Is it normal to cheat in order to get a better class rank?

It's normal enough. Academic standards to get into good schools are getting higher whilst academic performance is getting lower. However, as a college student myself, I'd recommend you actually study. Likely you will need to know some of that material further on down the line.

Does it matter if you cheat?
No.
Will you be cheating yourself?
Proabably not.
Do I cheat?
No.

Why cheat to get an A if you're earning a high school diploma?
A high school diploma is a high school diploma (honors or GPA or AP or ESE, it all looks the same at graduation).
When you graduate "with honors" in high school it won't be worth anything by the time you're done with college.
Is cheating in high school going to make college easier or harder?
Harder because then you would be competing for a high school spot at a University that is bloody expensive.
Don't go to a University after high school. Go to a Community College. It's cheaper and probably has the same teachers as the University does anyways.

Don't even worry about your GPA. By the time you're done with college, you'll search and find a career.

NO- you do it the RIGHT way. Ethics will take you farther than any class rank. What happens if they or YOU get caught? I was top in my class the honest way.

Yeah this sounds normal. Especially if it is your third year. As Nuero said better grades get you into a better school. So people who want to make it to a good university are going to want to boost grades.

It's sad but lately I have just learned that it was very common.

Technically the kids who are taking the AP classes are the ones that are most likely to cheat, so I think you're alright.

I time you'll learn school is all bullshit. So if you have the chance to cheat, well, what the fuck...

That is fucking stupid.