A school district in Colorado has decided to stop recognizing and awarding valedictorians at their high schools starting 2026. This surprising decision, made by the Cherry Creek School District, was announced in a letter to families. According to them, the resolution was made because it found inconsistencies among its high schools in the number of valedictorians and the qualifications. “The practices of class rank and Valedictorian status are outdated and inconsistent with what we know and believe of our students. We believe all students can learn at high levels, and learning is not a competition,” the institution further explained.
This announcement earned a mixed reception from parents. Some disagree, saying that it will not fix the problem. “It’s not going to fix the stress that we are seeing for other students, plus it’s taking away from those who want to work towards it,” Kristen Stone, a parent, said. On the other hand, some support this decision, saying that a class rank system can negatively affect a student’s choice of classes and adds to the growing pressure that high schoolers are experiencing.
Image credit: MD Duran
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