Students who rise above the mountains at the Ridge are selected every year to become valedictorians and salutatorians, CCSD has a policy they follow every year to find the best of the best to complete their program. 

Valedictorians are chosen based on GPA, report cards, and behaviors. The county chooses students who have the highest grade point averages and take multiple candidates for the position. 

Salutatorians are chosen by who has the second highest GPA, and depending on the grades they get, defines whether they go into the valedictorian or the salutatorian groups. 

All candidates run until the last day of school to ensure they keep the status of either valedictorian or salutatorian. They are chosen during the second semester of their senior year for graduation, however, if they do not meet the requirements until the last day of school, they fall out of the program. 

All counselors at Shadow Ridge help to define and point out students who have reached this high status.

Mrs. Hebb, one of the counselors at the Ridge, comments, “The students who are chosen to be valedictorian are students who have the highest GPA in the class which is a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.95 weighted GPA. This is because the district maxes out the GPA points you can earn, they cut it off once the student reaches 4.95.” 

Last year many of Shadow’s students went above and beyond, they had multiple selected valedictorians and a couple salutatorians. 

“Last year we had like 15 students as valedictorian and this year we will probably have even more students,” says Mrs. Hebb.

Some of the Ridge’s other counselors and staff are looking forward to seeing who the candidates will be in the 2024-2025 school year.

The staff does not find out who will be candidates until mid year after semester 1, therefore they are eager to know who will be of the lucky few who are walking the stage as valedictorians and salutatorians.

Mrs. Irianda, the newest addition to the counseling office, is excited to give news to the candidates to come. 

“I am looking forward to meeting the candidates. I think it’s always an exciting time meeting with the valedictorian candidates because we get to give them the good news that their hard work has paid off and are being recognized for it. As counselors we have to give the bad and good news, so it is always a plus that we get to give the candidates this good news,” comments Mrs. Irianda