- Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors are determined using a standardized index that incorporates both a student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and their ACT composite score. To ensure a fair and consistent comparison among students, both GPA and ACT scores are converted into standardized values (Z-scores) and combined in an index formula. The ACT score is weighted slightly more heavily than GPA in this calculation.
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Students are strongly encouraged to take the ACT seriously and to take advantage of multiple testing opportunities in order to achieve their best possible composite score. While ACT superscores are not used in the selection process, taking the test more than once may increase the likelihood of earning a higher single-test composite score. An ACT superscore is a score calculated by combining a student’s highest section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science) from multiple ACT test dates to create a new, higher composite score. Some colleges use superscores to better reflect a student’s strongest performance across multiple tests. However, for the purpose of Valedictorian and Salutatorian selection, only the highest single-test ACT composite score is used rather than a superscore.
All juniors have the opportunity to take the ACT at the high school during the statewide testing day. If a student takes the ACT additional times or at another testing location, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that those scores are submitted to the counseling office. This helps ensure that the highest ACT composite score is reflected on the student’s transcript and is considered in the selection process for Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be determined after first-semester grades are recorded.
Index Formula
You need to change the ACT score and the GPA to a z score.
Example: ACT 25 GPA of 3.2
ACT z score = the ACT score minus the mean score of 21.3994 divided by the ACT standard deviation of 5.883 times X 10 plus 50
(ACT - 21.3994) / 5.883 X 10 + 50
Example: 25 minus 21.3994 divided by 5.883 X 10 + 50
GPA z score = the GPA minus the mean score of 3.0889855 divided by the GPA standard deviation of 0.564148 times X 10 plus 50
Example: 3.2 minus 3.0889855 divided by 0.564148 X 10 + 50
