“Mr. Fobert, can you explain what you mean about “CR” and “NC” grades and GPA calculations?”
Sure! It is important that you understand how your GPA is calculated. In a typical semester, grades given on a report card are assigned a point value.
The point value breakdown looks like this:
A = 4
B = 3
C = 2
D = 1
F = 0
GPA is calculated by adding up the point values of each of the classes that you take, and dividing it by the number of classes you took that semester.
In addition to the GPA students receive at each semester, students receive 5 credits per class completed each semester they complete a class with a “D” grade or above. These credits add up over their high school career and are used as a running total towards the required number of credits to graduate from high school, and as credits that are required by colleges and universities for acceptance into their schools.
For an example, take a look at the sample below:
Semester 1 Grades
Course Grade Point Value Credits Attempted Credits Earned
World Hist A 4 5 5
PE B 3 5 5
Math 2 C 2 5 5
Chemistry D 1 5 5
Art A 4 5 5
Spanish 2 A 4 5 5
Total Points 18 Credits Attempted 30 Credits Earned 30
Total GPA: 3.0 (18 points divided by 6 classes)
**For students who take honors or AP courses, the point values are increased for grades at the A, B and C level and are reported as a separate “Weighted” GPA. (A is worth 5 points, B is worth 4 points, C is worth 3 points)
As a side note, the overall GPA calculation is calculated by adding all courses students have taken over the course of their entire high school career, adding up the point values, and dividing by the total number of courses taken over their entire high school career.
Please also remember that OFFICIAL GPA’s are only calculated using SEMESTER GRADES. Grades received at Quarters and Progress Reports are for progress monitoring only. Only semester grades are used for permanent record and transcript purposes.
“Okay Mr. Fobert, now that I understand how GPA is calculated, tell me how these “CR” and “NC” grades will affect my GPA calculation.”
GPA will be calculated differently with the “CR” and “NC” grades for this semester due to distance learning. Here are the main differences:
- “CR” grades will show as credits attempted and credits earned, but are not worth point values, and are not calculated into the GPA calculation at all.
- Students will automatically receive this grade for any grade at “C, B, or A” levels.
- Students can replace the CR grade with a letter grade by requesting a letter grade. (Letter grade request form will be available on 5/15/20 at 5:00 P.M. and will be due Monday 5/18/20 at 11:59 P.M. LETTER GRADE REQUESTS ARE FINAL)
- “NC” grades will show as not attempted and will not be awarded credits. This grade will also be eliminated from the grade calculation for GPA completely.
Semester 2 Grades
Course Grade Point Value Credits Attempted Credits Earned
World Hist A 4 5 5
PE A 4 5 5
Math 2 CR 0 5 5
Chemistry NC 0 0 0
Art B 3 5 5
Spanish 2 C 2 5 5
Total Points 14 Credits Attempted 25 Credits Earned 25
Total GPA 3.25 (Total Points divided by 4)
*Note that since the student was awarded “CR” for one class and “NC” for another class that the total point value total was lower, but was only divided by the number of classes for which they had letter grades.
**Also note that because the student received 0 credits earned for 2nd semester Chemistry, while it did not affect semester GPA, the student will now need to retake that class either during summer school, online, or in future school years.
Now that you are informed about how GPA will be calculated, stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment of “What’s My Grade?” where we will discuss how the grades you choose on this semester’s report card may impact you when you apply for college.
