Understanding High School GPAs

​I wanted to have a program about high school GPAs values because before I had kids in high school, I didn't know much about them. GPAs are not a secret, in fact in the student handbook called The Kiltie, grade point values are listed for the different types of classes. It can be found on the high school website.
 
Since this is a TAG Program, I'm going to assume that a lot of TAG kids are hardworking, inquisitive and eager to learn and want to take TAG classes.
 
There are several different kinds of classes:
Regular classes - the highest grade point available is a 4.0.
Pre-AP classes - the highest grade point available is a 4.5.
TAG Pre-AP classes - the highest grade point available is a 4.5.
AP classes - the highest grade point available is a 5.0.
TAG AP classes - the highest grade point available is a 5.0.

The way to get the highest grade point for each of those classes is to have a 97 or above in that class. (That's much easier said than done). The next grade point break is 93-96 and the last A is 90-92 and so on down the line. A student must score at least a 70 to pass a class to maintain academic eligibility in an extra-curricular activity such as sports, band, choir, orchestra, cheerleading, Belles and others.
 
Some classes are listed as Pre-AP. AP means advanced placement. A grade point value of 4.5 is assigned to this class. In order to get a 4.5, a student must score 97 or above.
 
There are also TAG Pre-AP classes that have the same grade point values as Pre-AP. The reason some students take TAG classes is because generally the students have a different style of learning. The TAG classes are more rigorous, but also more of an independent style of learning. If a student is TAG identified for just 1 subject, he/she can get a waiver to take more TAG classes.
 
Starting a student's sophomore year the first AP class offered is World History. There are always exceptions, but generally WHAP is the first AP class. AP classes have a 5.0 grade point value. At the end of the AP course, usually in May, an AP exam is given to the students to test the mastery of knowledge. If a student earns a 4 or a 5 on the AP exam and sometimes a 3, a student earns a college credit for that class. It just depends on the college.
 
By the time a student graduates, he/she has the potential to earn dozens of college credit hours. Most colleges and state schools accept the AP credit hours and the student is not required to take that course again. At many of the highly selective colleges and ivy league schools, most credits are not accepted. However, if your student dreams of attending an elite college, they usually like to see that students have taken the most challenging courses offered. The selective schools like to see those classes on the transcript.
 
TAG AP classes are similar to TAG pre-AP in that the learning style is different. Teachers for AP TAG are often the department head, but not always. TAG teachers are usually experienced in teaching TAG identified students.
 
Unless a student is in the top 10% of the graduating class, a rank or percentage is not given. Senior year in approximately September or October a number rank is given to the students in the top 10%. The top 10% GPA is most likely over a 4.2. Last year's top 10% was approximately 4.275. It's different each year because it's based on each class's collective GPA.
 
One advantage to being in the top 10% of your class is automatic acceptance at most public Texas state schools. However; The University of Texas Austin requires a student to be in the higher than the top 10% - last year it was top 7% of his/her class for automatic acceptance.
 
If your student isn't in the top 10% by applying early to state schools with rolling admissions you often have good results.
 
What most parents and students don't realize is that when you apply to college, your grade point average is based on only the freshman, sophomore and junior year. So the freshman year counts as one third of the GPA. College applications are due their senior year before fall transcripts have been released.
 
In 8th grade when students are required to submit a 4 year high school plan, it can be daunting. Especially when you aren't exactly sure of the kind of student your child will be in high school. That's when it's really important to know your child's capabilities and understand his/her work ethic. There is no question that most students entering HPHS have tremendous potential, but you never really know how that's going to play out until your student is in high school.
 
There are things to consider about grade point averages. In the Kiltie it lists the GPA necessary for graduating with honors.
 
Magna Cum Laude 4.4
Suma Cum Laude 4.25
Cum Laude  4.15
 
Valedictorian highest GPA in the class, must have attended HPHS continuously for 4 years
Salutatorian second highest GPA in the class, must have attended HPHS continuously for 4 years
Top 10 graduates in the class the top 10 highest GPAs in the senior class
 
The only way to graduate with these high GPAs and honors is by taking pre-AP and AP classes. If you think you have the kind of student that places a high value on grades and has the discipline and ability to make high grades, it's helpful to be able to guide them through 4 years of pre-AP or AP classes. Keeping in mind you can't make a student want high grades, and you can't make him/her study hard enough to make them. There has to be an internal motivating factor.
 
That being said, these students have an enormous amount of pressure on them about grade performance. We as parents can help them by not adding to the pressure. For example parents checking Skyward every day to check on daily grades, quizzes and tests and discussing each grade with your student always adds to the stress level. Lots of TAG kids are on group chats where they text about assignments and grades. And if you don't think they feel the pressure daily if they get a lower grade than they wanted, you would be mistaken.
 
And at the beginning of each year in high school, there is always an adjustment period for students. So don't freak out if they tell you about a bad grade or you get an email about it. There are lots of grades for each 6 weeks in every class. You can always encourage your student to attend the teacher's tutorial sessions before or after school.
 
Lots of counselors will recommend that your child not take all TAG classes, but for some kids, all TAG classes work. For others, they end up dropping into a non TAG or non Pre-AP or non AP class and that's ok. Ideally a student will know if he/she is up to the challenge of a TAG pre-AP or AP class. The choice should be a conversation between the student, parent and teacher or counselor. All TAG classes are not recommended for all TAG students. It has to be a personal choice. A parent should also listen to his/her student when selecting classes.
 
There are a lot of classes that do not offer a pre-AP option. These would be sports, fine arts, and some other elective classes.
 
In middle school a student had the option of taking Speech and Health. If he/she waits to take Speech in high school, there is a TAG pre-AP option that gives a 4.5 grade point value.
 
If a student takes Spanish I for example in high school, there is not a Pre-AP class offered, only a regular 4.0 grade point value. If a student has taken 2 years of Spanish in middle school, Spanish 2 offers a Pre-AP class. 2 years of middle school Spanish offers a great foundation for high school Spanish. For Latin I there is a Pre-AP class offered. So if your student is undecided on a language to take, make sure he/she explores all of the options and figures out what grade point is offered for each one.
To graduate commended, a student needs 3 years of a language.
 
If a student starts on an advanced math track in 7th grade, he/she can potentially be 2 years ahead of some of his/her classmates. If a student is accelerated by 2 years, he/she will have 2 extra high school credits starting in 9th grade. By senior year he/she will be taking multivariable calculus.
 
The next option is NOT advisable for most students, but a small number of advanced students want the opportunity to take lots of science classes. One way to do this is to double up on science classes. They would take Biology and Chemistry their freshman year followed by AP Chemistry or AP Biology or AP Physics or a combination of those for sophomore year. In order to take most f the science AP classes offered like advanced AP Physics, a student will have to double up on science classes to have the pre-requisites to be able to take the class.
 
To be eligible for Computer Science, Algebra II is required so students need to plan ahead for their schedules. Students and parents need to look at pre-requisites when planning their schedule.
 
If he/she has taken Speech and Health, the student has 2 more credits. There are 26 credits required to graduate.
 
If your student has extra credits from middle school, he/she can take a study hall each semester to help with the large amount of homework most students have daily.
 
Fine Arts classes such as band, orchestra and choir as well as sports have a 4.0 grade point value. By the end of your student's sophomore year if he/she has taken that course/activity for 2 consecutive years and the student has a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher, he/she has the option of signing a waiver (with a parent's signature) for the junior and again senior year to take that class pass/fail. This means if your student is taking all 4.5 or 5.0 classes, a 4.0 class won't lower their GPA. In their senior year, some of those 4.0 classes offer an Honor’s option with a 4.5 grade point value. If your student isn’t involved in a sport, he/she still has to have PE credits, but those can be taken pass/fail in summer school.
 
High School is a balancing act and the grade point average is not the only measure of a successful high school career. Many sports and extra curricular activities offer leadership opportunities, give your student a place to have a home. It gives them friendships and a social life and experiences that can not be measured by grades.
 
But don't be afraid to let your student take a rigorous course load if that's what he/she wants. And let it be an ongoing conversation with your student about class schedules each semester. There is always an opportunity to modify the 4 year plan you made in 8th grade.
 
And remember, as a parent, you have already had your chance in high school. Now it's your student's turn to make the most of his/her four years.
 
There isn't a right or wrong answer in creating a 4 year schedule. Each student will have an individual plan that is hopefully right for him/her. If it's not, that's where your student's high school counselor can help.
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