the top 25 percent of their class, the top half, and so on, but officials said this system didn’t eliminate the problem.

“We’re unanimous; we really think it’s in the best interest of the students to eliminate class rank and quartile ranking,” said Superintendent Dave Schuler.

Board President Jim Perkins and other members of the board said they agreed, though some parents said the competition is positive for students.

“A few years ago I spoke out against this and I feel the same way now. I think this is detrimental to high-achieving students.” said Rich Benson, a Mount Prospect resident. “If you achieve in our schools you should be recognized for that publicly.”

Benson also questions the district’s reasons for eliminating class rank.

“I don’t know that a valid reason is that since everyone else has done it, we should do the same,” he said.

Other districts that have eliminated class rank in recent years include Stevenson District 125, Naperville District 204, Maine Township High School District 207, Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 and Palatine-Schaumburg Township High School District 211.

Although rank would not appear on student transcripts, it would be accessible for counselors to send to certain colleges or scholarships if it were required, Schuler said.

District 214 has not recognized a valedictorian or salutatorian for many years, but even if rankings were eliminated, the schools would continue to recognize students with highest honors, high honors and honors, as those designations are based on grade-point average.

Another parent said the current quartile system may unfairly group higher students in with lower students and give college admissions offices the wrong idea about an applicant.

“A student could end up in a lower quartile because of a shade of a point, and that concerns me,” said Ken Klaus of Mount Prospect. “The system needs to be corrected, and if that means eliminating rank all together, so be it.”

The board will vote on class rank at its next meeting on March 15.