Scheming to achieve high school’s highest honor?

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 | 2 a.m.

A sore spot for some of the Clark County School District’s hardest-working students is the formula used to declare the class valedictorian — or, more accurately, the multiple valedictorians who share what was once a solo honor.

At the Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum last week, students said the current system rewards those who play a mathematical game with their course selections, choosing classes that offer the easiest “A” grades, along with the bonus points that boost their GPAs and improve their chances of getting graduation honors.

The district’s GPA tops out at 4.8, no matter how many Advanced Placement, honors and International Baccalaureate classes a student completes. The Nevada Education Department is working on a proposal for a statewide grading system that would lift the GPA cap, but any changes are at least a year away.

Some students said loading up on Advanced Placement classes boosted their GPAs, but the workload left less time for extracurricular activities. As a result, one student said she worried she wouldn’t appear well-rounded to college admissions officers.

J.T. Hudson, a senior at Foothill High School, said the title of valedictorian has lost its value. “Most of the students who are valedictorian have the highest GPAs because they have the easiest schedules,” Hudson said.

Instead of taking easier courses, Hudson said he opted this year for AP physics and government, and honors world history. As a result, Hudson said, he has taken himself out of the running for valedictorian.

“I’m being punished for challenging myself,” Hudson said.

Of course, there are benefits to the AP classes besides a higher GPA. Students who pass national exams can earn college credit.

Mia Jefic, a senior at Coronado High School, said by the time she graduates, she expects to have completed 11 Advanced Placement classes. That’s proof, Jefic said during the Youth Forum, that the district offers opportunities for students to challenge themselves, “if you want them.”

But Brittany Regal, a senior at Green Valley High School, noted that it costs $85 for each AP placement exam, which students must take to receive college course credit. For some students, finances will keep them from taking the class, Regal said.

“You’re not going to do all that work if you can’t afford the exam.”

•••

Marsha Irvin announced last week that she will step down as the School District’s northeast region superintendent to become chancellor of Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a district-sponsored charter school.

Also, Karlene McCormick-Lee, superintendent of the Superintendent’s Schools region, is retiring in May.

Yet Clark County Schools Superintendent Walt Rulffes told the Sun that “replacement of Ms. Irvin or Dr. Lee should not be considered a given at this time.” Rulffes said he will consider “alternate, less-costly options to the current levels of both central and region administrative support in order to protect school funding and teacher positions.”

Each of the district’s region offices cost about $2.6 million annually to operate. Created by former superintendent Carlos Garcia, the offices have been credited with streamlining operations and improving the response time for parents whose concerns aren’t resolved at the school level.

The region structure has also led to schools developing a stronger sense of identity, such as the “college culture” set down by Irvin and the emphasis by the northeast schools on foreign language programs.

The state has told the School District to prepare for $120 million less in funding over the next biennium, which begins in July. And, another $25 million to $75 million in cuts may be required for the current fiscal year.

•••

The Home News community newspapers are accepting applications for the publications’ “Teacher of the Month” recognition.

Monthly winners are eligible for the title 2009 Teacher of the Year, an honor chosen in June. For information, go to www.lasvegassun.com/teacher.