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Olentangy senior urges board to make class ranks private, citing student stress; board offers follow‑up
Summary
Senior Rohan Batcher told the board that public class rankings harm student mental health and push students toward weighted courses for GPA advantage; board members thanked him, suggested follow-up with the district mental‑health committee and offered to connect him with staff.
Rohan Batcher, a senior at Olentangy High School, addressed the board during the April 24 public‑comment period and urged the district to stop releasing class rank publicly and instead use rank only for scholarship purposes.
Batcher said the student handbook’s statement that rank is internal “is not enough” and argued that public rank information damages student morale, increases stress and prompts students to choose weighted courses for GPA advantage rather than classes they find meaningful. He cited a University of Wisconsin–Madison study he said linked class ranking to stress and depression and related anecdotes from classmates and other districts that made rankings private.
Board response Board President Brandon Lester and other board members thanked Batcher for speaking and described avenues for follow‑up. Lester suggested Batcher speak with the district’s mental‑health staff member (Doctor Berent) and said the district’s mental‑health and well‑being committee includes students from each high school; the board offered to place the topic on a future committee agenda for discussion.
Ending Batcher said he appreciated the board’s response. Board members encouraged student participation in committee work and acknowledged the district’s interest in balancing high standards with student well‑being.
