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Education committee recommends moving away from published class rank; board to start change with next incoming freshmen
Summary
Board committee discussed eliminating published class rank in favor of a Latin-honors style recognition beginning with next year's freshmen, aligning graduation formats across schools, and reviewed a favorable audit of the district's Delta Summit special-education program.
A board committee report to the Community High School District 218 Board of Education on Feb. 20 said the district is proposing to shift away from publishing class rank and instead adopt a Latin-honors recognition model for students beginning with next year's incoming freshmen.
A board member reporting from the education committee said the recommendation is intended to encourage students to take more rigorous, career-aligned courses rather than selecting classes to improve rank. The committee discussed offering alternate public recognition for high-performing students; the committee did not finalize a new recognition ceremony and said more details will come back to the board next month.
The committee report also said plans for graduation ceremonies are being adjusted. The board discussed holding graduation in the football stadium (weather permitting) with Trinity (a local partner) as the indoor backup site; committee members said organizers are working to better align core elements across the three schools' ceremonies while preserving school-level autonomy.
The committee reviewed an audit of the Delta Summit program, which provides an alternative continuum of services for students who require smaller-class settings and additional social-emotional supports. Dustin Cochran, director of special education, summarized the committee's discussion: "In terms of our continuum of services... looking at our reset program and the home schools and looking at ... how are we servicing those students? Is it more restrictive or less restrictive to be at Summit," Cochran said, adding the district will work more closely with special-education staff to support transitions and preventative supports.
Committee members reported the audit of Delta Summit showed the program is servicing students effectively, keeping some students in district while remaining cost-effective. The education committee said it plans additional outreach with teachers and will return with implementation details next month for the class-rank change and recognition approach.
The changes under discussion would not affect students already enrolled; the committee recommended the new approach start with the freshman class entering in fall 2025. The board did not take a final vote on the class-rank change at the Feb. 20 meeting.
