To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. Candidates for honors, at any grade or year level, shall be drawn from the top ten (10) pupils/students of the school. They must not have a final grade lower than 80% in any subject.
2. To determine the top ten (10), pupils/students shall be ranked using the 7-3 point scheme (7 points for academic performance and 3 points for co-curricular activities) as contained in Enclosure Nos. 1 and 2.
3. The pupils/students’ grades in the previous curriculum level shall not be considered in the ranking of honors for graduating pupils/students.
4. Only the grades in the current curriculum year shall be considered in the ranking of honor pupils/students. Transferees shall be considered in the ranking provided they are enrolled not later than the second week of classes of the current School Year.
5. The final rating shall be computed to the three decimal places. In case of tie, candidates shall both be declared in the same honor ranking (both as valedictorians, salutatorians and so on).
6. All candidates for honors must be of good moral character and have not been subjected to any disciplinary actions within the current School Year.
7. Achievements of pupils/students in specific academic disciplines (such as Mathematics, Science and English) and in special curricular areas (such as athletics, performing arts and campus journalism) shall be given recognition.
8. Schools with special curriculum programs (such as special science, arts, sports, special education) and duly recognized annexes of public elementary and secondary schools, provided the annex is a complete school with all the curriculum grades/years, shall select their own set of honor pupils/students.
9. Any member of the school selection committee must not be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to any of the candidates for honors.
10. The School Head shall be the chairman of the school selection committee composed of at least three (3) members from the teaching staff and shall make the final announcement of honor pupils/students after final results have been duly recommended and approved by the School Head and/or Schools Division Superintendent, respectively, not later than fifteen (15) days before the recognition/commencement rites. Candidates for honors and their advisers must be present during the open selection process.
11. In case of protest, it shall be filed by the candidate with his/her parent or guardian to the School Head within five (5) working days from the final announcement and shall be settled by the school selection committee within five (5) working days from the filing of the protest.
12. Previous issuances, policies and guidelines inconsistent with this Order are hereby rescinded and/or repealed.
13. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is directed.

Encls.:
As stated
Reference:
DepED Order: No. 10, s. 2006
Allotment: 1—(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
POLICY
PUPILS
RATINGS
STUDENTS

DO_s2009_92