top hs=average grades okay hs= high grades

Tarhunt
Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:31:49 +0000

ndinchick:

It all depends, of course, as most things do.

If a given college knows that it’s very difficult to achieve high class rank/GPA at a given school, then that college will make an adjustment. Having said that, all the evidence I’ve uncovered points to the fact that it really is better to be at the top of your class at an unchallenging high school than farther down in a challenging one. It’s a paradox that so many parents put their children into high schools with enormously talented student bodies in the hopes that being in that high school will help their children “get into the best colleges.” In fact, what they’ve done is to vastly increase their children’s chances IF those children finish at or near the top of that heap. It’s a winner-take-all situation, and most bright kids would have improved their chances by being at an average high school.

Of course, one also has to take into account that a more challenging high school, against stiffer competition, actually improves your skills, which should aid you in our further academic life, and perhaps your life after academe.

I would refer you to Paul Attewell’s paper, “The Winner-Take-All High School” for further reference.