Co-written by Isaac Newcomb
As VHS students spring into their second semester, and thoughts of graduation enter seniors’ minds, the debate of our recognition system is a hot topic. The debate centers around the current system of using unweighted GPAs versus a weighted GPA structure, as well as the recently announced plan to introduce the latin honors system starting with the class of 2028.
Since VHS’s founding in 1912, our valedictorians have been selected through the unweighted GPA system; any student who has achieved all A’s throughout all four years is awarded the honor of valedictorian, and GPA is measured on a scale from 0-4.0. This often leads to multiple valedictorians who have taken classes with varying levels of rigor.
While the unweighted GPA system has been in place for over a century, some students argue that a weighted GPA system would be a better way to recognize academic achievement. This is when more advanced classes, such as AP or honors courses are weighted heavier than core level classes, and GPA is measured on a scale from 0-5.0.
Both of these methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Those in favor of the current unweighted system contend that because more students can earn the title of valedictorian, it would benefit more people after high school.
“I think unweighted GPAs are better because you can use your 4.0 for job applications, which increases your chance of getting the job,” junior Lucca Villavicencio said.
As students move from school into the workforce, being able to say you were valedictorian can be helpful in securing a job by helping to demonstrate qualities of dedication and hard work.
In addition to helping students get jobs, counselors at VHS think that an unweighted GPA encourages students to pick classes they’re passionate about.
“By not using a weighted GPA, we tend to think it’s easier for students to take AP classes based on what they like, versus just taking all of them to get their weighted GPA higher," counselor Tara Vanselow said.
Others feel that unweighted GPAs take away the stature of the valedictorian title, as it is more easily achievable. The reality of grade inflation—the trend over recent decades of awarding higher grades for the same quality of work—has exacerbated the problem.
“Due to grade inflation, I think it’s pretty easy to get a 4.0 GPA,” junior Oskar Cobb-Maigetter said.
With higher GPAs becoming more achievable as a result of grade inflation, students worry that the notability of being a valedictorian becomes diluted.
“The weighted system gives more prestige to that title as opposed to having seven valedictorians,” junior Dziga Legry stated.
At graduation, every valedictorian is expected to give a speech. With a large number of valedictorians, this can make the graduation ceremony feel endless.
“I graduated in 2022, and there were six valedictorians and it was nonsense. I didn’t want to hear everyone talk,” former VHS student Max Bringhurst said.
Beyond the issue of multiple speeches, many find that with the current system, students taking the easiest classes are rewarded similarly to those taking the most difficult.
“If a student who takes all AP classes gets A’s and a student who takes the easiest classes gets A’s it's not really fair to reward them equally (as valedictorian),” freshman Poppy Beck said.
Some students may feel they are more worthy of the valedictorian title than students who are enrolled in less demanding classes.
“I took all the AP and honors classes, and I got three A minuses, so I wasn't even close to valedictorian,” Bringhurst said.
To understand if students who take core classes and students who choose to engage in AP classes are earning A’s at an equal rate, junior Calliope Desmet conducted a study. Collecting data from 104 students, this study explored the correlation between GPAs, and taking one or more AP classes or no AP classes.
The study, performed in 2024, found that students who only take core classes have a mean GPA of 3.173, while students who have taken one or more AP classes have a mean average GPA of 3.725.
These results indicate that students who are enrolled in AP classes are more likely to get A’s than those who solely take core classes. This weakens the argument that students are taking the easiest classes and becoming valedictorians.
The reason for these results may vary. Students who take core classes may put a higher focus on extracurriculars than their grades, or perhaps AP classes are more engaging for students who choose to take them.
“I feel like students who take AP classes would get more A’s because they are more likely to do the homework and try harder,” Cobb-Maigetter explained.
While students and staff debate the best way to recognize academic success, the ultimate decision isn’t up to the school district.
“All public schools in the state of Washington fall under the guidance and direction of the Office of State and Public Instruction (OSPI),” said Principal John Erickson.
In 2021, the OSPI published a report to the state Legislature about K-12 transcripts and weighted GPAs.
The report recommended “that weighted GPAs not be adopted at this time.”
In response to feedback from students and state guidelines, VHS will implement a new system starting with the class of 2028 (current freshman). This does away with valedictorians and incorporates our current unweighted GPA system into a new structure: the Latin Honors system. This system, utilized by many universities across the country, groups students of elite academic achievement into three separate categories based on GPA: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. For VHS, Cum Laude will acknowledge students with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.69, Magna Cum Laude will recognize students with a GPA of 3.7-3.94, and Summa Cum Laude will honor students with a 3.95-4.00 GPA.
“(This system) would be, what I believe, a more sophisticated way of honoring students and broadening how much honor we can bestow upon our class,” Erickson said.
Instead of measuring students only on whether they were able to obtain a 4.0, the Latin Honors system includes a range of different GPAs, which would provide academic honor to more students. Some students think that this broader range would help acknowledge students who don’t have a perfect 4.0, but who still get good grades.
“(Under the current system) if you don’t have a 4.0 it just feels like you’re not rewarded or encouraged,” freshman Pierson Guenther said.
Although this system would help students who don’t have a perfect 4.0 feel more appreciated, some students worry that those with a GPA lower than 3.5 will feel discouraged when many of their classmates are standing at graduation, being applauded, while they are not.
“What about the students who aren’t standing? I’m worried how that's going to make them and their families feel,” Legry said.
Other students believe that if you're not putting in the effort to get good grades, then you have nothing to complain about. There is no doubt that this new system won’t make everyone happy. The opinion of students, past and present, only has so much influence on this topic: ultimately, it’s up to state guidelines, and executive decision.
As Cobb-Maigetter put it, “That’s just the way the world works.”
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