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How GPA Is Calculated in High School
Grades convert to grade points, credits weight them, and the average is your GPA.
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
From report card to finished GPA in three steps.
Add Your Grades
Choose the letter or percentage grades you earned in each high school class, including plus and minus grades if your school uses them. The calculator automatically converts your grades into grade points.
Add Credits and Class Types
Enter each class’s credits and select Regular, Honors, AP, or IB. If all your classes carry equal credit, enter 1 for each. Course levels determine the extra points added to your weighted GPA, so check that the weighting matches your school’s policy.
See Your GPA Instantly
Your weighted and unweighted GPA update instantly as you enter your classes. Add semesters to track your progress throughout high school. To include earlier coursework, enter your previous GPA and the total credits it covers.
Weighted / Unweighted GPA Scale
How the standard 4.0 scale compares with the weighted scale used for Honors, AP and IB classes.
| 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 |
GPA scales and Honors, AP, and IB bonuses vary by school. If your school awards 4.3 points for an A+, keep A at 4.0 and calculate A+ separately. Follow your school’s grading policy for course bonuses and maximum GPA values.
Sample High School GPA Calculation
One semester calculated both ways — unweighted and weighted.
Here’s how a typical four-course semester gets turned into a GPA using letter grades and credit hours.
| Course | Grade | Level | Weighted points | Credits | Quality points | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 10 | A | Regular | 4.0 | 1 | 4.0 | |||
| Algebra II | B+ | Honors +0.5 | 3.8 | 1 | 3.8 | |||
| Biology | A– | AP +1 | 4.7 | 1 | 4.7 | |||
| U.S. History | B | Regular | 3.0 | 1 | 3.0 | |||
Total quality points 15.5 Total credits 4 Weighted GPA 3.88 Unweighted GPA, same grades without the level boost: 14.0 ÷ 4 = 3.50 | ||||||||
Because every class carries 1 credit, each contributes equally to the average. If your classes have different credit values, multiply each course’s grade points by its credits before adding them together.
Use your school’s official grading scale and course bonuses if they differ from this table. Schools may assign different extra points to Honors, AP, and IB classes or limit the maximum points a course can earn. Check your school’s grading policy to calculate your weighted GPA accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about weighting, transcripts and class rank.
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 uses only the classes from one term. Cumulative GPA combines coursework across multiple semesters using total grade points and credits. Your school may calculate cumulative GPA differently, so use the grading policy shown on your transcript or in your school handbook.
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?
Pass/Fail policies vary by school. A passing grade often earns credit without adding GPA points. How a failing or non-passing grade affects GPA depends on your school’s policy. Check your transcript or school handbook before including Pass/Fail, P/NP, or S/U courses in your calculation.
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 may use the GPA reported by your high school or recalculate GPA using their own method. They can also review your transcript and course rigor, including Honors, AP, and IB classes. When entering GPA on an application, follow the college’s instructions and use your school’s official GPA unless told otherwise.