My high school had a weighted GPA system that took into account the level of different classes. For example, receiving an 'A' in a regular class would count as 4.00 while receiving the same grade in an honors class would earn you a 4.33. An AP class would raise the average even higher with a 4.67, so it was no surprise that the valedictorian of the class graduated with a GPA that was above a 4.5. I always thought the system to be fair until I entered my junior and senior years, when the arts requirement was no longer necessary and "the smart kids" stopped taking them altogether. I continued taking music and art classes until I graduated because I loved these subjects; I also...