<p>dg, My son came from a small high school that had no class rank and no grades. The impression we received in talking to admissions at a number of colleges including the Naval Academy, suggested they have to capacity to look beyond grades or class rank as predictors of success. In some cases they made it clear SAT/ACT scores would play a greater roll in their efforts to apply a “score” to our son. </p>
<p>While it may first appear as a disadvantage, in some ways it may have been a net positive as applicants that don’t fit the norm in terms of grades/rank etc are frequently given to a specific individual for close examination. Assuming the Naval Academy is on your son’s short list I do believe it is very important he put a great deal of effort into explaining his high school, from a curriculum standpoint as well as how it ranks for example is any regional/state or national reviews. If he wants the best shot he can possibly get, then he will have to work at demonstrating he is a viable candidate in part by demonstrating the high standards and accomplishments of his high school.</p>
<p>My son put a package together for his BGO as well as the USNA admissions office and his Congressman with information to supplement the material coming from his high school. He threw everything in there that he thought would help make the case that his diploma meant something more than just demonstrating he graduated. He even sent in some pages he found on a real estate network that listed high schools by state testing standards. </p>
<p>More and more colleges are in a position to consider the applicants from home schooling as well as other type of “alternative ed” in which conventional standards such as grades and class rank may not exist. I think they have also recognized that home or alternative education doesn’t equal inferior education and as a consequence are making the necessary efforts to look more closely at such candidates. </p>
<p>Good luck in your search.</p>