Graduation and Val/Sal/Speakers

All high schools must have the same policy for Valedictorian and Salutatorian:

• Valedictorian – highest GPA (8 semesters)
  • To qualify a student must have earned their final eleven (11) credits in the Dearborn Public Schools at time of graduation and a minimum of one (1) year at the high school from which s/he is graduating. All grades earned in all subjects, both required and elective, shall count in determining the final average.
• Salutatorian – second highest GPA (8 semesters)
  • To qualify a student must have earned their final eleven (11) credits in the Dearborn Public Schools at time of graduation and a minimum of one (1) year at the high school from which s/he is graduating. All grades earned in all subjects, both required and elective, shall count in determining the final average.
• Any disciplinary issue dealing with academic honesty will disqualify a student (Including but not limited to cheating and/or plagiarism)
• No one may be valedictorian or salutatorian if they receive any major discipline in junior or senior year (suspension of 2 or more days) 
• The Valedictorian and Salutatorian give a 2-3 minute speech at Honors night but do NOT automatically speak at graduation
• Graduation Speaker must go through a process wherein they are selected by a panel of teachers
  • Presentation process with a rubric

Graduation Speakers:

The Class president speaks at graduation – 2-3 minutes.  

An “at large” graduating senior is also selected to speak at graduation.  This student  does not have to be from the top 5 students.  Each school has a similar selection process including an audition and faculty panel. This process should be communicated and explained to students and parents.  As stated above, this may be the valedictorian or salutatorian if they are selected by the panel in the process.  There must be a rubric with the process and there should be a  minimum of five staff members that represent the content areas and one administrator.  

Announcements at graduation ceremony will include:

• Salutatorian and Valedictorian:  Announce with GPA, college plans and brief explanation of sports/clubs/service to school.  Brief and important and have the students stand. 
• Must announce cords, Valedictorian and Salutatorian and have students stand when their award is mentioned.
• Exchange club stoles will be given to the Valedictorian at graduation.

Cords are academic.  No club cords. Any cords must be approved by HS principals and Executive Directors of Student Achievement.

Program key:

*August Graduates

^Collegiate Academy

+DCMST

@ Superintendent’s Advisory Council