Controversy over class rank discussed at latest SBDM meeting

For past few months, HC has been discussing the removal of class rank, a system that numbers students from one to over 500 based on GPA and classes taken. Throughout this discussion, there have been questions raised about the effect this would have on students applying for colleges. Recently, at the Jan. 11 SBDM meeting, the focus transitioned to students applying for military academies.

Parents are concerned about the effects it could have on their college applications, specifically applications to a military academy.

“I feel like [there] has been no input [and] low research,” Chris Gilligan, a concerned parent of an HC sophomore and incoming freshman said. “Why should students been penalized by those universities that do accept [class rank]? Or [by] military schools that do want it?”

JROTC instructor Sergeant Hunt believes that class rank won’t have a negative effect specifically on the students applying for these schools.

“Their GPA and ACT are the most important thing [when applying for a military academy],” Hunt said.

According to HC principal Paul Little, the overall voice of the student body is approving of the removal of class rank.

“I brought it up to [The Principal Advisory Board], and the consensus was, let’s do away with [class rank],” Little said. “In my opinion, it’s [the students’] school. I find it to be an unhealthy competition.”

The recent addition of Zachariah Sippy to the SBDM board as a non-voting student member also offered the perspective of the student body.

“I don’t want the class of 2021 to have to be under the same pressure that I am,” Sippy said.

The removal of class rank at HC is still under discussion and will be addressed at the next SBDM meeting, Feb. 8.