Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Dear McCallum High School Community,
We are pleased to share an important update regarding our class rank policy that will take effect this academic year. Our school has received approval to transition to an unranked campus for students outside of the top 10% of their class. As an approved campus, we will not automatically report a student's class rank, except for the top ten percent of a given class. Class rank will not appear on any student's academic achievement record (transcript). The District will provide to each student in the top ten percent of their class, and any student who requests it, a certification of class rank containing the student's numerical rank in class.
How we got here:
This change is a direct response to the increasingly competitive GPA landscape at our school and the ways in which class rank can unintentionally misrepresent a student's academic performance. Based on growing community interest and input, our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) revisited this issue and voted in January 2025 to formally restart the process of evaluating class rank. We then developed a plan to engage the broader school community in collaboration with our CAC and the PTSA Executive Board. During the spring semester we:
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Developed a comprehensive report outlining the rationale for McCallum's transition to an unranked system and shared it with our CAC, PTSA, and the wider school community throughout the spring 2025 semester.
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Distributed a public survey through our school newsletter and social media to gather further feedback from students, families, and staff.
Why We’re Moving to an Unranked System:
Our final recommendation to move to an unranked system is based on the data and insights gathered through this process. We believe this policy shift will benefit our students in several key ways:
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Reduced Pressure on Students: By not reporting ranks outside the top 10%, we hope to ease the stress associated with minor GPA differences that can have outsized effects on rank.
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Better Representation of Academic Achievement: Our students are high-performing across the board. This new policy ensures that their academic strengths are represented more holistically in the college admissions process.
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Encouraging a Collaborative Academic Environment: Minimizing the emphasis on rank promotes a culture of support and learning, rather than competition.
We are confident this decision will enhance the academic and emotional well-being of our students while preserving the strength of their college applications. If you have questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at andy.baxa@austinisd.org.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to student success.
Warm regards,
Andy Baxa
Principal
McCallum High School