Most high schools in America follow a ranking system for their students. All it does is list out all the students in the school based on their grades, and or, GPA.

While some schools openly allow students rank to be seen, some don’t allow students to know their rank unless they’re in the top 10%. It varies from school to school.

Rank doesn’t determine what you can or can’t do in regards to classes or college, but it does provide a boost in your application the higher up you are. Though, to be in the top 10% is a challenge in itself as many don’t, or can’t, know their rank which makes it difficult to know when, or if, they’re close.

The top ranked student in a grade is considered the valedictorian; while the second place goes to the salutatorian.