Problem with GPA Ranking Calculation- what to do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m actually surprised you only noticed this issue now!

If you have two kids both taking the same 7 AP classes, but one of them also takes an additional 8th elective (standard or honors) class. Then the one taking 7 classes will have a full GPA of 5.0, but the one taking an additional class will have a lower GPA.

Even without this issue, the difficulty of each AP class varies a lot. That’s why GPA is just a reference figure and schools tend not to strictly rank their students. The top colleges look at your full transcript instead of this figure.

They actually quietly completely changed what was in the Coursebook. I would have noticed this from the get-go!
Thanks for responding! -OP

But isn’t this how GPA has always been calculated? What was it like before the change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please let me know if you have advice for me. Sorry this gets math-y. Our HS published its annual coursebook and I noticed that the calculation for Ranking was different. So I ran some numbers with different course values to see how much advanced courses help you. I saw some weird things. I think the main problem is that the denominator of the calculation is the number of credits. Lower denominator (credits), higher quotient (weighted average). So basically taking more credits hurts you. Weighting helps mitigate this- but not enough.

Some of the numbers I ran showed that taking a half credit class instead of a full credit class for one of your classes (same grades, weights across the board) will get you ranked higher. (Because your denominator is one-half lower.)
Another example showed two people with identical schedules, except one challenged themselves with an an additional honors class (same grades in all classes) did worse. (An AP class does you better. But the weighting has to compensate for the additional credits.)

I brought this to the principal and he sort of tried to engage, but he obfuscated a lot, too, and finally said "I'm not a math guy! Our data coordinator has reviewed the system and assured me it's working fine." Either the system/algorithm is fair and the way it's explained in the Coursebook is too simplified and inaccurate, or it's not fair. We use the eSchool system, and the principal said this is how "lots" of high schools do their ranking.

I told him that I wasn't really satisfied with his answers and what should I do-- he referred me to the Curriculum Office (by which I think he means the District level). I really didn't want to do have to do that. I don't want this to be a whole thing. But this feels really wrong. Guidance tells kids to challenge themselves- but a lot of those course selection decisions will hurt them, if they care about Rankings.

I know many college admissions offices re-do GPAs. Perhaps they know that school districts have all kinds of shenanigans going on and you can't trust rankings. I'm just telling my own kids to keep their heads down, take rigorous classes, and do as well as they can, and don't worry about all of this. I'm certainly not a math expert so I don't readily understand all of the repercussions, but I get the sense this system will hurt kids in the middle the most.

It's not right. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice? Please be kind. And if you think I am misunderstanding something about the calculation-- I'd be thrilled if that were the case. Please tell me.

CA? This is pretty typical at many CA privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please let me know if you have advice for me. Sorry this gets math-y. Our HS published its annual coursebook and I noticed that the calculation for Ranking was different. So I ran some numbers with different course values to see how much advanced courses help you. I saw some weird things. I think the main problem is that the denominator of the calculation is the number of credits. Lower denominator (credits), higher quotient (weighted average). So basically taking more credits hurts you. Weighting helps mitigate this- but not enough.

Some of the numbers I ran showed that taking a half credit class instead of a full credit class for one of your classes (same grades, weights across the board) will get you ranked higher. (Because your denominator is one-half lower.)
Another example showed two people with identical schedules, except one challenged themselves with an an additional honors class (same grades in all classes) did worse. (An AP class does you better. But the weighting has to compensate for the additional credits.)

I brought this to the principal and he sort of tried to engage, but he obfuscated a lot, too, and finally said "I'm not a math guy! Our data coordinator has reviewed the system and assured me it's working fine." Either the system/algorithm is fair and the way it's explained in the Coursebook is too simplified and inaccurate, or it's not fair. We use the eSchool system, and the principal said this is how "lots" of high schools do their ranking.

I told him that I wasn't really satisfied with his answers and what should I do-- he referred me to the Curriculum Office (by which I think he means the District level). I really didn't want to do have to do that. I don't want this to be a whole thing. But this feels really wrong. Guidance tells kids to challenge themselves- but a lot of those course selection decisions will hurt them, if they care about Rankings.

I know many college admissions offices re-do GPAs. Perhaps they know that school districts have all kinds of shenanigans going on and you can't trust rankings. I'm just telling my own kids to keep their heads down, take rigorous classes, and do as well as they can, and don't worry about all of this. I'm certainly not a math expert so I don't readily understand all of the repercussions, but I get the sense this system will hurt kids in the middle the most.

It's not right. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice? Please be kind. And if you think I am misunderstanding something about the calculation-- I'd be thrilled if that were the case. Please tell me.

CA? This is pretty typical at many CA privates.

Just curious…how else can the GPA be calculated?