Research

http://www.lionnewspaper.com/opinions/2011/11/14/point-class-rank-necessary-for-success/

 Maggie O'Brien of Lyons Township High School states that class rank drives "competition, where the prize is college admission and potential scholarships" amongst the student body. Students are naturally competitive and curious towards the success, so class rank allows that curiosity to be "anonymous" where students will push themselves into performing better, and "Higher grades will thus be common among students". High schools will take pride in their high rank, and the ones who receive a lower rank will not fret either because it remains "anonymous".
However, O'Brien does not take into account of how the student who receives a lower rank will feel about themselves, making her argument less credible. Although the college admission process will be more efficient and "less stressful", colleges should view students more holistically. In addition, class rank offers a gauge of a student's admission, but that is not necessarily a good thing, as students will be discouraged from performing well and give up.