How to Calculate the FCDS GPA

The computer software used by the Upper School for grading and transcripts converts all letter grades to 12-point scale, which is where any honors or A.P. weighting takes place. The sum of the resulting “quality” points then goes through a brief series of mathematical operations to arrive at the 4.0 grading scale GPA found on the transcript. The 4.0 grading scale GPA is the GPA students can report to colleges when completing college interest or application paperwork (it is important to remember that most colleges recalculate an applicant’s GPA using their own formula during the application evaluation process). Only courses attempted at FCDS are included in these grade calculations.

Below is a chart of the “quality” points earned for each grade in each type of course offered in the Upper School. For example, an A+ in a regular-level, year-long course earns 12 points; an A+ in an A.P., year-long course earns 15 points.

Grade Range	Regular Year	Honors Year	A.P. Year	Regular Semester	Honors Semester	A.P. Semester
A+	12.0	13.5	15.0	6.0	6.75	7.5
A	11.0	12.5	14.0	5.5	6.25	7.0
A-	10.0	11.5	13.0	5.0	5.75	6.5
B+	9.0	10.5	12.0	4.5	5.25	6.0
B	8.0	9.5	11.0	4.0	4.75	5.5
B-	7.0	8.5	10.0	3.5	4.25	5.0
C+	6.0	7.5	9.0	3.0	3.75	4.5
C	5.0	6.5	8.0	2.5	3.25	4.0
C-	4.0	5.5	7.0	2.0	2.75	3.5
D+	3.0	4.5	6.0	1.5	2.25	3.0
D	2.0	3.5	5.0	1.0	1.75	2.5
D-	1.0	2.5	4.0	0.5	1.25	2.0
F	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

You may use the following sequence to figure the GPA for the yearly GPA or for the cumulative GPA (click here to see an example):

Step One: Using the above chart, determine the quality points for each letter grade. Be careful to note any honors or A.P. courses and to note the credit value for each course (.5 means semester; 1.0 means year). Use only the Final course grades on the transcript for this calculation. Note: The 9th grade Health/P.E. course is not figured in the GPA calculation on the transcript.

Step Two: Add the quality points for each course to determine the Quality Points Total for the year in question or for all years.

Step Three: Determine the number of credits attempted by adding the credit values for each course. You can determine the credit value for each course in the column next to the Final grades for each academic year. Note #1: Remember not to include the .5 credits for 9th grade Health/P.E. course, as it is not figured in the GPA calculation. Note #2: though an F grade earns no quality points, you must include the credit value for that course in your calculation.

Step Four: Divide the Quality Points Total from Step Two by the Number of Credits Attempted from Step Three.

Step Five: Add 1.0 to the number figured in Step Four.

Step Six: Divide the figure from Step Five by 3.0.

Congrats! You have computed the FCDS GPA! The GPA you figured should match the GPA listed under the Year or Cumulative field you calculated.

Class Standing

Class standing and GPA are calculated at the conclusion of each academic year based on end-of-course grades in each course. For year-long courses, the final grade is used; for semester-long courses, it is the semester grade. Standing and GPA are weighted and computed on a cumulative basis. All subjects given school credit, with the exception of ninth grade physical education, are included in these cumulative computations. FCDS reports these computations to colleges in general terms; while a student’s specific numerical rank or standing is not reported to colleges, quintile reports and aggregate GPA distributions are provided to post-secondary institutions. Only courses completed at FCDS are included in such computations.

Awards and Honors on Transcripts

The academic awards and designations outlined in Part 18 of the Student & Parent Handbook appear on the official transcript after they are awarded. Additionally, other awards bestowed during the May Awards Assembly, Governor’s School attendance, and select awards from regional and local visual art competitions will appear on the official transcript.