Once upon a time, it was a crowning achievement after four years of high school to be recognized as your school’s valedictorian.

It meant that you faced the same scholastic rigors as other top classmates and emerged on top, the student designated to give the commencement address with a bright college future looming at the end of summer.

At the two Coeur d’Alene high schools, that’s the case again.

After experimenting for more than a decade with a system that bestowed valedictorian honors on all 4.0 grade-point students, the Coeur d’Alene School District came to its senses. Earlier this month, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City high schools named only one valedictorian and one salutatorian each – a far cry from June 2004 when more than 20 shared the title of valedictorian between the two schools. The local district deserves to be applauded for its gutsy decision to restore the prestige to the hallowed title of valedictorian. Other school districts should follow suit, Seattle’s Garfield High being a prime example.

On Monday, 35 of Garfield’s 44 valedictorians gave a short inspirational quote at commencement exercises for their class of 406 graduates, according to the Seattle Times. With so many claiming the title after seven semesters of straight A’s, there wasn’t time for each to make a short speech. Still, after the first two dozen or so forgettable quotes, many in the audience must have wondered about grade inflation as they checked their watches.

Of note, according to the Times, an attempt to select two students to deliver Garfield’s graduation speeches was shot down by class leaders and other seniors. Apparently they felt the valedictorians deserved their place in the sun, although their quantity raised questions about the rigor of the high school’s academics, as it does at other schools with multiple valedictorians. At a time when the education system is emerging from its self-esteem stupor, few school officials are willing to challenge the credentials of top students. Or to tackle their parents. After special education, a University of Kentucky professor told the Times, “the biggest number of school court cases is around the selection of valedictorians.”

By yesterday’s standards, Garfield’s 44 valedictorians should be considered the school’s best scholars. But how many of them sidestepped Advanced Placement classes for fear they wouldn’t collect their coveted A?

With grade inflation pushing the average GPA for college-bound seniors from 3.15 in 1994 to 3.28 last year, a 4.0 average no longer means what it once did or represents a free ride to a college of choice. Stanford University, for example, regularly turns away 4.0 applicants as it looks for individuals with well-rounded backgrounds, including student government, extracurricular activity and community involvement.

Four years ago, the Coeur d’Alene School District sought to honor the crème de la crème at the local high schools by weighting grades and toughening requirements for incoming freshmen. As a result, the 2005 valedictorians at the two high schools are universally recognized as the brightest – something that can’t be said at Garfield High.