GPA/Rank/Transcripts

Transcripts

The high school transcript is arguably the most important individual student document a school district produces.  It is a record of all courses a student takes throughout high school and shows proof of graduation.  There are two types of transcripts - official and unofficial.  They both contain the exact same information, but the official transcript is what we send to colleges and employers when requested by the student or graduate.  Official transcripts guarantee the document's accuracy and authenticity since it is sent directly to the school or employer.  We cannot make that claim if the transcript is given to a student or graduate, which is why they receive unofficial copies only.  Below is an example of a six semester transcript.

In the event that a student repeats a course, we show both attempts, but only the highest grade is displayed.  Only the highest exam attempt is shown on the transcript.   

Transcript Timeline

Final Transcript

• The final transcript shows proof of graduation and is sent electronically to colleges within a few business days of the graduation ceremony.  In late May, students use Naviance to indicate the college they plan attend.  
• It can sometimes take up to two weeks for a college to show as having received the transcript in their system. 
• Students who took dual enrollment courses while in high school (SUPA, ECC, NUSTEP, PLTW) should reach out to those colleges directly to send the college portion of their transcript to the college they plan to attend.  Students are given instructions on how to do this prior to graduation.
• An unofficial copy of the final transcript is posted on the graduate's individual Naviance page.  We will always retain a copy of their final transcript, but it could be helpful to download for their records.

Senior Transcript 

• The senior transcript contains grades and coursework through junior year (six semesters worth).  This is the transcript colleges want when a student initially applies. 
• Senior transcripts, along with class rank, are finalized on or just before October 1^st each year.  We post each student's unofficial transcript on their individual page in Naviance for their reference. 
• Although grades for most students are completed in late June, we have to include grades for any student taking summer school courses.  These results factor into class rank, which is why senior transcripts are not available until October 1^st.  This practice is in line with other area schools that still use class rank and does not put students at a disadvantage when applying to college.  The overwhelming majority of colleges use November 1^st as their earliest possible deadline, and they do not give preferential treatment for applying weeks or months in advance of a deadline. 
• If a students believes there is a significant exception and they need an unranked transcript earlier, they should contact their counselor. 

Junior Transcript

• The junior transcript contains grades and coursework through sophomore year (four semesters worth).  An unofficial copy of the junior transcript is posted in each student's individual Naviance page around November 1^st of each year.  
• This is the first opportunity for students to see their class rank.

Sophomore Transcript

• The sophomore transcript contains grades and coursework through freshman year (two semesters worth, as well as any high school coursework completed in middle school).
• Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, unofficial copies of the sophomore transcript will be posted on each student's individual Naviance page around December 1^st. 
• Class rank is not included on these transcripts.  One year of high school is not a large enough sample size to provide any meaningful separation between students.

 

Grading

The final grade in each course is displayed next to the course title on the transcript.  Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, the four marking period grades will make-up 90% of the final grade and the final exam/project will contribute the remaining 10%.  

Example Grade Calculation

Course	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	FE/FP
English 10	92	89	94	91	95
	92 + 89 + 94 + 91 = 366/4 = 91.5
	91.5 x 90% = 82.35				95 x 10% = 9.5
	82.35 + 9.5 = 92.85
	Final Grade = 93

 

Prior to 2024-2025, all four quarters and the final exam were weighted equally as 20% of the final course grade.

In the event that a student repeats an exam, the highest exam attempt is what's used to calculate their final course grade.

GPA

A student's grade point average (GPA) is often thought of as their overall average, however the GPA factors in the credit value and weighting of each course; it is not a straight average.  In the example below, the course grade is multiplied by the credit value, and then again by the course weighting to get the total point value of the course.  Most courses are weighted at 1.0, however honors courses are valued at 1.03, while AP and mandatory dual enrollment courses (SUPA, NUSTEP, ECC) are valued at 1.05.  Weighting advanced courses is a common practice among high schools.  It acknowledges that the course is likely more rigorous and likely requires more work than a typical unweighted class.  

Sample GPA Calculation

Course	Final Grade	Credit Value	Weighting	Total Points
English 10	92	x 1.0	x 1.0	= 92
AP World	88	x 1.0	x 1.05	= 92.4
Geometry H	93	x 1.0	x 1.03	= 95.79
Biology	95	x 1.0	x 1.0	= 95
Spanish 3R	95	x 1.0	x 1.0	= 95
Health	98	x  .5	x 1.0	= 49
Psychology	96	x .5	x 1.0	= 48
Team Sports S1	100	x .25	x 1.0	= 25
Team Sports S2	99	x .25	x 1.0	= 24.75
	Total Credits = 6.5		Total Points = 616.94
	626.94/6.5 = 94.914
Weighted GPA				94.914

 

The GPA that appears on the report card is an unweighted GPA.  Credit value is factored in, but we don't apply the weighting until after the student earns the credit.

Class Rank

Class rank is determined once each year and is based on students' overall GPA.  Rank itself is relatively self-explanatory: the student with the highest GPA is ranked first, the student with the second highest GPA is ranked second, etc.  All diploma bound students are included in the rank.  Rank is based on completed coursework only; there is not a real-time, live updating rank.  As mentioned above, rank is provided twice during a student's time in high school - once after their junior year is complete and once after their sophomore year is complete.  Before the final senior rank is finalized each fall, the counseling office meets with the top 10 ranked students to congratulate them and review their transcripts with them.  They verify all calculations to ensure accuracy.  Once this takes place we consider the rank to be final.

Selection of Valedictorian & Salutatorian

The valedictorian and salutatorian are selected at the completion of the first semester of senior year (seven semesters).  We do not re-rank all students.  We perform a recalculation for the sole purpose of determining valedictorian and salutatorian, not a re-rank.  This is a subtle, but important difference.  Rank is always based on finished, completed coursework.  Almost all of a student's coursework is still in progress after the first semester, so the recalculation considers full-year, 1 credit courses to be one semester, half-year credit courses.  We don't want to overweight senior year by factoring them in as a full credit when they've only finished half the class.  We do the recalculation for about ten students to ensure we don't miss anyone who could have plausibly moved into the valedictorian or salutatorian spot.  Once the calculations are double and triple checked, we meet with the students to have them verify the calculations and congratulate them on their accomplishment.