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All high school students need to understand their school’s academic requirements and policies. They also need to understand the terms Grade Point Average (GPA), Class Rank, and Transcript.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grade point average, or GPA, is simply the average of a student’s semester grades, starting with the freshman year. We use a 4.0 scale in which an A= 4, B=3, C= 2, and D= 1. If a student has all A’s, he/she has a 4.0 grade point average. Students who have B’s in half their courses and C’s in the other half have a 2.5 GPA. We also have “weighted grades” for advanced and/or AP (advanced placement courses). A grade weighted course is worth more than if it is a non-weighted course.
Class Rank
Dowling uses class rank to show where a student stands in relation to the other members of his/her graduating class. The student with the highest GPA is number one; the student with the second highest GPA is number two, etc. Class rank is generally written as two numbers: the student’s place in the class, followed by the total number of students in the graduating class (e.g., 35/295).
Transcript
A transcript is a document that details a student’s academic achievement in high school. Your transcript is, quite simply, a copy of your high school record. Your transcript will contain the following information:
1. Grades and credits for each course as completed, beginning with grade nine
2. Attendance records
3. Current cumulative GPA and class rank
4. Test scores (e.g., PLAN, PSAT, SAT, ACT)
5. Student Activity Profile
An official Dowling transcript has a signature and a seal verifying its authenticity. An unofficial transcript is exactly the same as an official transcript except that there’s no signature or seal. You can obtain an unofficial transcript to check your credits or to take with you on a college visit by going to the guidance office.
Transcripts are used when a school or organization needs to have a copy of a student’s academic record. Most colleges require an official transcript be submitted along with the student’s application for admission. In most cases, a transcript is also required whenever a student applies for a scholarship.