Skip To Main Content

Awards for Achievement/Class Rank/Honor Designations 5-29

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 5-29

STUDENTS

Awards for Achievement/Class Rank/Honor Designations

  1. Generally

    The School Board approves of awards for students who achieve high academic standing, outstanding citizenship, physical expertise and other characteristics that contribute to good citizenship. The School Board, however, does not approve of giving awards to students where the basic purpose is obviously commercialism. Awards donated by non-school agencies which are recognized nationally and approved by the Superintendent or designee or the School Board may be awarded to students at appropriate ceremonies and times.

  2. Honor Rolls

    Students should be encouraged to reach their maximum potential in academic programs. Students who do outstanding work shall be recognized through an honor roll system.

  3. Awards for Exemplary Performance
    1. Students who complete the requirements for a Standard Diploma or Advanced Studies Diploma with a grade average of 4.0 or better in the required courses will receive a Board of Education seal on the diploma.
    2. Students who complete the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma with a grade point average of 3.0 or better and successfully complete college-level coursework that will earn the student at least nine transferable college credits in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, or dual enrollment courses will receive a Governor's seal on the diploma.
    3. Students may receive other seals or awards for exceptional academic, vocational, citizenship, or other exemplary performance in accordance with criteria defined by the School Board or the Virginia Board of Education.
  4. Honor Designations

    Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, each high school will provide Grade Point Averages for class rank for individual colleges, universities, scholarships or military applications that require this information or that is requested by a parent/legal guardian or student. The principal or school designee shall also provide colleges and universities with an explanation of the Latin Honors system through the Virginia Beach City Public Schools transcript profile.

    1. A student's grade point average will be computed for the following purposes:
      1. To determine honor designations.
      2. To determine if the student is eligible for certain diploma seals awarded by the Virginia Board of Education.
      3. To communicate to college admission offices and other agencies designated by the adult student and/or parent/legal guardian of a minor student.
      4. To determine class rank of individual students.
      5. To determine the valedictorians and salutatorians for the graduating class.
    2. The following honor designations will be utilized to distinguish academic achievement for graduating seniors:
      1. A student earning a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or higher will be considered an honor graduate.
      2. A student earning a 3.5 - 3.75 cumulative grade point average will be awarded the Cum Laude distinction.
      3. A student earning a 3.76 - 3.99 cumulative grade point average will be awarded the Magna Cum Laude distinction.
      4. A student earning a 4.0 and above cumulative grade point average will be awarded the Summa Cum Laude distinction.
      5. Honor Designations will be added to the student’s final transcript.
    3. The designation of Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be utilized. A student enrolled in a Virginia Beach City Public Schools advanced academic program who transfers to a comprehensive school during their junior or senior year, will not qualify for Valedictorian/Salutatorian. The Superintendent or designee may authorize exceptions to this subsection.

      For the Princess Anne High School International Baccalaureate Program and the Ocean Lakes High School Math and Science Academy the Superintendent shall authorize a Valedictorian/Salutatorian, for each advanced academic program and one for the comprehensive school.

    4. The Superintendent shall develop regulations for formally acknowledging academic achievement for graduating seniors, to include the student(s) with the highest GPA.

Virginia Board of Education Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, § VAC 20-131-10 et seq., as amended.

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: February 16, 1971
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: June 15, 1993 (Effective August 14, 1993)
Amended by School Board: October 6, 1998
Amended by School Board: April 20, 2010
Amended by School Board: April 24, 2018
Amended by School Board: October 26, 2021
Amended by School Board: March 28, 2023