Question & AnswerQ&A (DECS ORDER NO. 49 S. 1992)
The purpose is to give due recognition to graduating students who have shown exemplary performance in their high school work through guidelines for the selection of honor students.
The guidelines shall be implemented starting School Year 1992-1993 in all public and private secondary schools.
Teachers, parents, and students must be given orientation on the scheme.
Final selection and announcement should be made not earlier than 30 days nor later than 15 days before the commencement exercises or graduation rites.
No, protests filed 10 days before the commencement exercises shall not be entertained.
There shall be one valedictorian and one salutatorian, except in case of a tie, where both candidates may be declared as such.
One percent (1%) of the total graduating students can be declared honorable mention.
The student must have no grade lower than 80 in any subject during the third and fourth years; must have done all third and fourth-year work in the graduating school; completed the curriculum within four consecutive years; be an active member of at least two authorized student organizations or clubs during third and fourth years; and must have conducted himself according to school rules.
Academic excellence (7 points) and performance in co-curricular activities (3 points).
It is based on the general average of grades for the last two years (third and fourth years), with final grades in the fourth year completed before the last three weeks of the school year.
It includes achievements such as participation in authorized student organizations, literary and musical activities, athletics, awards recognizing student achievements, civic activities, researches, and other outstanding awards.
Students are ranked based on weighted ranks from academic excellence (weighted by 7) and co-curricular activities (weighted by 3), with the lowest combined weighted rank indicating the highest honor.