Valedictorians
Valedictorians
The current valedictorian policy is being phased out.
Class of 2026 & 2027: current valedictorian policy applies
Classes 2028 and beyond: new Latin Honors awards system
The current valedictorian policy is being phased out.
Class of 2026 & 2027: current valedictorian policy applies
Classes 2028 and beyond: new Latin Honors awards system
Valedictorians are determined by their Indexed GPA. All seniors with a final, end of Senior year Indexed GPA of 4.65 and higher will be honored as a Valedictorian upon graduation.
Valedictorian status is calculated based on Indexed GPA. Indexed GPA is calculated by adding additional points from weighted coursework to the Scholastic GPA. To calculate Indexed GPA, add .02 to each semester of an A in an Honors, AP, or dual enrollment class and .01 to each semester of a B in an Honors, AP, or dual enrollment class. Please note: for dual enrollment coursework, each grade earned receives a single .02 (A grade) or .01 (B grade) grade bump (regardless of whether 5 or 10 high school credits are earned).
In general terms, it takes about 33 semesters of A's in Honors/AP/dual enrollment classes to qualify.
Click HERE to calculate your Indexed GPA.
NOTE: Your base Scholastic GPA WILL change/recalculate at the end of each semester or when external credits are added to the transcript. You will need to recalculate this projection every time your transcript is updated. Keep this in mind when using the calculator to project your final, end of senior year GPA used in the final valedictorian calculation.
Graduation academic honors will be transitioning from a valedictorian system to a Latin Honors system starting with the Class of 2028. Students within specific weighted GPA bands at the end of semester one of their senior year will have their academic excellence acknowledged in the graduation program.
Latin Honors Designations
Summa Cum Laude: GPA 3.90 and above
Magna Cum Laude: GPA 3.70 – 3.89
Cum Laude: GPA 3.50 – 3.69
Key Features
✅ All coursework levels included (CP, Honors, AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, CTE, ELD, SAI)
✅ Decision date for consideration - end of Semester 1 of students’ 12th grade year
✅ Weighted GPA calculation, easily visible on the CVUSD transcript or in Q
✅ Recognizes a broader group of high-achieving students
✅ Reinforces balance, well-being, and inclusivity in academic recognition
GPA: GPA is calculated as follows: A=4.0 B=3.0 C=2.0 D=1.0 (Pluses or minuses do not add or subtract points)
Cumulative GPA: The grade point average earned for all high school courses attempted (including Geometry H and world language in the 8th grade, if taken) computed by dividing the total number of points received from grades by the total number of courses taken.
Scholastic GPA: The grade point average earned for all high school courses (including Geometry H and foreign language in the 8th grade, if taken) except physical education.
State GPA: The grade point average earned for all high school courses except physical education earned after 9th grade.
Weighted GPA: Based on Scholastic GPA, all Honors and AP courses use a GPA calculation of 5.0 for a grade of A, 4.0 for a grade of B, and 3.0 for a grade of C. Grades of D and F do not earn extra weight. The Weighted GPA is used for rank by decile only, as our school does not publish individual class rank.
Indexed GPA: All Honors and AP courses earn an additional .02 points for an "A" and .01 points for a "B." These additional points are added to the Scholastic GPA to compute the Indexed GPA. The Indexed GPA is used to determine valedictorian.
GPA and Athletics/Activities: A 2.0 grade point average is the minimum required for participation in co-curricular activities (clubs, dance team, band, ASB, cheerleading, choir, and athletics.) The grade point average is based upon the most recent semester or quarter grades and includes grades in all classes completed. A student must pass at least four (4) classes in a semester to be eligible for co-curricular activities, regardless of GPA. In order to maintain eligibility, a student must have a 2.0 GPA at each quarter marking period and be passing in four subjects. Representing Westlake High School on an interscholastic athletic team or co-curricular activity is a privilege. Therefore, when students participate in athletics or co-curricular activities, they agree to follow the rules and requirements established for participation.