While other schools in the San Antonio area refer to their top two senior graduates as valedictorian and salutatorian respectively, NEISD instead uses the term “highest ranking graduate” for the student that has the overall highest weighted GPA of the senior class. Valedictorian refers to the student with the highest GPA while salutatorian refers to the student with the second highest GPA in the graduating class. According to lead counselor Courtney Tarbox, this is just the way it has always been since she has been with the district.
“It’s district policy,” Tarbox said. “They do not separately recognize the valedictorian or salutatorian.”
Staff from NISD confirmed they use valedictorian and salutatorian and recognize those students as well as the top ten seniors of the graduating class. As for NEISD seniors, students receive their final rank in January and are the only ones allowed to share that information with others. Senior Fatima Madero is the highest ranked senior for the class of 2024.
“It was never my goal to be valedictorian. It was really unexpected,” senior Fatima Madero said.
“It comes down to me showing up every day and doing the work, putting discipline and dedication and even working on the days you don’t feel like showing up to school or doing your best.”
While the highest ranked senior does earn a scholarship to a public university in Texas, Madero could have her sights set on leaving the state for college.
“I’m not exactly sure of where, because I’m waiting for scholarship positions. But, I’m 95% sure I’m going to the University of Nebraska,” Madero said. “My major is food science, and I also plan to obtain my masters degree in a special program they have.”