Laredo ISD board restores original class-ranking formula, seeks to preserve valedictorian recognition
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Summary
Trustees voted 5–2 on Dec. 17 to revert to the district's original class-ranking formula so students who graduate early but hold the highest GPAs remain eligible for valedictorian and salutatorian honors.
The Laredo ISD Board of Trustees voted Dec. 17 to revert to the district's original class-ranking formula, affecting how valedictorians and salutatorians will be determined.
Trustee Juan Ramirez led discussion in favor of restoring the prior formula, arguing that a student who completes required credits earlier but has the highest GPA should not be excluded. "If the student... merits to be the highest GPA and merits to be a valedictorian, that student should be it," Ramirez said during the debate.
Trustees discussed the effects of weighted grading (honors, AP, dual enrollment) and whether students taking different numbers or types of credits would be disadvantaged. Supporters said reverting to the original method preserves fairness for students who graduate early but accumulate the same credits; opponents raised concerns about ensuring consistent application across campuses.
The motion to revert passed by a vote of 5'to'2. The board directed administration to provide any required revisions to policy EIC (Local) to implement the restored ranking formula and to ensure consistent recognition procedures going forward.