High School GPA Calculator - Weighted & Unweighted
Calculate your high school GPA with both weighted and unweighted calculations. Supports Regular, Honors (+0.5), AP, and IB courses (+1.0) for accurate college admissions GPA tracking on 4.0 and 5.0 scales.
High School GPA Calculator
Calculate both weighted and unweighted GPA for high school courses. Select course type (Regular, Honors, AP/IB) to automatically apply proper weighting.
Course Weighting:
- Regular Courses: No additional weight (4.0 scale)
- Honors Courses: +0.5 additional points
- AP/IB Courses: +1.0 additional points
Enter Courses:
What is High School GPA?
High School GPA (Grade Point Average) is a numerical representation of your academic performance across all courses taken during high school. Unlike college GPA which uses credit hours, high school GPA typically uses course credits or units to weight each class.
High schools calculate two types of GPA: unweighted GPA on a standard 4.0 scale where all courses are treated equally, and weighted GPA on a 5.0 or higher scale that gives additional points for advanced courses like Honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and IB (International Baccalaureate).
- Critical factor for college admissions and scholarship eligibility
- Used to determine class rank, valedictorian, and salutatorian status
- Required for NCAA athletic eligibility requirements
- Determines eligibility for honor societies like National Honor Society
- Considered for merit-based scholarships and financial aid packages
- Weighted GPA demonstrates course rigor to college admissions officers
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA
Understanding the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA is crucial for college applications:
Unweighted GPA (4.0 Scale)
- All courses treated equally regardless of difficulty
- Maximum GPA is 4.0 (straight A's)
- Provides standardized comparison across all students
- Most commonly reported GPA type
- Used by colleges to standardize applications
Weighted GPA (5.0+ Scale)
- Awards extra points for advanced course difficulty
- Maximum GPA can exceed 4.0 (typically 4.5-5.0+)
- Honors courses: +0.5 points (A = 4.5 instead of 4.0)
- AP/IB courses: +1.0 points (A = 5.0 instead of 4.0)
- Demonstrates academic rigor to admissions officers
Important Note: Colleges often recalculate your GPA using their own weighting system. Both weighted and unweighted GPAs are important - weighted shows course rigor, while unweighted provides standardized comparison. Always report both on applications when requested.
How to Calculate High School GPA
High School GPA Formula:
Step-by-Step Calculation Guide:
List All Your Courses
Write down every course you've taken with the letter grade received and number of credits (typically 0.5 or 1 credit per course).
Identify Course Types
Mark each course as Regular, Honors (+0.5), or AP/IB (+1.0) to apply correct weighting for weighted GPA calculation.
Convert Letters to Grade Points
Use the 4.0 scale: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, etc. For weighted GPA, add bonus points based on course type.
Multiply by Credits
For each course: Grade Points × Credits = Quality Points. A 4-credit A (4.0) = 16 quality points.
Calculate Your GPA
Add all quality points and divide by total credits: Total Quality Points ÷ Total Credits = GPA
Example High School GPA Calculation:
| Course | Grade | Type | Credits | Points | Quality Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus | A | AP (+1.0) | 1.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Honors English | B+ | Honors (+0.5) | 1.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Chemistry | A- | Regular | 1.0 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| US History | B | Regular | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Total | - | - | 4.0 | - | 15.5 |
Unweighted GPA: Using base points (4.0, 3.3, 3.7, 3.0) = 14.0 ÷ 4.0 = 3.50
Weighted GPA: 15.5 ÷ 4.0 = 3.88 (includes Honors/AP bonuses)
High School GPA Scale Conversion Chart
This comprehensive chart shows how letter grades convert to GPA points for different course types:
| Letter Grade | Percentage | Unweighted (4.0) | Honors (+0.5) | AP/IB (+1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D | 60-69 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Important Note:
GPA scales vary by school district. Some schools may use different percentage ranges or weighting systems. Always verify your school's specific grading policy and weighting system with your guidance counselor.
College Admissions GPA Requirements
Understanding GPA requirements helps you target appropriate colleges and scholarships:
Elite/Ivy League Universities
Unweighted GPA: 3.9-4.0 | Weighted GPA: 4.5-5.0+
Schools: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Princeton. Require near-perfect grades with rigorous AP/IB course loads and exceptional extracurriculars.
Highly Competitive Universities
Unweighted GPA: 3.7-3.9 | Weighted GPA: 4.2-4.7
Schools: UCLA, UC Berkeley, Georgetown, Northwestern. Require excellent grades with honors/AP courses and strong test scores.
Competitive State Universities
Unweighted GPA: 3.3-3.7 | Weighted GPA: 3.8-4.3
Schools: Penn State, Ohio State, University of Washington. Strong grades with some advanced coursework recommended.
Moderately Competitive Colleges
Unweighted GPA: 2.8-3.3 | Weighted GPA: 3.2-3.8
Most state universities and regional colleges. Good grades with consistent academic performance.
Open Admission Colleges
Unweighted GPA: 2.0-2.8 | Weighted GPA: 2.5-3.2
Community colleges and some state schools with open or rolling admissions policies.
Remember: GPA is just one factor. Colleges also consider test scores (SAT/ACT), extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated interest. Many schools practice holistic admissions.
Why Your High School GPA Matters
College Admissions
GPA is the #1 factor in college admissions decisions. Weighted GPA demonstrates your willingness to take challenging courses.
Merit Scholarships
Most merit-based scholarships have minimum GPA requirements (typically 3.0-3.5 unweighted) for eligibility and renewal.
Class Rank
Your weighted GPA determines class rank, valedictorian, and salutatorian status at graduation.
Honor Societies
National Honor Society requires 3.5+ GPA. Other honors programs have similar requirements for membership.
NCAA Eligibility
Student-athletes need minimum 2.3 GPA (sliding scale with test scores) to compete in Division I and II sports.
State Scholarships
Many state programs (Bright Futures, HOPE, Cal Grant) require specific GPA thresholds for automatic funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good high school GPA?
On the 4.0 scale: 3.5-4.0 is excellent (competitive colleges), 3.0-3.4 is good (most state universities), 2.5-2.9 is average, below 2.0 may limit college options. For weighted GPA, 4.0-5.0+ is excellent for elite schools.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Colleges look at both, but many recalculate using their own formula. They review your transcript to see course rigor (AP/IB/Honors), not just the GPA number. Weighted GPA shows you challenged yourself academically.
How much do AP and Honors classes boost my GPA?
Most high schools add +0.5 points for Honors courses and +1.0 points for AP/IB courses on weighted GPA. An A in AP Calculus = 5.0 instead of 4.0. However, weighting systems vary by school district.
Can I raise my GPA significantly in senior year?
Impact depends on when you start. Freshman/sophomore year allows significant improvement. Junior/senior year changes are smaller due to accumulated credits. Early college applications (November) won't see senior grades.
What GPA do I need for Ivy League schools?
Ivy League schools typically expect 3.9-4.0 unweighted GPA (mostly A's) and 4.5-5.0+ weighted GPA with rigorous course loads. However, they practice holistic admissions considering all aspects of your application.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA across all years?
List all courses from 9th-12th grade, convert grades to points, multiply by credits, sum all quality points, and divide by total credits from all years. Our calculator handles this automatically. Use our CGPA calculator for semester-by-semester tracking.
Do colleges recalculate my high school GPA?
Yes, most colleges recalculate GPA using their own methodology. They may exclude non-academic courses (PE, health), use only core subjects, or apply their own weighting. UC schools, for example, calculate their own "UC GPA."
What's the difference between high school and college GPA?
High school GPA typically uses course credits (0.5-1.0 per class) and includes weighted calculations. College GPA uses credit hours (1-4 per course) and is usually unweighted. Check our college GPA calculator for college calculations.
Tips to Improve Your High School GPA
Take Challenging Courses Early
Start Honors and AP classes in freshman/sophomore year to build strong study habits and boost weighted GPA early.
Focus on Core Subjects
Prioritize grades in Math, English, Science, History, and Foreign Language - colleges weight these most heavily.
Use All Available Resources
Take advantage of teacher office hours, peer tutoring, study groups, and online resources before grades drop.
Master Time Management
Use planners to track assignments and tests. Balance difficult and easier courses each semester.
Communicate with Teachers
Build relationships with teachers. They can provide extra help, extensions, or extra credit opportunities.
Strategic Course Selection
Don't overload with AP courses at once. Balance rigor with maintaining high grades in all classes.
Monitor Progress Regularly
Check grades weekly through student portal. Address dropping grades immediately before they're final.
Consider Summer School
Retake failed courses or take additional classes during summer to improve GPA and graduate on time.
Related Calculators
Explore more tools to help with your academic calculations
GPA Calculator
Calculate college GPA with letter grades and credit hours across multiple semesters.
CGPA Calculator
Calculate Cumulative Grade Point Average for international grading systems.
Average Grade Calculator
Calculate weighted averages for assignments within individual courses.
Final Grade Calculator
Determine what score you need on finals to achieve target course grade.