Review Your District’s Guidelines Before Graduation

Graduation is approaching for Texas students. It’s important for district leaders to review the policies they have in place regarding graduation, local honors, and class rank, which is particularly important because state law ties it to higher education benefits, including scholarships and automatic university admission.

Having a well-defined system in place that establishes clear rules for students and parents ensures fairness. Graduation season is an emotional time. The stakes can feel incredibly high for both parents and students. Having clearly written policies in place that have been effectively communicated can minimize the risk of complaints or litigation.

Following are answers to key questions about policies regarding graduation, GPA calculation, class rank, and local honors.

Q: Where is a district’s policy on class ranking and graduation requirements?

A district’s policies regarding class rank are found in your district’s policy manual under EIC, while graduation policies are located under EIF.

Q: How is a student’s GPA calculated to determine their class ranking for graduation?

Currently, GPA and class rank calculations are determined entirely by local school district policies. This is set to change with the recent passage of Senate Bill 1191. Previously, under Texas Education Code section 28.0252, the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency was authorized to develop a standardized method for calculating high school GPAs, including assigning additional weight for advanced courses, but this authority had never been exercised. With the passage of SB 1191, the commissioner is now required to develop a standardized method for computing a student’s high school GPA, which must provide equal additional weight for advanced placement, international baccalaureate, OnRamps dual enrollment, and dual credit courses.

Based on the language of the bill, the commissioner must develop the standardized method “as soon as practicable” after the bill’s effective date, which was June 20, 2025. According to TEA’s 89th Legislature Updates Implementation Timeline webpage, the method, or at least information regarding high school GPA calculations, is expected to be released in the winter.

Until the commissioner’s standardized method is released, calculating GPA and class rank is based entirely on local school district policy, and each school district is likely to have unique rules regarding class rank.

Q: What factors should my district consider when developing a class rank policy, and what details are usually included in EIC(LOCAL)?

Policy EIC(LOCAL) should specify which classes are included in or excluded from a student’s GPA calculation and whether any of the courses will be awarded special weight. Many districts elect to award extra weight to more demanding courses — such as honors, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses — when calculating GPA. If a district chooses to adopt a weighted grading system, the district policy should specify the method of weighting grades and state how the district will weigh, if at all, transfer credits, credit by examination, dual credit, correspondence courses, and elective courses. The policy should also specify whether failing grades are included in a student’s GPA.

Q: How are the valedictorian and salutatorian chosen?

Local honors and awards, including designations like valedictorian, salutatorian, and honors graduates, are determined at the discretion of each school district. A district’s EIC(LOCAL) should outline the criteria for these honors and specify when the district will calculate class rank for the purpose of these designations. Typically, the policy also outlines eligibility requirements for receiving these honors, such as the minimum number of semesters a student must attend before graduation, or any other qualifications adopted by the district. As long as a school board does not exercise its discretion in a manner that is disallowed by law, the board has a great deal of latitude in determining the manner in which local academic honors will be awarded. Generally, Texas courts and the commissioner of education will uphold local decisions that are not arbitrary, capricious, or unlawful.

It is also important for districts to specify in their policies how ties for valedictorian or salutatorian will be handled. Often, ties are broken by comparing the number of rigorous courses each student has taken, such as advanced, AP, or dual-credit courses, though the exact method varies by district. If a tie cannot be resolved, some districts recognize all students involved in the tie as valedictorian or salutatorian. Alternatively, districts that want to avoid ties may calculate GPAs to a sufficient number of decimal places.

Q: What provisions will I find in Policy EIF regarding graduation?

 Policy EIF(LEGAL) provides the legal framework for high school graduation, including the state’s minimum requirements for a student to graduate from a Texas high school, called the foundation high school program. While students are required to complete courses mandated by the state under the foundation program, districts have the option to require additional course credits beyond the state’s minimum requirements. Your district’s choices regarding requirements in addition to the foundation program are found in Policy EIF(LOCAL).

Q: Can we change our district’s class rank or graduation policies?

Yes, however, TASB Legal Services strongly recommends not changing class rank rules or graduation requirements during a current student’s high school education. If a school board changes its class rank policy midway through students’ high school education, and it makes the change effective immediately upon adoption, students could be negatively affected. These students have already made academic decisions based on the previous policies and relied on them in their pursuit of honors. Legal complaints could be filed. Since academic honors often come with monetary awards, such as scholarships, a student who is denied an honors position due to policy changes may claim monetary damages in a potential lawsuit.

When a district plans to change its class rank or graduation policy, including how class rank is calculated and which classes are considered, TASB Legal Services advises adopting the changes prospectively, applying them only to incoming freshman classes. This approach reduces the risk of litigation by ensuring that current students are not affected by policy changes midway through their high school education. If different calculation methods are used for different graduating classes, the district’s policy should clearly specify which system applies to each cohort of students.

If you have questions about these issues, consult your district’s attorney or call TASB Legal Services at 800-580-5345.

This article is provided for educational purposes and contains information to facilitate a general understanding of the law. References to judicial or other official proceedings are intended to be a fair and impartial account of public records, which may contain allegations that are not true. This article is not an exhaustive treatment of the law, nor is it intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney. Consult your own attorney to apply these legal principles to specific fact situations.

This article first appeared in the April/May 2026 issue of the Texas Lone Star.