GPA
What is GPA?
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a number that summarizes your overall performance in your high school courses. For each final course grade you earn, you earn a certain number of quality points. Your GPA is the average of those quality points.
Programs, opportunities, colleges and employers may use your GPA to infer things about your abilities and work habits, so attaining a GPA that accurately reflects you is important.
Knowing how to calculate your high school GPA is important. Use the tools below to help you learn how to calculate your GPA and then set appropriate goals for continually improving your GPA.
When it comes to GPA, start strong and stay strong!
There are TWO types of GPA (Grade Point Average) and BOTH are reported on your transcript:
- Un-Weighted GPA = no extra quality points
- Weighted GPA = takes into account Honors, AP, and IB courses, giving extra quality points for increased rigor.
Facts about GPA:
It is cumulative and reflects all the classes you take in high school!
Honors & AP level classes give you the chance to earn extra quality points, which can enhance your GPA if you do well.
GPA can play an important role in opportunities offered to you in and after high school.
Typically, the higher your GPA, the more choices you will have for college, scholarships, etc.
The GPA you have in 9th & 10th grades are critical as they set the foundation for what follows.
It can be quite difficult to bring up your GPA in 11th & 12th grades if you did not start out strong in 9th & 10th grades.
Types of Courses and their Quality Points
Academic or Standard & some CCP CTE courses
A (90-100) = 4.0
B (80-89) = 3.0
C (70-79) = 2.0
D (60-69) = 1.0
F (0-59) = 0
Honors & some CCP CTE courses
A (90-100) = 4.5
B (80-89) = 3.5
C (70-79) = 2.5
D (60-69) = 1.5
F (0-59) = 0
AP, IB, & some CCP CT courses
A (90-100) = 5.0
B (80-89) = 4.0
C (70-79) = 3.0
D (60-69) = 2.0
F (0-59) = 0
How to Calculate GPA
Your GPA is the average of the quality points you've earned for each final course grade taken in high school.
EXAMPLE: Kai just completed her 9th grade year. She took 8 classes altogether. These are her classes, grades, and the corresponding quality points earned based on the type of course (Academic, Honors, AP, etc).
COURSE
English I
Math 1
Earth/Environmental Science Honors
Civics
Healthful Living
Psychology
Beginning Visual Arts
Digital Design & Animation
FINAL GRADE
90
93
96
89
92
98
85
98
WEIGHTED QUALITY POINTS EARNED
4.0
4.0
4.5
3.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
4.0
Kai earned 30.5 weighted quality points. She took 8 classes.
30.5 (total quality points earned) divided by 8 (total number of classes taken) given you Kai's GPA.
Kai's Weighted GPA is 3.8125