Leaders at the three high schools in the South Washington County School District have put the final touches on a previously-announced move to halt the reporting of class rankings of students.

Students now are to be recognized in a manner common to higher education, a district news release said.

Students with a grade-point average of 4.0 or higher will be recognized summa cum laude, those with a 3.667-3.999 GPA will be magna cum laude and those with a 3.5-3.666 GPA will be cum laude.

Earlier, school principals and counselors had considered using the terms "honors," "high honors" and "distinction." Those who graduated with distinction would be students with a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

South Washington County students are able to graduate above a traditional 4.0 GPA by taking Advanced Placement or other college-level courses.

School officials have worried that some gifted students are skipping classes they are passionate about because they don't come with a loftier GPA. The district wants students to focus on the classes they take, and not on how they compare to their peers. Students should compete against a standard rather than one another, the district said.

The move away from class rankings will take effect in 2013-14 and follows national trends. Other east metro high schools that have done away with class ranks include Stillwater, Hill-Murray and Mounds View.

Individual schools will decide how the changes affect commencement exercises, for example, whether the school will have a valedictorian or recognizes its top 10 students, the district said.

School District 622

Registration begins for foundation fun run

A fundraiser to benefit students and creative teachers in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District is set for July 27, the district said.

Registration is underway for the 622 Education Foundation's annual family fun run and walk. Go to the eventbrite.com website to register.

Doug Ronsberg, a member of the 622 Education Foundation, said in a news release that the run supports the foundation's Angel Fund program, which serves "students in need as well as our innovative teaching grants."

The event begins with a 5K run at 9 a.m. on July 27 in the parking lot of Polar Arena, 2416 E. 11th Av., North St. Paul. A free kids' run will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a free toddlers' trot at 10:15 a.m.

People who register for the 5K run before July 13 will receive a $5 savings — and a free T-shirt, too.

Family registrations also are available. For details, go to the foundation's website.

Anthony Lonetree