Question on how MS classes count for HS GPA

[Anonymous]

I know that World Languages classes that are 1 level per year (Spanish 1AB, Spanish 2AB etc) and Math classes Algebra 1 and above count as HS classes and get listed on the HS transcript, but the grades only count in the HS GPA if they improve it. Does this "if they improve it" apply class by class? Eg is Johnny gets an A and a B in Spanish and 2 As in math, do the As count, but the B doesn't? Or is it "all or nothing?" So either both the B and the As count (if they'd improve the GPA taken together) or none of them do?

[Anonymous]

It is applied class by class, by each semester grade. Each semester (the A semester or the B semester) is listed separately.

[Anonymous]

We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

[Anonymous]

Thanks both! DS has had a very strict grader for levels 1AB and 3AB of World Languages, so while he easily made As in level 2AB, he's been between 86-92 otherwise. He's on the cusp of an A this MP, which kind of stresses me out, but I know that I need to cool it and that some Bs in WL won't ruin his chances of a good college lol. But if they also won't count for the HS GPA, so much the better haha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

Yes, and they also will figure this out separately for unweighted and weighted GPA. I have a kid with an unweighted 4.0 and weighted 4.8. The middle school non-honors classes aren't factored into either, and the middle school honors/weighted classes are factored into the weighted GPA but not the unweighted one (where they wouldn't hurt but also don't help).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

+1
This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

+1
This.

+1. This was initially confusing for us also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

+1
This.

But it doesn't matter for now, right? And FWIW, if you start MCPS HS in 9th grade, it's impossible to have a 5.0 wgpa by the time you finish, because there's no honors PE, unless they've changed that in the past few years. So presumably it will all be factored in when it matters. And students could miss out on some fun and interesting electives in HS if they are unwilling to take classes that aren't designated to get that bump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We also found out that the “only if it helps” is literal. (I had interpreted it as “only if it doesn’t hurt.”) DC had a 5.0 weighted GPA first semester of 9th grade and the HS honors courses taken in MS weren’t factored in because they were GPA-neutral — they didn’t raise the GPA.

+1
This.

But it doesn't matter for now, right? And FWIW, if you start MCPS HS in 9th grade, it's impossible to have a 5.0 wgpa by the time you finish, because there's no honors PE, unless they've changed that in the past few years. So presumably it will all be factored in when it matters. And students could miss out on some fun and interesting electives in HS if they are unwilling to take classes that aren't designated to get that bump.

I’m the original PP who mentioned the 5.0. The only reason I mentioned it is that it made it really easy to figure out what was going on with the MS courses and GPA.