High School GPA Calculator
Enter each course's letter, credits, and type. Blank rows are ignored.
| Letter grade | Credits | Course type |
|---|
Added to honors courses' grade points. Schools differ.
Added to AP and IB courses' grade points. Schools differ.
Both are always computed; this only picks the headline.
How the math works
The unweighted GPA is the standard credit-weighted average on the 4.0 ladder. The weighted GPA runs the same average after adding a bump to each course's points by type:
weighted points = base points + bump(course type), except an F stays 0.0
Worked example, four 1-credit courses: an A in AP Biology (4.0 + 1.0 = 5.0), a B+ in honors English (3.3 + 0.5 = 3.8), a B in regular history (3.0), and an A− in regular math (3.7). Weighted: (5.0 + 3.8 + 3.0 + 3.7) ÷ 4 = 15.5 ÷ 4 = 3.88. Unweighted: (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.0 + 3.7) ÷ 4 = 14.0 ÷ 4 = 3.5. Same transcript, two true numbers — which is why any GPA you report should say which kind it is.
Questions
How does the weighted GPA differ from the unweighted one?
Unweighted uses the plain 4.0 ladder for every course. Weighted adds a bump to each course's grade points by course type before averaging - by default +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP or IB, and both bumps are editable. The tool always computes both numbers; the toggle chooses which leads.
Are the +0.5 and +1.0 bumps universal?
No. They are one common convention - published, for example, by Fairfax County Public Schools - but districts differ: some add different amounts, some weight on a 5.0 scale directly, and some do not weight at all. Edit the bump boxes to match your school's policy; your transcript is the authority.
Does a failed AP class get the bump?
Not in this tool. An F is 0.0 points and stays 0.0 regardless of course type. Schools handle weighted failures differently, so if yours adds weight to failing grades, this calculator will read slightly low for that course.
Can the weighted GPA go above 4.0?
Yes. With the default bumps, an A in an AP course counts 5.0, so an AP-heavy schedule of A grades produces a weighted GPA above 4.0. The tool applies no cap; schools that cap weighted GPAs do so by their own policy.
Which number do colleges look at?
Many colleges recalculate applicants onto their own scale, often unweighted, precisely because weighting rules differ between high schools. That is a practice, not a rule - this tool simply shows both numbers so you can report whichever a form asks for.