Calculate your High School GPA instantly with weighted and unweighted results. Enter your classes, grades, credits, and AP/Honors/IB levels to see your current and cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale, including weighted boosts for advanced courses.
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Tip: Try our grade calculator to calculate your course assessment grades and the final test grades.
How GPA Is Calculated in High School
High schools calculate GPA by converting each class grade into GPA points, multiplying by credits, totaling the quality points, and dividing by total credits.
The two most common types are:
- Unweighted GPA – every class uses the 4.0 scale
- Weighted GPA – advanced classes (Honors, AP, IB) include extra points
Your school’s scale determines the exact bumps and cutoff values, but the steps below cover the standard high school method.
Steps to Calculate Your High School GPA
Step-by-step Instructions
1. Select your grade format
Choose whether you’re entering letter grades (A+ to F) or percentage grades (100% to 60%). Letter grades convert directly to the 4.0 GPA scale, while percentage grades are mapped to the same scale. Any percentage below 60% is treated as an F (0.0 GPA).
2. Enter Your Current GPA (Optional)
If you already have a current GPA and total earned credits, enter them here. The calculator includes these values when computing your new cumulative GPA. Leave this blank if you’re calculating GPA for the first time.
3. Customize Your Semester Name (Optional)
Rename each semester (e.g., Fall 2024, Spring 2025) to keep your entries organized. This does not affect GPA — it’s just for easier tracking.
4. Add all courses to calculate your high school GPA
Enter each course with the following details:
- Course name
- Grade (letter or percentage)
- Credits (leave as 1 if your school doesn’t use credit weights)
- Course type (Regular, Honors, AP, IB, etc.)
The calculator uses these inputs to compute both your weighted and unweighted GPA.
![](https://gpacalculator.net/wp-content/uploads/high-school-gpa-calculator-step-4-course-grades-e1478570040669.png")
5. Add a semester
Click “Add semester” and enter your courses using the same steps as above. Your semester GPA will appear in the Your GPA panel on the right, and it will automatically update as you add or edit classes.
Weighted / Unweighted GPA Scale
| Letter | Regular | Honors | AP/IB |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C- | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| D- | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Note: Some districts use different bumps or cap A+ at 4.3 unweighted. If your school uses A+ = 4.3, add 0.3 to the A row in both columns accordingly.
Sample High School GPA Calculation
Unweighted GPA
| Course | Level | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Regular | A | 4.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Algebra | Regular | B+ | 3.3 | 1.0 | 3.3 |
| Biology | Regular | A- | 3.7 | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| World History | Regular | B | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
Totals: Quality Points = 4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 3.0 = 14.0, Credits = 4.0
Unweighted GPA = 14.0 / 4.0 = 3.50
Weighted GPA
| Course | Level | Grade | Base Points | Level Bump | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Honors | A- | 3.7 | +0.5 | 1.0 | (3.7+0.5)*1.0 = 4.2 |
| Calculus | AP | B+ | 3.3 | +1.0 | 1.0 | (3.3+1.0)*1.0 = 4.3 |
| English | Regular | A | 4.0 | +0.0 | 1.0 | (4.0+0.0)*1.0 = 4.0 |
| US History | Regular | B | 3.0 | +0.0 | 1.0 | (3.0+0.0)*1.0 = 3.0 |
| Art | Honors | A | 4.0 | +0.5 | 0.5 | (4.0+0.5)*0.5 = 2.25 |
Totals: Quality Points = 4.2 + 4.3 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 2.25 = 17.75, Credits = 4.5
Weighted GPA = 17.75 / 4.5 = 3.94
Note: Always use your school’s official bumps and letter scale if they differ from the examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is GPA calculated in high school?
High schools convert each course grade into GPA points, multiply those points by the course’s credits, and total the quality points. The final GPA is the total quality points divided by total credits. Schools may round differently, but this is the standard formula used across districts.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses the 4.0 scale for every class, regardless of difficulty. Weighted GPA adds extra points (commonly +0.5 for Honors or +1.0 for AP/IB) before calculating the average. This allows students in advanced courses to earn GPAs above 4.0.
How do AP, Honors, and IB classes affect GPA?
Advanced courses receive additional grade points to reflect their difficulty. Most high schools add +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB to the grade’s point value before multiplying by credits. These bumps help raise a student’s weighted GPA.
Do 9th-grade grades count toward cumulative GPA?
Yes. In most districts, all coursework from 9th through 12th grade is included in the cumulative GPA. A few schools use modified policies, but the transcript sent to colleges typically summarizes the full high school career.
Can you get a GPA higher than 4.0?
Yes. On weighted scales, advanced courses like Honors, AP, and IB allow GPAs to exceed 4.0. Depending on your district’s weighting system, the highest possible GPA often falls between 4.5 and 5.0.
What’s the difference between semester GPA and cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA is calculated using only the classes taken in that term. Cumulative GPA includes all completed semesters, dividing total quality points by total credits. Colleges rely on cumulative GPA since it reflects long-term academic performance.
Do electives, PE, and arts classes count toward GPA?
If a course awards both credit and a letter grade, it usually counts toward GPA. Some districts exclude certain non-academic electives, so it’s important to follow your school’s official grading policy. Always enter the correct credit value so smaller classes are weighted properly.
Do Pass/Fail classes affect GPA?
A Pass (P) grade gives credit but does not affect GPA because it carries no point value. A Fail (F or NP) is typically 0.0 and lowers GPA. Schools may use slightly different labels such as P/NP or S/U, but the impact is similar.
Can a bad grade be replaced if I retake a class?
Some high schools use a grade-replacement policy, where the new grade replaces the old one in GPA calculations. Others use grade averaging, where both attempts remain on the transcript. Always use your district’s rules when calculating GPA manually.
Does my school use A+ as 4.0 or 4.3?
Policies vary widely. Many schools cap A+ at 4.0 on the unweighted scale, while others award 4.3. Your transcript and school handbook will list which scale applies.
How do I calculate GPA if my school uses credits?
Multiply each course’s GPA point value by its credits to get quality points, then total them and divide by the total credits attempted. This method works for both weighted and unweighted GPA and matches how most districts calculate cumulative GPA.
How do colleges view weighted vs. unweighted GPA?
Colleges typically review both GPAs to understand performance and course rigor. They also read your transcript line-by-line to see which courses were Honors, AP, or IB. Your job is simply to report your GPA using your high school’s official scale.
Related Calculators
- Grade Calculator — Check a course average and see needed scores on upcoming items.
- Semester Grade Calculator — Track your semester percent when classes use category weights.
- Final Grade Calculator — Find the exact exam score required to hit your target course grade.
- Weighted Grade Calculator — Handle category weights, dropped scores, and curves cleanly.
- Raise GPA — Set a target GPA and map the grades you need next term.
- College GPA Calculator — Do college-style GPA with credits and course weights.
- GPA Scale — Quick reference for letter-to-4.0 and weighted scales.