School Board Debates Proposed Class Rank and Graduation Requirement Changes

Proposed policy changes to the class ranking system and graduation requirements for Del Rio High School students were presented to the SFDRCISD Board of Trustees during the February 24, 2025 School Board Meeting. The proposed changes included basing class rank and valedictorian and salutatorian status on the four core classes rather than the grade point average of all courses completed by the students. The recommendations came from a district committee composed of high school principals and counselors and is a policy that has been adopted by other high schools across the state. 

Beginning with the Class of 2029, the proposed calculation of class rank would be based on semester grades earned in high school credit courses in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies only. Per the presentation, “The calculation shall include the semester grades from the four highest course averages in the highest weighted courses earned in the categories of English, Math, Science, Social Studies. The class rank calculation shall not include semester grades from a course that is retaken after a passing grade has been documented, the new grade shall not be recorded on the transcript.” 

The proposed changes would also include exemptions in classes taken during summer school, homeschooling, local credit courses and more. Meaning, credit recovery, CTE and other similar courses would no longer count towards class rank. Another major change that would take place would be the requirement that students attend the same high school for the four consecutive semesters leading up to graduation, or the last two years of high school, in order to be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian. These proposed changes are in an effort to level the playing field for high school students who do not enroll in ECHS, CTE or other upper level courses and extracurricular activities. 

Board Member, Joshua Overfelt raised a number of questions and concerns for the committee and Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Rios, “So right now there’s 26 minimum credits for graduation endorsement, so if we’re using the 15 credits from the core classes towards rank, the other 11 credits that they take we’re not gonna use towards ranking?” To which Dr. Rios replied, “Correct, under this recommendation.” 

After raising numerous concerns about the exclusions and what that would mean for ECHS and students taking advanced and college courses, Overfelt eventually raised a question about legal ramifications for excluding transfer students from the valedictorian and salutatorian spots. 

“What if we have an individual who moves in and when we plug their stuff in, they’re the new valedictorian, and they’re only gonna be here for a year because they’re through Laughlin Air Force Base,” Overfelt asked. To which the answer was, “they would not be included in the class ranking.” 

“We’re opening ourselves up to a lawsuit,” Overfelt stated, at which point Dr. Rios stepped in to respond. “They won’t lose their class rank but the valedictorian is a local honor, on their transcript they’ll have their class ranking but as far as salutatorian and valedictorian, they will not.” 

The two debated about the need to level the playing field for class rank and whether this change would affect student motivation to excel in the courses that do not count towards rank, to which Dr. Rios assured that students will continue to choose their career and education paths regardless of these changes. Ultimately the discussion will continue at a future committee meeting, with more information to come.