Mass. school makes error declaring valedictorian

LEICESTER, Mass. (AP) -- A Massachusetts high school is reviewing the way it calculates final class rankings after the school's valedictorian participated in graduation ceremonies as the salutatorian, the second highest academic rank.

Powers Brennan says she was a "little mad" when she received a letter after graduation last month explaining that she was Leicester High School's valedictorian even though she was originally told she had graduated second.

Superintendent Paul Soojian tells The Telegram & Gazette calculating class rankings in time for graduation is done at the end of the third quarter. Using those numbers, Powers was second. He says there has never been a problem before, but the school will review the process.

Principal Thomas Lauder says the incident was "unfortunate" because Powers and the boy ultimately ranked second are "great kids."