What is GPA?

  • GPA is an abbreviation for Grade Point Average.
  • Cumulative GPA is the average of a student's final grades in all courses taken for high school credit.
  • Cumulative GPA is based on number of credits earned and final grades in classes.
  • When a student passes a class, the student earns one credit in most cases. Some classes, such as those offered at the Career and Technical Center, allow students to earn more than one credit per class.
  • Cumulative GPA includes Algebra I, Spanish I, and French I classes which some students take as eighth graders for high school credit.

In figuring cumulative GPA, final letter grades in courses carry the following point values.

  1. Each "A" counts 4 points.
  2. Each "B" counts 3 points.
  3. Each "C" counts 2 points.
  4. Each "D" counts 1 point.
  5. Each "F" counts 0 points.

Certain honors courses have weighted grades. In figuring cumulative GPA for weighted courses, final letter grades in weighted courses carry the following point values.

  1. Each weighted "A" counts 5 points.
  2. Each weighted "B" counts 4 points.
  3. Each weighted "C" counts 3 points.
  4. Each weighted "D" counts 2 points.
  5. Each weighted "F" counts 0 points.
  • Consider the following example. A student earns 28 credits by the end of first semester of the senior year. The student's final grades result in the following: 14 A's, 10 B's, 2 C's, 1 D, 1 F. For the purpose of this example, the student does not have any weighted grades.
  • Cumulative GPA is then figured in the following manner.
    • 14 (number of credits with a grade of A) X 4 (points per A) = 56
    • 10 (number of credits with a grade of B) X 3 (points per B) = 30
    • 2 (number of credits with a grade of C) X 2 (points per C) = 4
    • 1 (number of credits with a grade of D) X 1 (point per D) = 1
    • 1 (number of credits with a grade of F) X 0 (points per F) = 0
    • Total = 91 Quality Points Earned Divided By 28 Total Credits = Cumulative GPA of 3.25

Why is GPA important?

  • Colleges consider GPA as one of the main determining factors for college admissions, along with difficulty of high school course selections and scores on SAT and/or ACT tests. GPA is also a factor in determining eligibility for merit scholarships and eligibility for playing college sports.

How is class rank determined?

  • Class rank is based on cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of first semester of the senior year. The student with the highest GPA is ranked #1 in the class.

How do I achieve my best class rank?

  • To achieve maximum GPA and class rank, students should make straight A's and take as many weighted classes as possible.
  • Students who have a 4.0 GPA are not usually ranked #1 in the class. Students who are ranked at the top of the class almost always have GPA's higher than 4.0.