With a focus on student well-being, and after extensive research involving administrators, teachers, parents, and students, the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District has announced it will transition to a fully immersed Latin System of academic recognition beginning with the Class of 2023 (current eighth grade students). Current high school students will continue the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian recognition, with a phasing out of class rank (traditional naming of top ten) beginning with the Class of 2020 (current juniors).
“Providing exceptional educational services to ensure the intellectual development, personal growth, and social responsibility of each student we serve is central to our mission within the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District; the decision to evolve our current practices was made with that mission top-of-mind,” said Indian Hill High School Principal Jeff Damadeo.
During the past year, District administrators engaged in research to examine Indian Hill High School’s current weighted course system, class rank, and other academic award recognitions to ensure that all practices supported individual student learning and supported each student’s post-secondary goals. This Brave conversation was a topic among not only administrators, but also with a committee of parents and students, and was presented during informational sessions this past November and December, followed by an opportunity for all Indian Hill High School and Indian Hill Middle School parents and guardians to provide the District feedback.
“After careful consideration of all the feedback provided, examination of the impact our current system has on our students for successful college admission and scholarship opportunities, research into the practices within high-performing K-12 Ohio districts, and data surrounding student mental health, we made the decision to transition away from naming valedictorian and salutatorian beginning with the Class of 2023,” said Damadeo. “We are doing this for the benefit of our students; their well-being is our focus.”
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