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High School GPA Calculator
Calculate unweighted and weighted high school GPA, with Honors and AP course bonuses.
Students10.0 total credits · 37.9 unweighted grade points
High schools report two GPAs. The unweighted GPA converts every grade on the plain 4.0 scale, while the weighted GPA adds a bonus for harder classes, typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB courses, which is how a weighted GPA can rise above 4.0. Enter your classes once and this calculator shows both numbers side by side, with the course level selectable on each row.
How to use the High School GPA Calculator
- Add a row for each class.
- Select your letter grade and the course level: Regular, Honors or AP/IB.
- Enter the credit value of the class.
- Compare your unweighted and weighted GPA in the results panel.
Formula
Level bonus: Regular = +0.0, Honors = +0.5, AP/IB = +1.0. The unweighted result uses the same formula with every bonus set to zero.
Worked example
A student takes AP English (B, 1 credit), Honors Algebra (A, 1 credit) and regular PE (A, 0.5 credit). Unweighted points: 3.0 + 4.0 + (4.0 x 0.5) = 9.0 over 2.5 credits = 3.60. Weighted: the AP B becomes 4.0 and the Honors A becomes 4.5, giving (4.0 + 4.5 + 2.0) / 2.5 = 4.20. Same grades, two very different headline numbers.
Good to know
Colleges know schools weight differently, and many recalculate applicants GPAs on their own standard scale, so a weighted 4.2 from one school is not directly comparable to a 4.2 from another. What colleges do compare is the combination of grades and course rigour: strong grades in AP and Honors classes. Check your school handbook for its exact bonus rules, because some schools award +1.0 for Honors as well, and a few cap the weighted GPA at 4.5 or 5.0.
US grading scale reference
The table below is the US plus/minus scale used across this site. Where this tool offers other scales, the Canadian scale sets an A from 85% with a pass at 50%, and the Australian scale uses the bands HD (85%+), D (75-84%), C (65-74%), P (50-64%) and F (below 50%) on a 7.0 GPA.
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | 0–59% | 0.0 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA tops out at 4.0 and treats every class the same. Weighted GPA adds points for Honors (+0.5) and AP/IB (+1.0) classes, so it can exceed 4.0. Our weighted vs unweighted guide explains how colleges read each one.
Can a high school GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, on a weighted scale. Straight As in AP classes at +1.0 each produce a 5.0 at schools that weight that way. An unweighted GPA can never exceed 4.0.
Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both appear on most transcripts, and many colleges recalculate an unweighted GPA from your grades, then judge course rigour separately. A high weighted GPA with several AP classes signals both.
How many credits is a normal class worth?
A full-year class is usually 1.0 credit and a semester class 0.5. Some schools use Carnegie units or block-schedule values; use the credit printed on your report card.
What GPA do I need for honours roll?
Thresholds vary by school, commonly 3.5 for honour roll and 3.75 or higher for high honours, usually on the unweighted scale. Your student handbook states the exact line.
Go deeper
Prefer the full walkthrough? Read our guide: What Is a Good GPA in High School and College? — it explains the method step by step with more worked examples.
Sources & further reading
- College Board BigFuture — How to Calculate Your GPA on a 4.0 Scale — The most widely cited US reference for letter-grade to 4.0-scale conversion.
- National Center for Education Statistics (US Department of Education) — Official US education data on grading, attainment and outcomes.
Related tools
Last reviewed: November 2026. Results from this calculator are estimates based on the published scales above; your school's recorded grade is the official one.