The valedictorian at each high school is the student with the highest cumulative grade point average earned in the 8 semesters spent in high school. The salutatorian at each high school is the student with the next highest cumulative grade point average earned in the 8 semesters spent in high school. Grades earned in middle school, even if awarded high school credit, will not be included in the calculation. If there is a tie, students will be awarded the designation of co-valedictorian and/or co-salutatorian.

To qualify a student must have earned their final 11 credits in the Dearborn Public Schools at the time of graduation and attended the high school from which he or she is graduating for a minimum of one year. All grades earned in all subjects are used in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.