A new ranking system is emerging at GHS next year. 

“There will be three levels of distinction for graduation: Suma, Magna, and Cum Laude. Suma is students with GPAs of a 4.0 or higher, Magna is a 3.75-3.99, and a Cuma Laude is 3.5-3.74. This all actually started with our former principal, Mr. Garrison, who wanted to see this change happen because he wanted to see more students awarded for hard work in a sense, ” Mrs. Alison Bonham, Quality Council chairperson, said.

Percentages, digits and students crossed Quality chairperson Mrs. Bonham’s mind as she plans for something new. Honoring students is what matters the most to Principal Michael Gasaway.

“This system would allow more students to be recognized at the end of the year banquets, as well as graduation ceremonies,” Principal Gasaway said. 

Current GHS students will not be affected. 

“The incoming 8th graders are the first students to move through the levels of distinction. So it will be four years before their graduation ceremony,” Mr. Gasaway said. 

Mrs. Bonham compared the current ranking system to the new one.

“Our status for this year if we were to use the new system would allow us to recognize 13 more students than our usual 20. It basically means that there would be 33 students who made it to the Suma level of the system which is more than our usual 20,” Mrs. Bonham said. 

More opportunities are arising for GHS students.

“With our current status of rankings, we will still be having a valedictorian and salutatorian who will be our speakers at graduation. Our speaker, while academically successful, might not always represent our most rounded individual of being Woodmen. So, we will be having applications for other speaking positions, and there would be minimum qualifications for applying to speak,” Mr. Gasaway said.