GPA Information

GPA stands for Grade Point Average. Every high school student who has completed at least one year of classes has a GPA. Here in our system, your GPA is determined by the final yearly averages you earn in your core classes (English, Math, Science, and History) and foreign language (Spanish or other foreign language). Each year, your yearly averages for these courses are averaged together. This average is your GPA. (Your cumulative GPA includes these grades through the course of your high school years.)

Now that you know what a GPA is, let me introduce you to the different kinds of GPAs we use. We use two basic GPA calculations - Numeric and Standard. The numeric GPA is based on a 100 point scale just like your class grades. So, if you earned a 92 in a course for the year, a 92 would be calculated into your GPA. We use the numeric GPA to determine class rank. I'll explain why later ;)

The standard GPA is based on a 4 point scale. On a standard scale, for each "A" you earn you receive 4 points. Bs = 3 points, Cs = 2, Ds = 1, and Fs earn 0 points. The Standard GPA is used in the college system and therefore is the GPA you will use when applying for admission to college and for college scholarships.

On to an explanation of class rank and the numeric GPA... Final class rank is determined after the 8th semester of high school (end of senior year). The student with the highest numeric GPA earns the title of Valedictorian. This is a great honor and, as you can imagine, an honor that has to be determined accurately! We use the numeric GPA in this application because it is more accurate. Let me give you an example to explain... If two students took the same course, one earned an 88 and the other an 82, on a standard scale both students would earn 3 points. This would make them even. However, on a numeric scale, the first student earns 88 points while the other student earns only 82. This numeric method, therefore, is more accurate.

As for the question of, "why does it matter what my GPA is?" Most students have the goal of going to college when they finish high school. Contrary to what you might think, colleges do not let you attend for free and they have specific criteria that must be met in order to be admitted. Did you know that most college scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0? So, one of the biggest reasons you need to be concerned about your GPA is so that you can be considered for a college scholarship!

Here's another reason a good GPA is important: Most auto insurance companies give discounts for students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher! Who wouldn't want to take advantage of that?

Bottom Line _____ your GPA is important! The work you do now can make a huge difference in what is available to you in the future.