Mount Carmel High School may soon change the way it selects its valedictorian and salutatorian.
During Monday morning's Wabash Community Unit School District #348 Board of Education meeting, High School Principal Amy Duckworth presented a proposal that would take effect with the incoming freshman class, meaning it would not affect current high school students.
The proposal comes after the Class of 2026 graduated with eight valedictorians under the current policy, which awards the honor to any student who completes the required coursework and maintains straight A's throughout high school.
Duckworth explained the proposal would not change the grading scale or bring back weighted grades. Instead, it would determine the valedictorian based on the highest cumulative grade percentage earned over all four years of high school while still requiring students to complete the same rigorous college-preparatory coursework currently listed in the student handbook.
She said using cumulative grade percentages would better distinguish students who earn a 90 percent average from those earning grades closer to 100 percent, while still recognizing academic excellence.
The proposed policy would also establish one valedictorian and one salutatorian unless students remain tied after calculating cumulative grade percentages to additional decimal places, in which case co-valedictorians could still be named.
Board members discussed whether attendance, behavior or extracurricular activities should be considered, but Duckworth noted the school's policy has historically been based solely on academics. Former Principal and Athletic Director Pat Cheesman told the board that, since 1980, Mount Carmel High School has never used attendance, discipline or extracurricular involvement in selecting its valedictorian.
Board members expressed support for the concept but asked administrators to gather additional information, including how the proposed policy would have affected recent graduating classes. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer suggested the issue be reviewed further by a committee before any action is taken.
If ultimately approved, the revised policy would first apply to the current freshman class and their graduation in 2030.