Westwood High School Proposal for Changes in Rank in Class ...whs.my-pta.org/Content/3_25/DocumentStore/4/WHS... · Source: National Association of College Admissions Counselors’

Westwood High School Proposal for Changes in

Rank in Class

April 2017

Meeting Etiquette

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•  Presentation ~45 minutes, Q&A/discussion ~30 minutes •  This is an emotional topic for many. Please be respectful

of differing opinions. •  Please:

–  hold questions until end. –  do not monopolize Q&A. –  wait to be called upon to speak. –  do not repeat questions or comments; be additive. –  keep comments productive and constructive. –  no ad hominem.

What’s the history of RIC and RRISD?

•  In 1997, the State passed the “[7%/]10% Rule” granting automatic admission to state schools

•  In 2010, RRISD convened a committee to evaluate the District’s RIC Policy –  The District chose to maintain the current system; consistency

across the District was a critical component of their evaluation –  The Committee recommended revisiting the topic in 3 to 4 years

•  In 2016, a new Committee was formed that determined that RIC was not a priority, thus halting the re-evaluation –  For this to move forward, we need to (i) decide if this is a priority

for us, and (ii) if so, elevate the issue to the District –  If possible, we will advocate for a standalone solution for WHS

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What is Rank In Class (“RIC”)?

•  RIC is the numeric ranking of students based on her RIC Grade Point Average (“GPA”). –  For example, Tammy is ranked 204th out of 628* students in her

sophomore class (~32nd percentile).

•  RIC is used by various external groups as a threshold for qualification, such as automatic college admission or merit-based scholarships. –  In response to judicial mandates for diversity in public higher education,

the “Top 7%/10%” guideline was established; provides for automatic admission into public universities and colleges in Texas.#

•  RIC is often used amongst students in determining social circles; it can be a barrier to social connection.

4 * This is only an example of a RIC; it is intended to illustrate the numeric ranking of students. # There are additional requirements for automatic college admission, but top 10% RIC is the primary requirement. Due to a limited number of admission positions, certain universities such as UT Austin limit admission to the top 7%. These thresholds are changed periodically.

How is RIC GPA computed?

•  The school computes two GPA’s: one is the “unweighted GPA” and the other is the RIC GPA.

•  The RIC GPA is a 5.0 scale, with an additional 1.0 point for advanced (Pre-AP/IB, AP/IB, dual credit) courses in the 5 core subject areas.

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Subject Units Grade GradePoints

English2 0.5 93 4.3

German2 0.5 89 3.9

Pre-APPre-Calculus 0.5 94 5.4

Pre-APChemistry 0.5 96 5.6

WorldHistory 0.5 87 3.7

APCompSciA 0.5 92 5.2

TOTAL 3.0 28.1/2

RICGPA 4.70*

+1.0

+1.0

* This is only an example of how the RIC GPA is computed; it is not intended to indicate the GPA required to achieve the specific rank for the example student.

+1.0

What have we learned from 2016’s Campus Climate Survey?

6 Source: 2016 Westwood High School Campus Climate Survey. 2016 sample sizes for students, parents and staff are 603, 536 and 73, respectively. 2017 average years of experience for teachers is 12.3 years, compared to 10.9 for RRISD and 11.0 for State.

+8%

+22%

+32%

+9%

+7%

+16%

Academic Stress is the most significant problem at WHS for all members of the Community. Importantly, students and staff, those who live with Academic Stress on a daily basis, identify it as a major problem at a higher rate than parents.

Academic Dishonesty is the second most significant problem at WHS. Again, students and staff identify it as a major problem at a higher rate than parents. Overall, staff sees these issues as troublesome relative to their District peers.

Are 2016’s findings consistent with the past?

7 Source: 2013-2016 Westwood High School Campus Climate Surveys.

Academic Stress reported by students and teachers has increased by ~9% (~7 points) in the last 3 years.

Similarly, Academic Dishonesty as reported by students and teachers has also increased significantly in that timeframe.

Who is WHS?

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Subject 2016

Enrollment ~2,750

NumberofGraduates 628

PercentageofGraduatesaUendingcollege 97%

IBDiplomaGraduates 68

%ofIBExamscores>4 97%

NumberofAPExamsadministered 3,257

%ofAPExamscores>3 91%

NumberofNaYonalMeritSemifinalists 54

NumberofNaYonalMeritFinalists 52

2016ACTComposite 27.5

2015SATComposite 1814

For an open-enrollment public HS, WHS is unusual in the high rate of college-bound students. TX HS average +/- 53%*.

Given the large number of college-bound students, the focus is clearly on college readiness, as seen in the large number of AP/IB exams and high average SAT/ACT scores.

Source:TexasHigherEducaYonData,WestwoodHighSchoolProfile.

Stress Anxiety

Sleeplessness* Unhealthy Habits

College Admissions

Heavy Course Load

Grading Systems

Academic Competition

Rank in Class

What are the sources of Academic Stress?

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“I own my GPA, I don’t own my class rank.” Student at Highland Park HS

* The National Institute of Health recommends 9-10 hours of sleep for teenagers; sleeplessness “…makespayingaUenYonhard,increasesimpulsivityandmayalsoincreaseirritabilityanddepression.”In2016,94%ofstudentsreportgebnglessthantherecommendedamountofsleep.

What is the purpose of a High School education?

•  To develop young adults into engaged and curious learners who have the ability to pursue their future paths of interest

•  To provide opportunities for self-development through academic, athletic, artistic and social exploration

•  To fully engage them in a community where they understand their roles and responsibilities

•  To develop healthy personal and interpersonal life skills

“If we say our purpose is to develop talent, then computing class rank is unmistakably counter to that purpose.”*

10 * Thomas R. Guskey, Volume 95, Number 6, kappanmagazine.org.

What are some of the adverse unintended consequences of RIC?

•  Subverts the educational mission of developing students –  Diminishes collaboration between students –  Increases academic dishonesty

•  Places greater importance on grades and scores versus exploration and experimentation –  Diminishes enjoyment of learning –  Diminishes community spirit –  Increases “GPA gaming” / diminished intellectual risk-taking

•  Incentivizes unhealthy habits and antisocial behaviors –  Deprioritizes sleep and exercise –  Increases stress, anxiety and depression –  Diminishes self-worth and confidence

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What are some of the positive effects of RIC?

•  Teaches what life is like after high school –  Prepares students for colleges and careers that rank

•  Motivates some students to study harder •  Honors academic achievement

–  Provides an extrinsic reward system

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What is the Proposal? CurrentSystem* ProposedChange

HowwillRICGPAbecomputed? 5.0system,with1.0addedforadvancedcourses

Noproposedchanges

Howwillthevaledictorian,salutatorianandtop10studentsbeselected?

ByorderofRICGPA Noproposedchanges

WhatwillIknowaboutmyRIC? Specificnumericclassrank(e.g.,76/619) YourRICGPAandtheRICThresholdsforspecificcutoffs(e.g.,Top7%RICGPA=x.xxx,Top10%RICGPA=y.yyy,quarOlesthereaPer);ClassRanknotreportedonofficialtranscript;phase-inoropt-infortransiOon;CerOficateofRankforscholarshipsthatrequirerank.

WhatareotheracademicrecogniYons? None(forclassesafer2017) LaOnHonors(summacumlaude,magnacumlaude,cumlaude)basedonstandardizedGPA(i.e.,notclassrank).Forexample,CumLaude>4.5;Magna>5.0;Summa>5.5

WhendoIknowmyRICGPA&posiYon? RICGPA:aferfirstsemesteroffreshmanyearClassRank:afersecondsemesteroffreshmanyearOfficialclassrank:afer5thMarkingPeriodofsenioryear

RICGPA:NoproposedchangesClassRankThresholds:aPersecondsemesterofsophomoreyearOfficialClassRank:Noproposedchanges

HowtomiYgatecourseoverload? None Requireparent-studentcounseling,withprincipalapproval;providedetailcoursedescripOonsforbeaerdecision-making

13 Source:DistrictCourseCatalogsfor2017-2018AcademicYearandWHSstaff.

This proposal is subject t change without notice, based on the fedback received from the Community.

What are key considerations?

•  Will our students be at a disadvantage in college admissions?

•  In scholarships?

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What is “Considerably Important” in College Admissions?

15 Source: National Association of College Admissions Counselors’ (“NACAC”) Research to Practice Brief, Issue 3, “Class Rank”, 2007; NACAC’s State of College Admission 2015. * Prior to 2006, Grades in College Prep & Strength of Curriculum were combined.

Classrankhasdiminishedinimportancesinceweappliedtocollege;intheearly1990s,classrankwascomparabletoadmissionstests,butisnowonly1/4asimportant.

How well do WHS students fare at Universities of choice?

2015EnrolledUT–AusOn

2016AdmiaedTexasState

2016AdmiaedUNT

Top7% 25(57%of~44*)

Next18% 46(41%of~113*)

SecondQuarYle 15(9%of~157*)

BoUomHalf <5(<2%of~314*)

TOTAL 86(14%of~628*) 69(11%of628*) 36(6%of628*)

16 Source:UT-AusYnOfficeofAdmissions.DatafromTexasA&MUniversityhasbeenrequested,buthasnotyetbeenreceived.QuarYlesizesarebasedonsizeofclassof2016(628graduates).

What do Admissions Officers say?

•  “Doing away with rank may help students from Westwood at UT-Austin…. For students with no rank, UT will create a rank for them based on a school profile, previous applicants and the classes taken. When Lake Travis [HS] did away with rank, UT’s rank was about 97% accurate with what the student would have been ranked.” Nicholas H., formerly of University of Texas at Austin

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•  “TAMU provides automatic admission to the students in the top 10% of all high schools. For schools who do not rank, each student who applies receives a computer calculated ranking from the TAMU Admissions Processing Office that compares all of the students in the school…[and] will assign a class rank based on the reported GPA.” David, Texas A&M University

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•  “We recognize that quartiles and top 15% are very different at a school like Westwood than with schools with less competitive students as a whole…of course, Westwood falls into the highest rigor category.” Melanee H., University of Oklahoma

•  “...at SMU, we do not look at a student’s rank or what percent[ile] of their class they are in. All of our merit scholarships are based off of their SAT or ACT score along with their GPA.” Alex M., Southern Methodist University

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What do comparable area HS do?

School Rank in Class Grades Westlake High School (Eanes ISD)

Compute top 10%, do not numerically rank except valedictorian & salutatorian

Unweighted GPA = 1.0x Pre-AP/Honors GPA = 1.1x AP & Advanced Honors GPA = 1.2x

Lake Travis High School (Lake Travis ISD)

Compute top 10%, do not numerically rank except valedictorian; must have at least 4 un-weighted credits in GPA, at least 3 of which must be prior to senior year

Unweighted GPA = 1.0x Pre-AP/Honors GPA = 1.1x AP & Advanced Honors GPA = 1.2x

Liberal Arts & Science Academy (Austin ISD)

Compute top 10%, student may request that rank be reported

Unweighted GPA = 1.0x Pre-AP/AP/Honors GPA = +1.0

Anderson High School (Austin ISD, IB World School)

Compute top 10%, rank is not reported

Unweighted GPA = 1.0x Pre-AP/AP/Honors GPA = +1.0

20 Source:DistrictCourseCatalogsforthe2016-2017or2017-2018AcademicYear.

What do comparable area HS do?

•  [Eliminating RIC] forces the college to look at the rigor of the courses, the grades and standardized test scores. Our admissions to UT and Texas A&M both went up as a result…. I also think it relieves stress on the kids. You begin to compete with yourself about getting a higher GPA than feeling like you are competing with the other students in your class. I don’t think we would ever go back to ranking.” Carol, Westlake High School

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Our Next Steps

•  Continue to meet with parents to dialogue and determine if this is important for us to advocate for; develop policy recommendation (April-May 2017)

•  Discuss our proposal with WHS and District administration (given parent interest, early May 2017)

•  Attend a future RRISD Board of Trustees meeting to present findings and request the change in policy (mid-late May 2017)

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Action Items

•  Sign the Petition –  ipetitions.com/petition/iamnotanumber

We, the members of the Westwood High School community (including its feeder schools), believe a critical first step to creating a less stressful, more enjoyable and more collaborative learning environment at Westwood High School is to change the rank in class policy. We acknowledge the legal need for rank in class, but the current system of giving numeric placement facilitates an environment where academic dishonesty and intellectual competition are rewarded, with diminished student and community well-being as unfortunate byproducts. We respectfully request that the administration and the District accept the recommendations made by I Am Not A Number so we can further foster transformational education at Westwood High School.

•  Stay Connected –  Join the mailing list: https://goo.gl/forms/XBtuUQkMo3qkPiXq1 –  Social media: facebook.com/groups/iamnotanumber/ –  Email: [email protected]

•  Host Events –  We need to reach as many interested parents as possible; discuss

the issue with other parents and encourage them to get engaged. E-mail if you would like a speaker to attend your meeting.

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Appendix

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How is RIC used in college admissions?

What people think What actually happens Universities base admissions decisions on RIC.

Generally, the RIC that is provided by the WHS is ignored or modified based on the college’s proprietary algorithm. Colleges attempt to normalize grades across all applicants, so they weight grades higher or lower to be able to compare students across the applicant pool.

If my student is highly ranked, they’re guaranteed admission to her university of choice.

College admissions are not focused on any single measure for admissions.

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How is RIC used in scholarships?

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What people think What actually happens My daughter will only get scholarships if she is a top ranked student.

There are thousands of scholarships available, and not all of them are solely focused on grades. Many scholarships are focused on nonacademic criteria, from financial need to area of interest to academic institution. Even those that are merit-based use other criteria such as SAT/ACT scores and recommendations.


•  Stay Connected –  Join the mailing list: https://goo.gl/forms/

XBtuUQkMo3qkPiXq1 –  Social media: facebook.com/groups/

iamnotanumber/ –  Email: [email protected]

•  Host Events –  We need to reach as many interested parents as

possible; discuss the issue with other parents and encourage them to get engaged. E-mail if you would like a speaker to attend your meeting.



















Action Items Action Items

Action Items Action Items

Documents

Westwood High School Proposal for Changes in Rank in Class ...whs.my-pta.org/Content/3_25/DocumentStore/4/WHS... · Source: National Association of College Admissions Counselors’