Students Who Entered High School in August 2014 and Before Calculation Exclusions Repeated Courses Weighted Grade System Categories The following provisions shall apply to students who entered high school in August 2014 or before. The District shall include in the calculation of class rank grades earned in all high school credit courses taken in grades 9 12, unless excluded below. Students are encouraged to take as many advanced program courses as possible at the high school level. The calculation of class rank shall exclude grades earned from credit by examination, with or without prior instruction. In addition, the calculation of class rank shall exclude grades earned through traditional correspondence courses, concurrent enrollment courses, off-campus distance learning courses, out-of-district distance learning courses, non-district physical education (offcampus physical education) substitution courses, academic courses substituted for physical education, dual credit courses not taught by District personnel, and courses taken anywhere other than the District high schools. When a student repeats a course in which he or she received a failing grade, the original course attempts shall not be removed from the total number of courses when calculating the grade point average (GPA). While in high school, if a student repeats a course for which credit has already been earned, the course shall not be taken for additional credit and shall not be awarded grade points. A student shall be made aware that high school classes retaken for no credit may have a negative effect on his or her weighted GPA. [See EI(REGULATION)] Repeating a course shall be considered an audit. In accordance with this policy, the District shall categorize and weight courses as Modified, Regular, and Advanced, as defined below. Courses in each category shall be designated in the District s course guide. Modified course shall be defined as a course with significantly reduced curriculum requirements or with a significantly reduced expectation of student mastery. With a Modified course, only a reduced portion of the designated Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) may be addressed, or the student may be held accountable for only a reduced portion of the TEKS covered in the class. Regular course shall be defined as a course that addresses all the content required by the TEKS. Regular courses include most DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 1 of 12 -X
traditional academic courses and electives. For the purposes of this policy, dual credit courses are also designated as Regular courses, except for students who entered high school in August of 2014. For students who entered high school in August of 2014 (or the expected class of 2018), dual credit courses are courses for which students receive credit through a college or university, in addition to receiving high school credit. Because these courses are taught on a college level and require that students meet admission requirements to the college or university, they shall be given GPA points on a scale higher than regular classes. Weighted Grade Point Average Advanced course shall be defined as a course with requirements and expectations that exceed the content required by the TEKS. Advanced courses include those designated as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP), Pre-AP, or IB Pre-DP. The District shall convert semester grade points and shall calculate a weighted GPA in accordance with the following chart: Numerical Grade Letter Grade Modified Course Regular Course Advanced Course 100 90 A 3.0 4.0 5.0 89 80 B 2.0 3.0 4.0 79 75 C 1.0 2.0 3.0 74 70 D 0.0 1.0 2.0 69 0 F 0.0 0.0 0.0 A student must complete both semesters of an Advanced course in order to receive advanced credit, unless it is a one-semester course. For students who entered high school in August of 2014 (or the expected class of 2018), an additional level shall be considered for dual credit courses, according to the following chart: Numerical Grade Letter Grade Dual Credit course 100 90 A 4.5 89 80 B 3.5 79 75 C 2.5 74 70 D 1.5 69 0 F 0.0 DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 2 of 12 -X
To calculate the weighted GPA for a student whose GPA exceeds 4.0, the following final class ranking GPA formula shall be based on the following: 1. The total grade points earned by the student. 2. The total courses that earn grade points taken by the student. 3. The total advanced courses taken by the student. 4. Minimum number of courses taken by the student with a 4.0 average. 5. For students who entered high school in August of 2014 (or the expected class of 2018), the final class ranking GPA formula shall include an additional measure: the number of dual credit courses taken by the student. The final class ranking GPA formula shall be as follows: 1. The total number of Advanced courses taken by the student divided by the minimum number of all courses taken by any student with a 4.0 GPA shall equal the Advanced GPA. For students who entered high school in August of 2014 (or the expected class of 2018), the Advanced GPA shall be computed by taking the sum of the number of advanced courses and one-half of the number of dual credit courses and dividing this sum by the minimum number of courses taken by any student with a 4.0 GPA. 2. The number of Bs multiplied by one plus the number of Cs multiplied by two plus the number of Ds multiplied by three divided by the total number of courses taken for grade points, including physical education and athletics, shall equal the leveled GPA. 3. A 4.0 GPA plus the advanced GPA minus the leveled GPA shall equal the final class ranking GPA. Seniors shall be ranked based on all prior semester grades through the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year. The average of the fourth and fifth six-week grades shall be used as the semester grade for this purpose. The principal s designee shall determine the final class rankings based on weighted GPA. Another employee shall be appointed by the principal to check the original rankings of all 4.0 or above students. In order to achieve a correct ranking for those students with a GPA of 4.0 or above, at the end of the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year, but no later than the first week of May, the final class ranking GPA formula shall be applied to all eligible students. Students with a GPA below 4.0 DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 3 of 12 -X
Changes in Enrollment Local Graduation Honors Valedictorian and Salutatorian Weighted Grade Scale shall not be included in the final GPA formula, as their GPAs are not lowered. A student with a GPA below 4.0 shall have his or her GPA recalculated at end of the last semester of his or her senior year. When a student transfers grades for properly documented courses, the District shall assign weight to those grades based on the categories and grade weight system used by the District. To the extent possible, advanced program courses completed at a previous high school shall be compared and matched to courses available at the student s new school. If no corresponding advanced courses are offered at the enrolling campus, the noncorresponding courses completed at the previous high school shall count for credit and regular grade points. For the purpose of determining honors to be conferred during graduation activities, the District shall calculate class rank at the end of the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year. The average of the fourth and fifth six-week grades shall be used as the semester grade for this purpose. For the purpose of applications to institutions of higher education, the District shall also calculate class ranking as required by state law. The District s eligibility criteria for local graduation honors shall apply only for local recognitions and shall not restrict class ranking for the purpose of automatic admission under state law. [See (LEGAL)] The valedictorian and salutatorian shall be the eligible students with the highest and second highest ranking, respectively. To be eligible for such recognition, a student must have been enrolled in the same high school in the District at the end of his or her junior year and for his or her entire senior year immediately preceding graduation. A student graduating in less than eight semesters shall not be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian; however, if his or her weighted GPA qualifies, the student may be eligible to be recognized as an honor graduate. The first Monday in May during the last grading period of each year shall be designated as the day for releasing information on the valedictorian and salutatorian. After the top ten students are determined by using the final class ranking GPA formula and two or more students are found to have achieved identical GPAs, the weighted grade point equivalent (GPE) scale shall be used to calculate rankings for the valedictorian and salutatorian. Courses shall be divided into two categories: Pre-AP/Pre-IB and AP/IB. DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 4 of 12 -X
Breaking Ties Table I: Academic Achievement Ranking Scale In case of a tie in weighted GPAs, the District shall apply the following methods to determine recognition as valedictorian or salutatorian: 1. If, after using the formula, two or more students have the same final class ranking weighted GPA, the numerical grades in common courses earned by each student involved in the tie shall be assigned a GPE and compared. The student with the highest sum shall be declared valedictorian. 2. If, after applying the final class ranking GPA formula to all eligible students it is determined that the top ranking student was not in advanced program courses in grade 7 or 8; that other students had been kept from the top ranking solely because they took pre-advanced program courses in grade 7 or 8; or that they had taken as many advanced program courses as the top ranking students and had made no more Bs than the top ranked person(s), the students shall tie for top class ranking GPA. In order to break the tie and determine the top ranking(s), the Academic Achievement Ranking Scale (Table I) shall be used to calculate GPEs. Identical courses taken by this group of students while enrolled in high school shall be compared using the GPEs. The student with the largest total of GPEs based on identical courses taken in Pre-AP/Pre-IB and AP/IB courses shall be the valedictorian. The student with the second highest total shall be the salutatorian. If two students tie with the highest total of GPEs, covaledictorians shall be named, but no salutatorian shall be recognized. The GPEs are outlined in Table I Academic Achievement Ranking Scale, below: Grade Pre-AP AP/IB 100 6.0 7.0 99 5.9 6.9 98 5.8 6.8 97 5.7 6.7 96 5.6 6.6 95 5.5 6.5 94 5.4 6.4 (Xs) Number of Scores GPE DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 5 of 12 -X
Grade Pre-AP AP/IB 93 5.3 6.3 92 5.2 6.2 91 5.1 6.1 90 5.0 6.0 89 4.9 5.9 88 4.8 5.8 87 4.7 5.7 86 4.6 5.6 85 4.5 5.5 84 4.4 5.4 83 4.3 5.3 82 4.2 5.2 81 4.1 5.1 80 4.0 5.0 79 3.9 4.9 78 3.8 4.8 77 3.7 4.7 76 3.6 4.6 75 3.5 4.5 74 3.4 4.4 73 3.3 4.3 72 3.2 4.2 71 3.1 4.1 70 3.0 4.0 69 or below 2.9 3.9 (Xs) Number of Scores GPE Total GPE points: Table I shall also be available at each high school campus. Honor Graduates Top Ten Percent The District shall recognize as an honor graduate each student who has a weighted GPA of 3.5 or above. The final class ranking GPA shall be used to determine the top ten percent of students in each year s graduating class. DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 6 of 12 -X
Top Ten Students Students Who Entered High School in August 2015 and After Calculation The top ten highest-ranking students as determined by the final class ranking GPA at each high school shall be honored during graduation. The following provisions shall apply to students who entered high school in August 2015 and thereafter. For every high school student, the District shall calculate a GPA based on the grades earned in every course taken as part of the student s high school graduation plan and as documented on the student s academic record. The GPA shall be used to determine an initial class rank. For students who have a GPA of 4.0 or higher, their final class rank shall be determined by a class rank GPA, as described in this policy. In the event that the class rank GPA produces a tie among students, a tie-breaker formula shall be used. Exclusions Repeated Courses Weighted Grade System Categories The calculation of initial class rank shall exclude credits earned outside the District on alternate grading systems that do not correlate to a 100-point scale, such as grades recorded only as pass/fail. When a student repeats a course in which he or she received a failing grade, the original course attempts shall not be removed from the total number of courses when calculating the GPA. While in high school, if a student repeats a course for which credit has already been earned, the course shall not be taken for additional credit and shall not be awarded grade points. [See EI(REGULA- TION)] Repeating a course shall be considered an audit. In accordance with this policy, the District shall categorize and weight courses as Modified, Regular, dual credit, and Advanced, as defined below. Courses in each category shall be designated in the District s course guide. Modified course shall be defined as a course with significantly reduced curriculum requirements or with a significantly reduced expectation of student mastery. With a Modified course, only a reduced portion of the designated TEKS may be addressed, or the student may be held accountable for only a reduced portion of the TEKS covered in the class. Regular course shall be defined as a course that addresses all the content required by the TEKS. Regular courses shall include DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 7 of 12 -X
most traditional academic courses and electives. For purposes of this policy, any credits earned by exam or through a correspondence course shall be classified as a regular course and receive regular grade points. Dual credit courses are courses for which students receive credit through a college or university, in addition to receiving high school credit. Because these courses are taught on a college level and require that students meet admission requirements to the college or university, they are given GPA points on a scale higher than regular classes. Advanced course shall be defined as a course with requirements and expectations that exceed the content required by the TEKS. Advanced courses include those designated as AP, IBDP, Pre-AP, or IB Pre-DP. Weighted Grade Points The District shall convert semester grades to grade points and shall calculate a weighted GPA in accordance with the following chart: Grade Advanced Dual Credit Regular Modified 69 (F) 0 points 0 points 0 points 0 points 70 71 (D ) 1.5 points 1.25 points 1 point 0 points 72 74 (D+) 2 points 1.5 points 1 point 0 points 75 76 (C ) 2.5 points 2 points 1.5 points 1 point 77 79 (C+) 3 points 2.5 points 2 points 1 point 80 84 (B ) 3.5 points 3 points 2.5 points 1.5 points 85 89 (B+) 4 points 3.5 points 3 points 2 points 90 94 (A ) 4.5 points 4 points 3.5 points 2.5 points 95 100 (A+) 5 points 4.5 points 4 points 3 points Changes in Enrollment When a student transfers grades for properly documented courses, the District shall assign weight to those grades based on the categories and grade weight system used by the District. To the extent possible, courses completed at a previous high school shall be compared and matched to courses available at the student s new school. If an advanced course completed at a previous high school does not correspond to one offered at the new campus, then this course shall count for elective credit and shall be scored with regular grade points. DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 8 of 12 -X
Grade Point Average Class Rank GPA The initial GPA shall be calculated for each student by dividing the total of all grade points earned by the total number of semester grades for which points were earned. Seniors shall be ranked based on all prior semester grades through the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year. The average of the fourth and fifth six-week grades shall be used as the semester grade for this purpose. The principal s designee shall determine the initial class rankings based on this GPA. Another employee shall be appointed by the principal to check these rankings to determine which students have initial GPAs of 4.0 or above. For each student whose GPA exceeds 4.0, his or her final class rank shall be determined by the class rank GPA, which shall be determined using the following method. The class rank GPA shall be the average of all the grade points earned in the following courses: English I, English II, English III, and English IV. Geometry, Algebra II, and two additional mathematics credits. [For a list of courses that count for the additional mathematics credits, see (REGULATION)]. Biology, Chemistry, Physics or AP Physics I or Principles of Technology, and two additional science credits. [For a list of courses that count for the additional science credits, see (REGULATION)]. World Geography, U.S. History, Government, Economics, and one additional social studies credit. [For a list of courses that count for the additional social studies credit, see (REGU- LATION)]. Two advanced levels of the same language other than English (either Spanish II and III or French II and III). Therefore, the class rank GPA is determined based on a total of 38 semester grades (eight from English, eight from mathematics, ten from science, eight from social studies, and four from languages other than English (LOTE). If a student with an initial GPA of 4.0 or above does not complete any of the 38 semester grades listed in the description of the class rank GPA above, then a score of 0 (zero) points shall be used for these semesters in the calculation of the class rank GPA. In order to achieve a correct ranking for those students with a GPA of 4.0 or above, at the end of the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year, but no later than the first week of May, the final DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 9 of 12 -X
Local Graduation Honors Valedictorian and Salutatorian Breaking Ties class rank GPA shall be applied to all eligible students. A student with an initial GPA below 4.0 shall not be included in the calculation of the class rank GPA formula and shall have his or her GPA recalculated at end of the last semester of his or her senior year. For the purpose of determining honors to be conferred during graduation activities, the District shall calculate class rank at the end of the fifth six-week grading period of the senior year. The average of the fourth and fifth six-week grades shall be used as the semester grade for this purpose. For the purpose of applications to institutions of higher education, the District shall also calculate class ranking as required by state law. The District s eligibility criteria for local graduation honors shall apply only for local recognitions and shall not restrict class ranking for the purpose of automatic admission under state law. [See (LEGAL)] The valedictorian and salutatorian shall be the eligible students with the highest and second highest class rank GPA, respectively. To be eligible for such recognition, a student must have been enrolled in the same high school in the District at the end of his or her junior year and for his or her entire senior year immediately preceding graduation. A student graduating in less than eight semesters shall not be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian; however, if his or her class rank GPA qualifies, the student may be eligible to be recognized as an honor graduate. The first Monday in May during the last grading period of each year shall be designated as the day for releasing information on the valedictorian and salutatorian. In the event that two or more students have an identical class rank GPA, the District shall apply the following tie breaker method when necessary to determine recognitions, such as valedictorian or salutatorian, top 10 graduates, or the students who may qualify for automatic admission into state universities. To break a tie in class rank between students: 1. Identify any common advanced courses taken by the students at the same campus. (Common courses are not limited to those included in the class rank GPA.) 2. Categorize each common advanced course as either: a. Pre-AP or IB Pre-DP; or b. AP or IB DP. DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 10 of 12 -X
3. Convert the semester grades in each common advanced course into GPEs, according to the following formulas: Pre-AP or IB Pre-DP courses: GPE = 0.1 (semester grade) 4 AP or IB DP courses: GPE = 0.1 (semester grade) 3 (As an alternate to using the formulas, see TABLE I, below.) 4. Total the GPEs based on the semester grades for the common advanced courses. To break any tie, the student with the highest total of GPEs shall be ranked the highest, and the student with the lowest total of GPEs shall be ranked the lowest. When used to break a tie to determine the valedictorian, the student with the largest total of GPEs based on identical courses taken in Pre-AP/IB Pre-DP and AP/IB courses shall be the valedictorian. The student with the second highest total shall be the salutatorian. If two students tie with the highest total of GPEs, covaledictorians shall be named, but no salutatorian shall be recognized. Table I: Grade Point Equivalents GPEs are as follows: Pre-AP or IB Pre-DP AP or IB DP Grade GPE Grade GPE 100 6.0 100 7.0 99 5.9 99 6.9 98 5.8 98 6.8 97 5.7 97 6.7 96 5.6 96 6.6 95 5.5 95 6.5 94 5.4 94 6.4 93 5.3 93 6.3 92 5.2 92 6.2 91 5.1 91 6.1 90 5.0 90 6.0 89 4.9 89 5.9 88 4.8 88 5.8 DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 11 of 12 -X
Honor Graduates Top Ten Percent Top Ten Students Pre-AP or IB Pre-DP AP or IB DP Grade GPE Grade GPE 87 4.7 87 5.7 86 4.6 86 5.6 85 4.5 85 5.5 84 4.4 84 5.4 83 4.3 83 5.3 82 4.2 82 5.2 81 4.1 81 5.1 80 4.0 80 5.0 79 3.9 79 4.9 78 3.8 78 4.8 77 3.7 77 4.7 76 3.6 76 4.6 75 3.5 75 4.5 74 3.4 74 4.4 73 3.3 73 4.3 72 3.2 72 4.2 71 3.1 71 4.1 70 3.0 70 4.0 69 0 69 0 Table I shall also be available at each high school campus. The District shall recognize as an honor graduate each student who has a weighted GPA of 3.5 or above. The final class ranking GPA shall be used to determine the top ten percent of students in each year s graduating class. The top ten highest-ranking students as determined by the final class ranking GPA at each high school shall be honored during graduation. DATE ISSUED: 9/24/2015 ADOPTED: 12 of 12 -X