What does 'exact class rank' mean?

I've heard the term 'exact class rank' being thrown around a lot, especially in the context of college applications, but I'm not exactly sure what it means. Can anyone explain it to me and how it might impact my chances during the college admissions process? Thanks!

Hi there! 'Exact class rank' refers to a student's specific standing within their graduating class based on their academic performance. This number is usually determined by comparing your cumulative grade point average (GPA) to those of your classmates. For instance, if you have the highest GPA in your class, you would be ranked #1, and so on.

Class rank has been traditionally considered by colleges as an admission factor, as it provides them with a snapshot of how well you performed academically in comparison to your peers. However, many high schools nowadays don't report exact class ranks and instead use other measures like deciles or percentiles.

Some selective colleges still use a metric called the Academic Index, which includes class rank (if available) along with grades and test scores. Having a high class rank can be advantageous in this case, but it's not the only factor considered.

Colleges often use holistic admissions, meaning they evaluate multiple aspects of your application such as extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations. So while class rank is important, it's not the sole determinant of your chances at admission.