Understanding Your GPA (Grade Point Average)

GPA: what it means, how it’s calculated.

GPA = Grade Point Average
Grades are broken down into point values, and then averaged out to get your GPA.

A = 4.00 B+ = 3.33 C+ = 2.33 D+ = 1.33 F = 0
A- = 3.67 B = 3.00 C = 2.00 D = 1.00  
  B- = 2.67 C- = 1.67 D- = 0.67  

For example if a student gets an A, B+, C+, A-, B, B-, & A then we would take 4.00 + 3.33 + 2.33 + 3.67 + 3.00 + 2.67 + 4.00 = 23.  Since there are 7 different numbers, (classes), we do 23/7 = 3.286.  So the student's GPA would be 3.286.

Or longhand:

A 4.00
B+ 3.33
C+ 2.33
A- 3.67
B 3.00
B- 2.67
A 4.00
23/7 = 3.286

Why GPA Matters

GPA is used for middle school and high school purposes as well as collegiate purposes. 

High schools use GPA in order to determine class rank (how a student is measured academically against their peers), eligibility (for extracurricular activities such as being on the basketball team), to identify populations in need of intervention, and to measure student mastery of grade level materials. Middle Schools use GPA more as a benchmark to see where students are, and what they can improve in.

A key function of GPA is to help determine understanding of a concept, and progress of students.  For example if a student has a 4.0 as a 6th, and 7th grader and then in 8th grade they drop to a 2.0, it helps make educators aware that the student may be having problems, and plan interventions accordingly.

For eligibility purposes the Utah High School Athletic Association require a 2.0 GPA, with no more than 1 F-grade in order to participate. Some clubs and organizations may require different though, with coaches and administrators being allowed to increase the minimum GPA necessary to participate in an activity. College athletic requirements vary on depending on what level the individual would be participating in. For example Division 1 athletics, compared to competing at a junior college: https://www.ncsasports.org/recruiting/how-to-get-recruited/college-divisions.

Colleges use high school GPA in order to determine admissions status, and some financial aid eligibility. Colleges have cutoff scores, for example Utah State University has a GPA admissions cutoff score of 2.5. Which means you need to have a GPA higher than 2.5 to be accepted without provisions at USU. For financial aid purposes many scholarships have a GPA component with them. For example at USU scholarships are paired with ACT scores in order to determine the amount of the scholarship incoming freshmen are eligible for. If the image below doesn't appear please click on the following link to be able to view it: https://www.usu.edu/admissions/costs-and-aid/#index

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For middle school students, it is important to know that eligibility for high school extracurricular fall activities is based off the last trimester of 8th grade.  If a student gets below a 2.0 GPA for their last 8th grade trimester they will not be eligible to participate in high school extracurricular activities until they get their first report card in High School and have a GPA higher than 2.0.***

Grades may vary depending on the teacher and subject, but typically are awarded based on the following percentages. There are no D grades at Mt. Logan so anything below a 70% is considered an F.

94 - 100 = A
90 - 94 = A-
87 - 90 = B+
84 - 87 = B
80 - 84 = B-
77-80 = C+
74 - 77 = C
70 - 74 = C-
69 and below = F