For the first time in 13 years, Cape Girardeau Central High School named two co-valedictorians -- and it wasn't an easy determination to make.

"They're often close," principal Mike Cowan said of past valedictorian contests.

Normally what helps the school clearly delineate who the top student will be is its weighted grade system, Cowan said.

Designated honors courses get an extra grade point, or an extra "weight point," and advanced placement courses get two extra points. The top students in each grade who are vying to be valedictorian take as many weighted courses as possible.

"Most AP courses that carry the two points are junior and senior courses," Cowan said. But it would be impossible for students to take all the AP courses available, so they have to make choices.

Alex Gentle

This year's valedictorian contest came down to Tessa Valleroy and Alex Gentle.

"By winter break this year, we knew it was going to be really close," Valleroy said.

The last time the high school had co-valedictorians was Cowan's first year as principal. Valleroy and Gentle tied as Cowan completes his final school year before retiring.

"Interestingly, in both of these incidents where we've had co-valedictorians, it has come down to calculus class both times," he said.

This year's calculus exam included three parts over a three-day period. The teacher submitted grades the Thursday before graduation, the seniors' last day.

Valleroy said the two students went into the exam knowing it ultimately was going to decide their rank.

"We both thought we did really well at it," she said. "Then the scores came back. We both got almost the same score, but his was just enough to climb him up to an A, and mine maintained an A-."

With Valleroy slightly ahead before the exam, Gentle calculated their GPAs and told her they might be tied.

"But we didn't know," Valleroy said.

The school uses a computer program to calculate class rank and GPA, Cowan said. But to ensure the calculations were exact, counselor Katy Andersson and assistant principal Nancy Scheller, who taught math for 14 years, spent more than two hours calculating and recalculating the two students' grades.

"You can imagine: it's four years, 32 courses and can have three different values in the courses," Cowan said. "You basically have to lay out the student's entire transcript, and then go through and put the point value down and then calculate that point value."

Once calculated, it became apparent to school administrators Valleroy and Gentle had tied.

"Then we did the smartest thing of all," Cowan said. "After we had our calculations, we called our co-valedictorians down to the guidance office, and we let them check our work."

The students went through their transcripts, confirmed the school's calculations and agreed it was a mathematical tie.

Valleroy and Gentle said they are happy with the outcome.

"We're both really good friends, and I consider him an equal in all regards," she said. "So it was really cool that we could tie and share the valedictorian title. It was a win-win situation, more or less."

"I think the school handled it very well," Gentle said. "It was a process that could've been upsetting or disappointing but ended up working out really well."

Some schools announce their valedictorians at the end of the seventh semester, Cowan said, and Cape Central High School's process is a little more stressful.

"However, I do think our process is authentic, and I feel very good about the integrity of the process," he said. "Those kids pushed through the very last day of school. And I guarantee they prepared more for that three-day test than they would have otherwise, knowing what was at stake."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

1000 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.