How to Calculate High School GPA

High school GPA uses the same credit-weighted formula as any other GPA: multiply each course's grade point by its credit value, add those together, then divide by total credits. What differs from college is mainly the scale and whether your school weights certain courses.

Unweighted GPA

An unweighted GPA treats every class the same regardless of difficulty, typically on a 4.0 scale where an A is worth 4.0, a B 3.0, and so on. A semester of all A's and B's would average somewhere between 3.0 and 4.0 depending on the exact mix.

Weighted GPA

A weighted GPA adds extra points, often 0.5 for honors courses and 1.0 for AP or IB courses, to reflect their added difficulty. An A in an AP class might count as 5.0 instead of 4.0 on a weighted scale, which is why weighted GPAs can exceed 4.0.

Worked example

Take a semester with: English (unweighted, A, 4.0, 1 credit), AP Biology (weighted, A, 5.0, 1 credit), Algebra II (unweighted, B+, 3.3, 1 credit). Weighted GPA: (4.0 + 5.0 + 3.3) ÷ 3 = 4.1. The same semester unweighted, treating every class at standard points: (4.0 + 4.0 + 3.3) ÷ 3 = 3.77.

Check with your school counselor

Not every high school weights the same way, and some don't weight at all. Confirm your school's exact policy before relying on a self-calculated GPA for a college application.

Run your own numbers with the GPA calculator.