Students, parents ask Pulaski County district to set rules on valedictorian eligibility for transfer students

Several Silven Hills students and a parent told the Pulaski County Special School District board on March 10 that a transfer student’s weighted credits had created an inequitable advantage for class‑rank awards and called for a clear eligibility policy for valedictorian and salutatorian.

"This is not about blaming that student because they did nothing wrong," senior Morgan Perry said. "The real issue is that our district does not appear to have a policy that addresses how transfer GPA advantages affect class rank or the determination of our highest academic honors." Perry described taking rigorous courses for years and said a mid‑junior‑year transfer with earlier access to weighted classes left in‑district seniors unable to catch up.

Student council member Nia Herd Thomas urged transparency and consistency, telling the board that unclear rules affect younger students' planning for future classes and scholarship opportunities. "We are not asking the district to erase anyone's GPA or academic record. We are asking for this district to define how Silven Hills honors are awarded so that the expectations are clear for everyone," she said.

Parent April Phillips Perry referenced district policies (PCSSD policy 4.4 on transfer credits and 4.02 on grading and class rank) and said neither clearly sets eligibility rules for honors. She cited neighboring districts that require students to attend the school for at least the junior and senior years or to earn a defined number of credits at the awarding school.

Board members and administration said they would review the request and asked for specific recommendations; trustees suggested the administration prepare options (examples raised in public comment included minimum attendance windows and minimum in‑district credit requirements) for possible board consideration before the class of 2026 graduates.

What’s next: board members asked administration to return with a policy recommendation that specifies eligibility criteria and implementation timing.