The Graves County Board of Education has passed a measure that will bring an end to the high school’s awarding of titles such as valedictorian and salutatorian. Students that reach a certain level of academic achievement will be awarded the title “graduate of distinction.”
GCHS principal Matthew Madding proposed the changes as part of an effort to honor more hardworking students while allowing them to take a wider variety of courses without excessive academic pressure.
“What we wanted to do is to try to open up what we do a little bit - so that those students can still be recognized with highest honors while also being able to take advantage of some of the programs that we offer,” Madding said.
Madding said public feedback so far has been limited but parents, teachers and community leaders involved in the plan’s conception were extremely receptive to the new system.
“Ultimately what we’re trying to do is make the best decision for the students that we have in our building,” Madding said.
The measure is planned to take effect in 2017.
