Can Cherokee recognize two Etowah valedictorians?
The AJC has a fascinating story tonight about the awarding of the valedictorian title to a Cherokee County high school to a student who is already in college but is dual enrolled at Etowah High School.
There is apparently some anger being directed at Kelly McCahill, who attends the University of West Georgia through a dual enrollment program at Etowah and earned the No. 1 slot, although I am not sure why. She didn’t determine the policy that weights college credits higher. Or the policy that apparently treats her as a student at Etowah, although she’s never attended the high school.
Couldn’t they just name two valedictorians? I read about a California high school that had 58 valedictorians and a Washington state school that had 38. I understand the policies might prevent this but could there be an exception for these extraordinary circumstances?
Here is an excerpt of the news story:
McCahill took the No. 1 ranking — and hence the title of valedictorian — from Sydney Perlotto, an Etowah student who has been tops in her class since the ninth grade.
This sparked an outcry over how the grade-point averages are calculated for students who are dually enrolled in the county’s high school and college programs.
At Etowah, Perlotto’s classmates have aired their protests on a Facebook page they’ve labeled “Team Sydney.” They’ve also circulated a petition, asking that county policy declare the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian be required to attend the school for some period between their freshman and senior years.
On Thursday night, the Cherokee County school board discussed a possible policy change to lessen the chances that students enrolled in college courses have an advantage over students taking advanced placement classes. Another board discussion will be held in March, followed by a vote.
“The real problem here is that colleges refuse to give number grades and that hamstrings the school system,” said Superintendent Frank R. Petruzielo, adding that the current policy has been in place for 10 years and this is the first inequity issue raised.
Mark Perlotto, Sydney’s father, said the school system is sending the wrong message.
“They’re saying the way to be an outstanding student, which is the definition of the valedictorian, is to never attend class there, never take any instruction there and never set foot on campus for any of the activities,” he said.
McCahill attended other public schools in Cherokee County, but not Etowah, her mother said. She lives on campus at West Georgia, although she’s enrolled at the Woodstock high school. She’s felt a backlash since she was identified as the newly installed valedictorian.
“People are really angry at me,” she said.
McCahill has been warned that dead animals might turn up at her door and her boyfriend’s brother has been pulled out of class at Etowah and yelled at over what’s happened, she said.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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189 comments Add your comment
C'mon People
February 4th, 2011
12:26 pm
Thank you, @lion in atl! Yes, the students and parents are not upset that she is dual enrolled. Most previous Etowah Vals have been, that’s very common. The fact is this girl left for private school before freshman year, never attended Etowah until she “enrolled” to save money to go to West Georgia. She NEVER ONCE ATTENDED ANY ETOWAH CLASSES. It’s legally ok to do that, it’s just not morally right to take away the honor of an actual Etowah student.
DC
February 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
you act like she maliciously enrolled at the school…maybe it was good that she didn’t take classes at that school..parents and kids seem like a bunch of idiots…well thats how they are being portrayed at least…
Lion in ATL
February 4th, 2011
12:44 pm
@Casey – I agree and disagree. Academic awards should definitely NOT be popularity contests and what the student body thinks definitely has no standing here.
The problem here is with the policy itself – it is absolutely at fault. Just because ‘it’s the policy’ does not necessarily make it the right thing to do.
If the policy allows for a Valedictorian who never once stepped foot in ‘their’ school, the policy is ludicrous.
Fred
February 4th, 2011
12:56 pm
While some are indeed concerned about the disparity between the grading systems and how that has impacted (potentially) the rankings, I think the issue causing the most angst is that the girl that is joint enrolled has *never* actually been a student at Etowah. She has never attended classes there and has gamed the system to get what she wants – paid for joint enrollment resulting in tangible college credits. I have no issue with that at all. If that’s the way the rules are written and it works to her advantage – great!. Speaking only for me, my issue that now she wants to claim to be valedictorian at a school she never attended. If it is not such a big deal as some suggest, then why does she want the accolades for doing well at a school she never was a part of? Again, I think she is to be congratulated for doing so well and moving forward so fast. I hope she continues to do well with her education.
As far as the threats and dead animals are concerned, that is totally unconscionable and should be stopped immediately.
Jackie T.
February 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
Why are we Americans so preoccupied with these awards? I guess we just like horse races so much…
Fred
February 4th, 2011
1:00 pm
@DC, you don’t get what we are saying. Most of us don’t think she has done anything maliciously regarding the enrollment. Its just that she never was a student that walked the halls and participated in any way at the school. It doesn’t pass the “smell” test so to speak.
C'mon People
February 4th, 2011
1:37 pm
The students and parents at Etowah are far from idiots, DC. It’s a close knit community and they don’t like to see someone manipulate the system.
the prof
February 4th, 2011
1:38 pm
hahahaha…..colleges “refuse” to give numerical grades…..hahahahaha
Listen Clearly
February 4th, 2011
2:29 pm
If any of you people actually knew the Perlotto’s you would know that they would NEVER condone the threat of dead animals let alone any kind of threat. They have no control of what other people do or say. Do you actually think they want this kind of controversy for their daughter.. Why doesn’t Kelly go BACK to the high school she came from before she ‘used’ Etowah simply to get dual enrollment and be the Valedictorian there. Besides paperwork Etowah played no part in her high school career. Etowah wasn’t good enough for her until she needed them. She doesn’t deserve to be recognized as Etowah’s Valedictorian.
Lundy
February 4th, 2011
3:02 pm
Who went to the media with this story?
Concerned Parent
February 4th, 2011
3:12 pm
The EHS student’s mom is on the School Council. She could have brought this to the school’s attention before this controversy erupted. She has also been a PTSA president. The problem with this community is they are not proactive in looking at school board policies. The community has never been one to encourage rigor in academics. The only reason their SAT scores went up this year was the number of students taking the test( approx. 170 out of a class of 500) dropped due to encouragement by the counseling staff. Students were told to look at your PSAT scores….if they are low, take the ACT. No school district reports the results of the ACT to the press. This school system is a joke compared with other metro school systems. You have to look closely at data to extrapolate and understand the true value of the data. EHS uses data in a disingenuous manner.
Besides, the community thinks sports are much more important. If a star athlete moved into the district and took over the position from a student who had been there from day one, no one would bat an eyelash. A principal was asked about having students take more AP classes to increase student achievement. He said that the student may choose to play sports and not have time for increased rigor in the classroom. Also, they have a student just signed with Harvard to play football. He sat in an AP class till it became apparent he didn’t want to do the work (or couldn’t) …even though the state requires no class change after a ten day period, and ten days had passed and he was out of there! Forget you!
Maureen Downey
February 4th, 2011
3:15 pm
@Lundy, This was taken up the by the school board at a public meeting, after probably being approached by the principal or superintendent who found themselves facing this peculiar problem.
I think it is an interesting situation as the valedictorian historically honors a student in the school. Here, the honor will go to a student who was enrolled only in name at the local public high school to enable her to attend college.
I doubt such situations were ever envisioned when Cherokee and other counties shaped their policies on who is the top student.
Maureen
Maureen Downey
February 4th, 2011
3:21 pm
@Concerned, How were the would-be valedictorian’s parents supposed to realize that there was a student somewhere out there who never attended Etowah High who would end up as No. 1 in the class?
I just don’t think the parents could have foreseen this. I have never heard of this before so it is not as if they had other situations to compare.
This is a highly unusual situation that requires an individual response now by the school and county and a policy change later, in my view.
Maureen
Lundy
February 4th, 2011
3:21 pm
Thanks Maureen. I think this whole situation stinks for both of the girls. Miss McCahill and her family are getting threatened and Miss Perlotto doesn’t get to be valedictorian.
disappointedwithpolicies
February 4th, 2011
3:42 pm
@DC – just to clarify, #2’s family wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone threaten #1’s family in any way. Anyone else who would threaten #1 or her family needs to take a step back and think about how ridiculous that is. Neither of the girls are at fault here – both should be commended for their outstanding academic achievements. However, only one of these students ever attended Etowah High School. A student who attends a private school, then enrolls at the public high school for ‘record’ purposes only so they can to ‘jet’, yet never takes a single class at the public high school, should not be eligible to be named Valedictorian. This student has chosen to opt out of the entire high school environment and has no involvement with that graduating class, does not participate in any sports or clubs and makes NO contribution to the school. Therefore, said student should not be eligible to be named Valedictorian or Salutatorian
Joey
February 4th, 2011
3:52 pm
I also attended the Advanced Academy and I can attest to the fact that the classes are much more challenging than high school classes, even AP classes. If the student was dual-enrolled at the school, it doesn’t matter whether or not she was actually physically at the school. She earned nearly perfect grades in more difficult classes and she deserves the award. On top of that, she was earning credit toward her college degree. Now, which girl is the more outstanding student academically? Or did we all forget the definition of Valedictorian?
disappointedwithpolicies
February 4th, 2011
3:52 pm
@Concerned – I’m not sure where you got your information. CCSD has always encouraged rigor in academics. My children have attended Cherokee County schools for 10 years and teachers and administration have always promoted academics. Most high schools promote sports, but that is anywhere, not only Etowah or Cherokee County. Look at the world around you – athletes are worshipped like gods and are handed everything. I completely disagree with you that this school system is a joke compared to others in the metro area. We looked at all the counties in the metro area 17 years ago and chose to build a house here, in Cherokee County, specifically because of the school system and the excellence here. Looking at the metro area today, there are still only two other counties I would even consider for my children.
Lion in ATL
February 4th, 2011
4:43 pm
@Joey – no, it DOES matter that she was not physically at the school. We also have no idea which student was more outstanding – as you can see from the previous three pages, their grades are apples and oranges. They are clearly both tremendous students, however the Valedictorian should come from the actual student body, not someone whose only connection with the school is an enrollment form.
Take em to the 'Woodshed"
February 4th, 2011
5:03 pm
“concerned”….get your facts straight. Although Cherokee County sports teams are good…they are not at the level you make them out to be. Football…Zero state championships. Basketball…A couple state championships (maybe) Softball…1 or 2 state championships…baseball?
MB
February 4th, 2011
5:26 pm
When my son graduated from a Fulton County school, there was actually a disadvantage to taking a joint enrollment class for your GPA. An “A” in a college class translated to a 95, to which 7 honors points were added. For AP and honors classes, you could make 100 and get the 7 points added.
For another “how could that happen” story: the young man who had the highest GPA in my son’s graduating class had to share his valedictorian status because a counselor had misinformed another student in the class of student #2’s class rank and student #2’s parents pitched a fit. So they had co-valedictorians that year, even though one had a higher GPA. Where does administration step up to the plate and say, “the counselor made a mistake?” Didn’t happen then…
EtowahEagle2011
February 4th, 2011
5:27 pm
As an Etowah High School senior I think it is extremely unfair to give Kelly the title of valedictorian for our class. This honor should be held by an Etowah student who actually knows what it is like to be at Etowah. I am sure that Kelly has worked hard. But as I have said this honor belongs to a hard working student who has exceeded in Etowah classes.
Likewhoaemory
February 4th, 2011
5:53 pm
As someone who attended the same program she did, the classes count towards high school credit, so that is why she is able to generate a high school gpa. The classes also count for college credit. Issues like this have occurred before with this program, and many school districts have specified what can make them valedictorian. Cherokee has seemed to not change their policies to do so. To take away the Valedictorian from Kelly would be terrible. I lived in the same program as her, and she truly is a sweet, smart and wonderful young lady.
concerned
February 4th, 2011
6:06 pm
This title is obviously important to someone graduating. Don’t judge others who have earned a title that has been taken away. This principal should admit that it is a mistake or dismissed from his job. I don’t believe there should be a question in anyone’s mind that this is wrong!
another comment
February 4th, 2011
6:07 pm
Cherokee is not following it’s own policy, it clearly states that the student must be in residence at the Cherokee County School they Graduate from at least 2 semesters. This girl has not attend Etowah any semesters.
The policy is below : Board Policy Descriptor Code: IHC
Class Rankings
Class Ranking/Honor Rolls
Definition and Requirements
The graduating senior with the highest class ranking as determined by weighted cumulative average shall be recognized as Valedictorian. The student with the second highest class ranking as determined by weighted cumulative average shall be recognized as Salutatorian. The cumulative average will be calculated to four decimal places.
Students must have attended the school of graduation for two full semesters during the senior year to be named Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Transfer credit used for Valedictorian and/or Salutatorian shall be accepted only from high schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (or agency recognized as a regional accrediting agency by SACS).
Cumulative Average and Class Ranking
Class ranking shall be determined by the weighted cumulative average of graduating seniors at the completion of high school graduation requirements.
The weighted cumulative average summarizes each student’s academic performance in high school. The weighted cumulative average is used in determining eligibility for numerous awards, activities and college applications.
For the purpose of determining cumulative average the following criteria would be used:
GRADE POINTS GRADE POINTS
110-106
105-101
100-90
89-80 5
4.5
4
3 79-73
72-70
69-0 2
1
0
For the purpose of computing class rank, students will receive the following additional points added to their semester average for that course, if they receive a passing grade:
Honors Classes
Advanced Placement 5 points
10 points
Implementation 2003-2004
Students who successfully complete a course(s) in a post-secondary institution through the Post-secondary Options Program or Joint Enrollment at a Private Institution (as described in Board Policy IDCH) shall receive the above bonus points whenever the college course taken is equivalent to a College Preparatory, Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) high school course as determined by the principal and registrar and the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs, Student Support and Professional Development.
All transcripts submitted to postsecondary institutions are to carry the weighted grades for each course.
Cumulative Average and Honor Graduate Status
The distinction of Honor Graduate will be awarded to graduating seniors who have a weighted cumulative average of 90 or above (or 89.5 or above rounded to the nearest whole unit).
Honor Roll Placement
High school students will be placed on the Honor Roll when their grade average is 90 or above (or 89.5 or above rounded to the nearest whole unit).
Cherokee County Schools Date Adopted: 6/20/2002
Last Revised: 12/6/2007
This is a very poorly written policy. No wonders they are having troubles with it. But then what can you expect when their chief communications person is arrested for his 3rd DUI.
Cherokee should take the number grade and convert to the A, B, C, D grade then assign the 4, 3, 2, 1 . They should add a 1 for AP and a .5 for Honors like Cobb. The current policy also really screws a Cobb student if the Cobb student just moves across the county line into Cherokee. In Cobb alot of students get 90-92 in classes especially AP and Honors classes because they are still A’s. The teachers do not give out 100, 99,98. My daughter had the highest grade in an AP class with a 92. It was an A. So I bet in Cherokee they inflate the grades for the race for Valdictorian.
Melissa
February 4th, 2011
6:56 pm
Maureen, can you address the question that has been raised about this paragraph : “McCahill has been warned that dead animals might turn up at her door and her boyfriend’s brother has been pulled out of class at Etowah and yelled at over what’s happened, she said.”
WHO pulled him out of class? Staff? Other Students? WHY was HE yelled at? If it was staff, that needs to be nipped in the bud and jobs should be lost for that amazing lack of professionalism. If it was fellow students, that smacks of what the NCAA (not that NCAA rules apply here) calls “Lack of Institutional Control”.
Sam
February 4th, 2011
7:18 pm
Melissa – haven’t you learned by now you can’t believe everything you read. Did it ever dawn on you that her boyfriend’s brother (sister’s second cousin removed etc.) may have been ‘pulled out of class’ by someone just to make sure everything was okay. It never said ‘who’ yelled at him. Duh!
Concerned Parent – what difference does it make that her mother is involved in the school. She didn’t do the homework, etc. You have plenty of opportunities to get involved yourself and/or move if things are so horrible for you. Sorry your son didn’t make the football team.
The girl wants to jet to college full time then she is a college student.
another comment
February 4th, 2011
7:32 pm
My sister’s son is the Valdictorian in his class in another state. He is not only the Valdictorian due to grade’s earned by taking AP, Honor’s classes in Regent’s classes, he is the Senior Class President. As the Senior Class President he was elected to this position by his other classmates. He is also a member of several clubs and sports teams. He has been in the same school district his whole life. He is waiting to see if he is accepted to Harvard and several other Ivy League Schools as well as other top 20 schools. Being Valdictorian and Class President is sort of what it is all about.
This Kelly girl is not in the same league as my sister’s son. I am sorry to say, but West Georgia is a third rate school with no admission criteria. Just like Kennesaw State, the Ga. Regents decided this year that only 3 colleges/universities in Ga. UGA, Ga.Tech and Ga. State, had to worry about deny US Citizens spots because of illegals. The rest of the University System has open admissions with no cut offs. My children would never waste their time in any part of the University of Ga. System other than Univ. of Ga. or Ga. Tech. the rest do not offer quality education. Have you had an Albany State graduate as an employee, I have, never again.
Likewhoaemory
February 4th, 2011
7:59 pm
@thepersonabove me,
Many students use West Georgia as a stepping stone. From people I went to school with last year and the year before, people went to Emory, Stanford, Amherst, UGA, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Ohio St, and a slew of other “destination” schools. Your sister’s son did well, but what Kelly did is not comparable. I’m not saying one or the other did better, but she went to college, and your sister’s son did a lot at other schools.
West Georgia’s rigor is comparable to many schools. It has an exceptional nursing program, one of the best teacher’s curriculum in the state, and it even has two fulbright scholars. Just because West Georgia isn’t a competitive ivy league, does not make it an institution to scoff at.
tman
February 4th, 2011
8:25 pm
This whole thing is apples and oranges. The girl who actually attended Etowah, should be THAT school’s valedictorian. The girl who enrolled at but NEVER attended Etowah, may be due some other type of award or just be a mini mi college student, which is what she is. For her to have never attended Etowah, but still be the top student is a joke. You have to wonder how smart these school leaders really are to have a system in place allowing this happen? This same school system, Cherokee County, recenty had their spokesman and Dr. P’s “right hand man” get his 4th DUI arrest. This has to be the lamest leadership in the state. I say fire the little round man superindentent and retool their leadership!
Disappointed
February 4th, 2011
8:50 pm
So here is the thing. Obviously there are flaws in the way the dual enrollment GPAs are calculated, and it is hardly a new issue. Because everyone is aware of the flaws, it allows people to take advantage of the system, such as removing a child from private school and enrolling her in a public school in order to receive the benefits. While it sounds good to say that these “college curriculum” classes are more challenging than a HS AP class, this simply isn’t true, and it is why many Universities do not like to see that students have jetted their Senior Years. That aside, it really isn’t the main issue here…particularly not for the students. The Valedictorian, although admittedly based on numeric figures, represents more than just numbers to her classmates. This position is held by a student who has earned the respect of her peers through participation in school activities, community service, and shared experiences over a four year period. This student is admired by her peers. To give this title to a student who has never stepped foot on the campus is an outrage, and the students have every right to be flabbergasted and hurt. Graduation is one of the most important moments in their lives thus far, and they want to share it with a member of their family…not a complete stranger. Sydney Perlotto is the epitome of hard work, decency, class, and exceptional character. She has worked incredibly hard to achieve her grades and the respect she has garnered from her peers. I imagine no one believes that Ms. Cahill does not deserve to be honored for her hard work and achievements. The point is simply that she is not a class leader, and should not represent and speak for a graduating class at a school she has never attended and with whom she has built no relationships…it is mind boggling.
TA
February 4th, 2011
9:06 pm
It is apparent many making comments don’t understand the dual enrollment program allowed through the Georgia Department of Education. This is not a “Cherokee County” program…It is a “Georgia Program” Highly performing students are afforded the opportunity to be enrolled dually at both their high school and a Georgia College or University. The grades they are earn are counted as both college credit and high school credit (hence the use of the term “dual”). Therefore, it is unfair to say this student is a “college student who never attended Etowah High”. Since she was dually enrolled, everyday she attended one of her college classes she was also attending her high school class. She was simply attending at a different campus. I feel badly for this dually enrolled student. She is obviously a bright, hard working student and is being attacked becuase she chose to take advantage of a dual enrollment program available to all Georgia students meeting the rigorous academic requiremnts. I also take offense at the statement “she took the title away from” She didn’t take the title of valedictorian away from anyone. She earned it based on the criteria set by the Cherokee Board of Education. Each school system is charged with determining it’s own criteria and formula for calculating honor graduates and class rankings. If the Cherokee County school system wishes to reconsider their criteria and change their formulas for determining class rankings, they certainly have that right. But, to do so now and allow a new formula to change the status of this year’s rankings would be both cowardly and unfair. Any change in the formula should take effect after this school year. Like it or not, we have to play by the rules.
MB
February 4th, 2011
9:38 pm
American Heritage School – interesting to hear that mentioned again.
Guess this was in the middle of APS furor, Maureen, but I thought you might address the story about the child with arthritis who was ostracized and bullied at this school.
http://www.ajc.com/news/friends-help-boy-overcome-805315.html
Never heard of it before that article; for a pk-12 school with 325 students, this is quite a bit of notoriety in a short time…
GunnHallian
February 4th, 2011
10:01 pm
Clearly, the general public cannot make a distinction between enrollment and attendance. Kelly McCahill is most likely enrolled at Etowah due to the school district of her family’s home address. Though she is dual enrolled, she must be enrolled at a “home” high school, though she takes all her classes on the West Georgia campus. She is still graduating high school through Etowah. This is how the Advanced Academy works.
Have the writers of this article been so blatantly erroneous to withhold what the Advanced Academy even IS? It’s not lazy high schoolers taking basket-weaving courses at a community college. It’s motivated, driven, and incredibly intelligent students who go through stringent admissions requirements to attend the University of West Georgia, IN ADDITION to the University’s Honors College, and take a full course load (oftentimes more) of honors-level college classes alongside traditional students.
The requirement for becoming valedictorian is simple: highest grade point average. Not only has Kelly achieved that, but she’s done it taking substantially harder classes than her peers without the GPA cushion that accompanies AP and Gifted high school classes. This, to me, is the mark of an exceptional student, and one who deserves her title fully. Despite what Miss Perlotto believes, valedictorian is not a popularity contest, nor an award bestowed for “attending activities”.
mediafail
February 4th, 2011
10:08 pm
@Let’s See . . . on page 2
Kelly already offered to share the valedictorian position and allow Sydney to give the speech, and the offer was refused. But of course the media’s going out of it’s way to paint Kelly negatively.
@another comment
Opting to spend her junior and senior years at a “third rate” college is still more impressive than spending them at high school. Are you arguing that an institution of higher education is lower than a Georgia public school? As Likewhoaemory mentioned, the Advanced Academy of Georgia is a stepping stone that has sent numerous students to the nation’s top schools. One of the Academy’s alumni is even a Goldwater scholar.
I’d also like to mention how terribly written that original article is. It’s not a “dual enrollment program at Etowah.” It’s a dual enrollment program at the University of West Georgia called the Advanced Academy of Georgia that attracts students from around the state, country, and world. And the Facebook page is not called “Team Sydney.” Please get your information correct before trying to call yourself journalists.
mediafail
February 4th, 2011
10:23 pm
its*
GunnHallian
February 4th, 2011
10:32 pm
@mediafail… You must be one of us. (Who else corrects their grammar amidst such a plethora of bad spelling and punctuation?)
mediafail
February 4th, 2011
10:42 pm
“One of us! One of us!”
Indeed, I am.
Slinger
February 4th, 2011
11:53 pm
Brian – you were the “sal” in 2006 AND you don’t know how to spell precedent??? Lord help us all…!! And “Woodshed” – look it up….football state titles – yes, zero, basketball – a whole slew of them (I’d bet at least 10, maybe 12, baseball, nada…what does it have to do with this issue anyway?
Bottom Line
February 5th, 2011
3:28 am
Sorry folks…you have ALL missed the point. After Kelly McCahill completed elementary school in the Etowah school district, Patty McCahill decided to send Kelly to private school. She did not want her daughter to attend the public schools that Etowah school district offered nor be affiliated with them. I do not blame her…if she could afford to send her daughter to private school in hopes for a better education, kudos to her. However, please know that the ONLY reason Kelly was enrolled at Etowah HS as a junior and senior was so that Patty MaCahill could save the private school tuition while her daughter jetted at West GA…period. What other possible reason could Patty MaCahill have for pulling her daughter out of private school to enroll at Etowah HS? Why didn’t Kelly simply jet from her private school…the school that Patty MaCahill paid to be affiliated with while Kelly was in the 9th and 10th grade? Patty MaCahill chose to use the financial loophole Etowah afforded her, use it to her advantage, and is now trying the reap the benefits for Kelly. Shame on you, Patty MaCahill. How dare you argue that the situation you masterminded be anything but underhanded and dishonorable. It is clear to me that you lack integrity and character…and now you are undermining your daughter’s character by your refusal to see that Kelly is NOT at all affiliated with Etowah HS and does not belong representing that school as valedictorian…a school that you never wanted your daughter to be affiliated with in the first place. Just because a loophole exists in the system, Patty MaCahill, does not mean that it should be violated in such an incredulous manner. My child is graduating from Etowah HS this year and we are disgusted that you are encouraging your daughter to accept this ill-begotten award. Shame on you!
TA
February 5th, 2011
8:31 am
If the McCahills live in the school district served by Etowah High School, they are entitled by law to attend the school. The reasons they choose to attend are irrelevant. Get over it, people…..The McCahills did nothing wrong (legally, morally, or ethically). Stop attacking this child and her family. She is obviously an excellent student and she earned the highest GPA according to the school’s criteria. If you think the criteria is wrong, work through the proper channels to change it (for future years). As for the student who thinks she was “robbed” of her title….”Congratulations on performing so well in high school. You are obviously a bright, dedicated student and you should be proud of your accomplishments. BUT…you did not earn the highest GPA, so you are not entitled to be valedictorian. Accept it and move on.”
Sam
February 5th, 2011
8:40 am
@Bottom Line – EXCELLENT POINT! You hit the nail right on the head. It is disgusting that this woman would allow her daughter to be valedictorian of school she never attended. End of story.
@mediafall…Isn’t that just BIG of Kelly to ALLOW Sydney to give the speech.
What kind of mother would subject her daughter to the audience that is going to be at that graduation? No matter what side you are on, whether right or wrong, we all know what is likely to happen.
C'mon People
February 5th, 2011
8:56 am
Hey, the media isn’t trying to make the McCahills look bad. I think Patti McCahill did that all by herself with her WSB interview.
Fellow Academy Student
February 5th, 2011
8:57 am
This article says everything I want to say more eloquently than I could manage: http://www.gradickcommunications.com/Dual-Enrolled-Valedictorian-Threatened/9132072
C'mon People
February 5th, 2011
9:08 am
If she had even spent freshman year at EHS, this wouldn’t be such a problem. To “enroll” to save money does not make you a student at EHS. I’m shocked her parents don’t understand the problem.
Fellow Academy Student
February 5th, 2011
9:14 am
Bottom Line, the reason Kelly enrolled at Etowah HS was not to save money, but because her private school wouldn’t allow dual enrollment. You’re misrepresenting the issue.
No name used
February 5th, 2011
9:25 am
Turn this around. If Miss Kelly has offered to stand aside and let Miss Sydney give the speech at graduation, and they both can be val’s-what is the problem? She was enrolled-period. That fact does not change, whether she walked in the front doors or not. Why her mother did it is not our concern, nor is it the child’s fault or decision. She has been gracious enough to realize that she does not have to give the speech, and the award will still be on her record, as it will on the other child. Valedictorian, if I am not mistaken, is strictly based on grades, not involvement in school activities, correct? Well, then Miss Kelly achieved that. On paper, she was a student at Etowah. On paper, her superior grades and test scores make the school look better. The school cares about that.
What is becoming evident to me is that some people on this blog and at EHS failed to learn how to share when accomplishments are equal. Y’all keep talking about how unfair it is to Miss Sydney that she was bumped by clerical issues. Yes, that is unfair. However, how unfair is it that Miss Kelly is being railroaded and denied recognition as well? Both girls did excellent work. Both girls have paperwork showing that they are enrolled on the books at EHS,and EHS gets money from the various funding vehicles for both girls. Both should be rewarded with the title of Valedictorian since the clerical issue made it lopsided. Let the girl who attended EHS physically give the speech to her classmate, mark both diplomas with a big V and go on about life, which does not end at high school.
MOMof2GreatKids
February 5th, 2011
10:58 am
My son is participating in this excellent program at West Georgia. We were told upfront and clearly by his high school counselor that he would not be able to qualify for the valedictorian at the high school if he was joint enrolled at the academy. However, he could be ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. This is something that he accepted before applying. I appreciate my school system, Floyd County, for being proactive and communicating this rule to us for consideration. As far as my son is concerned, he has decided that the benefits of the program at the Advanced Academy far outweigh the experiences he will forfeit in his high school. Besides, just being accepted to the Academy is an honor in itself. As far as the young lady is concerned, people need to be considerate of her and the misinformation she and her family may have been given. Blame should be placed on the school system for not anticipating this dilemma beforehand. If there is no rule against her being valedictorian, and she has met all the criteria, then so be it. Sure, it may not be equitable to the young lady who is attending the school regularly, but, there again, I fault the poorly designed system. Hopefully they can resolve this fairly for both parties involved. We need to encourage our young people, not attack them. They are the future of our country.
GE
February 5th, 2011
11:04 am
@Fellow Academy Student – Regarding the article you referenced all it does is make Kelly McCahill sound like a brat. How can she be receiving threathening letters when no one knows who she is. Laughable!
Angela Smith
February 5th, 2011
11:21 am
I attended the dual enrollment program at the University of West Georgia from 1999-2001; I feel fairly confident that is the same program that Kelly McCahill is a part of, although I can’t be sure since the story omits that detail. I can tell you from experience that this young woman has had to work very hard for the accomplishments she’s earned. First, she had to be a very strong student to get into the joint enrollment program at all. Then, while her classmates have been taking high school level classes, she has spent the last 2 years challenging herself with college classes. Not AP classes, which are college level but taught at a high school level, but actual college classes. Most likely at the age of 16, as a junior in high school, this young woman was responsible enough to successfully go out on her own, move into a dorm room on campus at West GA, design a class schedule and manage the work load of those college-level classes. Furthermore, she probably did so without the previous training that all of her college classmates had– while they walked into Chemistry 101 with at least some background in high school chemistry, she may have had none. Why? Because Chemistry 101 was to count for her high school chemistry requirement! And not only did Kelly manage this workload, but she succeeded in making A’s in these much harder, college level classes! In a situation where even the best students could be forgiven a brief adjustment period and a few B’s, she maintained a 4.0 GPA at the college level.
If anything, it seems that Kelly should be demanding that the way GPAs are calculated needs to be adjusted in her favor. She is receiving the same number of points for earning an A in a MUCH harder college level course as her high school classmates are awarded for earning an A in their high school level courses.
Kelly deserves the title of valedictorian. She has earned it with her considerable academic achievements, and she has proven herself to be a responsible and accomplished young lady worthy of the title and a role model for other students.
Bottom Line
February 5th, 2011
12:21 pm
Fellow Academy Student – IF the reason Kelly McCahill was enrolled at Etowah was NOT to save money, but because her private school does NOT allow jetting or dual enrollment, then she should have simply not been allowed to do so by HER school rules! Seems to me that the McCahill’s wanted their cake and to eat it too. Look people, I echo the admiration for Kelly’s hard work, dedication to her education, and accomplishments. She and her parents should be proud of those things. However, using loopholes to achieve your own personal goals should not violate the traditions and scholarly efforts of those who actually attend the school in question. Even though the duel-enrollment program is offered to all eligible students enrolled at Etowah H S, Patty McCahill, some students do not take advantage of it because they WANT to be affiliated with and attend their H S before embarking on to college! These students want to actually graduate from their H S that they ATTENDED for at least part of their four years there. Valedictorians were designed to honor individuals with the highest achievements AT their school…not simply some kid who is working the system doing something their OWN school disallows. Kelly McCahill is a ghost at Etowah and her representing the 2011 class by accepting valedictorian is shameful.