Grade weighting question

[Anonymous]

Provably a dumb question but I’m trying to get my head around weighted GPAs. Are they calculated based on semester grades? Or the grade for the entire year? What if you take a full credit class but do it in one semester? Does that improve your weighted grade? For example some kids take honors physics and honors chemistry in one year - they are full credit classes but they take them for one semester each. Does this give them a weighted GPA boost if they do well (because they can take more credits in a year that way?). How do we find our kid’s weighted GPA? Or is there a calculator to work them out?

[Anonymous]

All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Ninth graders should see the report in Feb or March, after first semester grades have been reported.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Like I said, I would not worry about weighting. Since Honors and AP are weighted the same, most kids will have that bump up on just about every class. There are some classes like arts elective and PE that are not weighted. If you are getting worked up about college applications even though you have a freshman, you should know that they will more be looking at the course rigor and in many cases recalculate the weightings. MCPS does give awards to the top 5% of the class at end of senior year, but this is calculated off unweighted GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

[Anonymous]

Most courses are reported at 0.5 credits per semester, for a full 1.0 credit for both semesters (full year.) The SMCS magnets do the equivalent of a full year of Honors Physics in the 1st semester 9th grade, and it earns 1.0 credits. Same for Honors Chemistry in spring semester. Dual enrollment courses at MC will also be reported as a full 1.0 credit per semester on the HS transcript.

OP, the HS transcript is created after the first semester of 9th grade. It’s called the SCGGR (?) and will appear in your document center. Don’t sweat WGPA. Colleges don’t just take the number reported. They all have some internal process to account for rigor and their own data about the school over time. Once your WGPA is >4.6, other thing become more important as distinguishing factors between college applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Blair magnet.

[Anonymous]

Gawd I hate magnet parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Colleges don't care about honors classes at any school system. They recalculate GPA using their own systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Colleges don't care about honors classes at any school system. They recalculate GPA using their own systems.

I keep hearing this on DCUM, but what does it mean? What criteria do they use?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gawd I hate magnet parents.

Aren’t you a peach. I guess we’re meant to be born understanding the US educational system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Colleges don't care about honors classes at any school system. They recalculate GPA using their own systems.

I keep hearing this on DCUM, but what does it mean? What criteria do they use?

Varies by college, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Colleges don't care about honors classes at any school system. They recalculate GPA using their own systems.

I keep hearing this on DCUM, but what does it mean? What criteria do they use?

Varies by college, of course.

So? You mean there’s no example or common way of doing this anywhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All grades are by semester.

Weighted GPA is on Student Grade report under documents in ParentVue.

I wouldn’t not stress too much over the weighted GPA.

Why? Also that document isn’t in ParentVue. Kid is a 9th grader, so that’s probably why. When will we see them or how can I work that out? Trying to weigh impact of course choices for future years on GPA possibilities.

Colleges know MCPS’s weighted GPAs are highly inflated due to the prevalence of honors classes. Most school systems either only weigh AP classes, or they don’t have most of their students taking honors-level classes like MCPS does. So I’m assuming that’s why the PP says not to worry about it—colleges will likely look at the unweighted GPA and the rigor of the coursework to evaluate.

There are no year-long grades reported in any high school classes. Every semester grade contributes to the GPA individually based on a 4-point system, and classes designated as Honors, AP, or IB automatically get an extra point added to the credit. Even music ensembles that require an audition may get a bump. The course registration booklet should indicate whether a class is weighted.

Typically you’ll see a grade report show up in the Documents folder on ParentVue at some point after each semester’s grades are finalized, several weeks after report cards, but I’m not positive about freshmen—i don’t remember seeing one until sophomore year. And the spring one doesn’t appear until early fall, because it includes summer grades. But your freshman definitely won’t have anything right now, after the first quarter, because only semester grades are included.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with students taking a full year of honors chem or physics in one semester, though—I’ve never heard of a school doing that before. I can’t imagine the state allowing it. My kid took honors bio and honors chem the same year in order to get the prerequisites for IB sciences as well as the grad requirements, but each one was two full semesters. What school does one-semester Honors Physics?

Colleges don't care about honors classes at any school system. They recalculate GPA using their own systems.

I keep hearing this on DCUM, but what does it mean? What criteria do they use?

Varies by college, of course.

So? You mean there’s no example or common way of doing this anywhere?

Some weight only APs, many remove electives from the recalculation, etc. I’m not sure how many of them publicly spell out their process, but I’m sure there’s a million threads about it on the Colleges board.