Starting with the class of 2011, Albert Lea High School has decided to do away with valedictorians. Turning to academic honors, graduates will be honored with a Cum Laude title based on their cumulative Grade Point Average.
If a student has a G.P.A. of 3.7 or lower, they will be classified as a Cum Laude and receive a red tassel for their cap. A G.P.A. ranging from 3.75 – 3.99, will rank the student as a Magna cum Laude and will receive a silver tassel. To become a Summa cum Laude and receive a gold tassel, a student must have a G.P.A. of 4.0 or above. By using this new system, the upper 10 percent of the senior class will be honored instead of a few select students.
“There have been multiple years where four or five students have tied for valedictorian,” said Al Root, Albert Lea High School principal.
According to Root, most seniors seem to be either unaware of this change or don’t fully understand it. Cum Laude is on schedule to be further discussed at Senior Award Night on May 18.
By switching to this new academic honor system, ALHS is hoping to acknowledge more students for their hard work.