The following is the selection method to determine the valedictorian and salutatorian for the school:
- The student who is selected as the highest- ranking graduate eligible to receive the Honor Graduate Certificate will serve as valedictorian, with the second highest- ranking graduate serving as salutatorian.
- Both the valedictorian and salutatorian must have been enrolled in the ResponsiveEd school for no less than three consecutive calendar semesters with no breaks in enrollment or all semesters the school has been opened, if fewer than three consecutive calendar semesters. In addition, an administrative committee will review, on a case by case basis, situations that may arise relating to the enrollment criteria. A typical committee would consist of the district graduation specialist, the VP of Academics, District Data representative, Brand Superintendent and/or Regional Director. All committee decisions will be final.
- By the date of graduation, both the valedictorian and salutatorian must have met all Texas State Graduation requirements, including the passing of all state assessment requirements. A student qualified to graduate via an Individualized Graduation Committee (IGC) shall not be eligible for valedictorian/salutatorian honors. In addition, students seeking to be considered for this honor cannot utilize the LOTE substitution unless deemed necessary by the student’s 504 or ARD committee.
- The student with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) graduating under the Recommended, Distinguished Achievement Plan, or the Foundation HSP, Distinguished Level of Achievement will be selected as valedictorian, with the second-ranking student serving as salutatorian. Under no circumstance will a student with a higher GPA who is graduating under the Minimum Graduation Program or the Foundation HSP with no endorsement rank higher than a student graduating under the Recommended, Distinguished Achievement Plan, or the Foundation HSP Distinguished Level of Achievement.
- In the case where no students are graduating under the Recommended, Distinguished Achievement Plan, or the Foundation HSP with Endorsement, Distinguished Level of Achievement, the student with the highest cumulative GPA out of all graduating seniors will be selected valedictorian, and the student with the next highest GPA will serve as salutatorian.
If no qualifying student has a 3.0 or higher GPA, no honor graduate will be awarded. Valedictorians and salutatorians graduating outside of these plans will not receive an honor graduate certificate.
All calculations for this honor will be conducted at the end of the spring semester (before graduation) each school year. Any student wanting to be considered for this honor must have completed all coursework two weeks prior to the graduation ceremony. An eligible student must have attended at least one of the calendar semesters during the school year that the honor is granted. Grade point average will be calculated in accordance with the existing policy adopted by the Board of Trustees.