How to Calculate GPA in Middle School and Why It Matters

High school features many academic challenges, such as maintaining a good GPA for college admissions and scholarships. Middle school students ready for the transition to high school need to understand how to calculate GPA in middle school. But there's a catch—not all schools calculate GPA the same way. 

Don't worry. In this article, we'll discuss what GPA is, how it impacts your life, and how to calculate GPA in middle school. You'll be able to use your new skills to stay on top of your GPA and prepare for academic success in middle school, high school, and beyond.

What Is GPA in Middle School?

• Define GPA in plain terms: a number summarizing grades, often on a 4.0 scale.
• Mention variability: some middle schools don’t “officially” track GPA and some use standards-based grading or different letter cutoffs.
• Quick takeaway: “If your school provides a scale, use it. If not, use the standard 4.0 method below.”

Let's get the basics out of the way. "GPA" stands for Grade Point Average. As you learned in math class, you find the average of a set of numbers by adding them up and then dividing by the number of numbers in the set. For example:

Set of numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Add them up: 1+2+3+4+5 = 15

Divide the sum by the number of numbers in the set: 15/5 = 3 (The average!)

However, it's impossible to do this kind of math when your school displays your grades as A+, A, A–, B+, and so on. Instead, some middle schools—yours may not track GPA—and all high schools convert your letter grade into a number ranging from 0.0 to 4.0.

NOTE: If your school uses letter grades and provides a GPA scale, use that scale to convert each grade to a number on the 0.0–4.0 scale. If no scale is provided, use the standard method described later in this article.

Before You Calculate: What You Need

To learn how to calculate GPA in middle school, you need to gather a few things:

• Your Latest Grade Summary: You will need to know your letter grades from your most recent grading period.
• Your School's GPA Scale: This conversion chart is typically included with your grades. If your school doesn't track GPA, use the scale provided in the table later in this article.
• A Calculator: You'll need this to calculate your average GPA. 

NOTE: After you learn how to calculate GPA in middle school, you should double-check it each time you receive your grades. Even the smartest computers can make mistakes. 

How to Convert Middle School Grades to GPA

With a GPA scale, converting middle school grades to GPA is the easiest thing in the world.

Quick Takeaway

If your school doesn't track GPA, use the standard 4.0 method in the table below.

Weighted vs Unweighted GPA in Middle School

Let's define two important terms.

Unweighted GPA

The GPA scale we discussed in the previous section. An F is a 0.0 and an A+ is 4.0. Middle and high schools use this scale for regular—and not honors—classes.

Weighted GPA

Middle and high schools recognize that students in honors classes have to do a lot more work to earn a good grade. As a result, they reward them with a GPA boost. For example, if Jimmy earns an A+ in a regular class, he has a 4.0 GPA in that class. If Jimmy earns an A+ in an honors class, he has a 4.5 GPA in that class. 

NOTE: If your middle school doesn't use weighted GPA, that's okay. However, it's very common in high school. A top grade in an honors class equals a 4.5 GPA, while the same grade in an Advanced Placement class may equal up to a 5.0 GPA. 

Let's Help Janet Calculate Her Middle School GPA 

Now that you know a little about GPA, let's walk through an example. It's the end of the first academic quarter (Q1), and Janet just got her report card.

Although Janet needs a little help in math class, she's doing pretty well overall. Let's calculate her GPA.

Step #1: Use the GPA scale to convert each letter grade into a number.

Using the GPA scale from earlier in this article, we get:

• Language Arts: 3.3
• Pre-Algebra: 2.3
• American History: 4.0
• Introduction to Physics/Chemistry: 3.7
• Orchestra Band: 3.0

Step #2: Add Everything Up

Let's add up Janet's separate GPA numbers.

3.3+2.3+4.0+3.7+3.0= 16.3

Step #3: Divide by the Number of Classes to Find the Average GPA

Janet is taking five classes, so we'll use that number.

16.3/5= 3.26 (rounds to 3.3)

This means that Janet's average GPA is 3.3, as 3.26 rounds up to the nearest tenth.

Wasn't that easy? Even if your school doesn't calculate GPA, you can follow these same steps to figure out what your GPA would be. 

Need More Help?

If you still have questions about how your GPA affects your future, ask your parents to contact us and set up a consultation. Crimson Rise helps middle school students:

• Identify academic strengths and areas of improvement.
• Set goals for high school and college.
• Develop hard and soft skills. 

We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. 

FAQ

Does Middle School GPA Matter for High School/College?

Although colleges do not consider middle school GPA, a good middle school GPA can help you earn college scholarships for middle school students. Banking scholarship dollars as a middle school student lets you:

• Reduce your family's and your financial stress.
• Show colleges that you are dedicated to your education.
• Explore colleges outside your family's price range.

If you're going to attend a private high school, you may need a good middle school GPA for admissions. If you're going to attend a public high school, a good middle school GPA may qualify you for honors-level classes. 

What Is a Good GPA in Middle School?

The answer isn't the same for everyone. Let's look at three different types of students and what they need to do to have a 'good' GPA.

• High Achieving: If you have a 3.5–4.0 GPA, your job is to maintain your grades in all classes. Maintaining grades can feel just as stressful as raising grades, so reach out to teachers or counselors for help if you need it. 
• Average: If you have a 2.7–3.4 GPA, you should focus on the 1–2 classes where you're struggling. Asking teachers, other adults, and even classmates for help can improve your average GPA to at least 3.4. Once there, you can focus on maintaining it. 
• Struggling: If you have a 2.6 GPA or below, you need significant academic help to get to a 3.0 GPA. Work with teachers and focus on easier subjects first before tackling harder ones.

What If Classes Award Different Credits?

In a typical school, a class that lasts a full year awards one credit. However, classes that last only one semester may award only 0.5 credit. If your report card includes a mix of 1.0 and 0.5 credit classes, classes awarding 0.5 credit may impact your average GPA less than classes awarding 1.0 credit.

Ask a teacher or counselor to explain this important difference and how it impacts your average GPA. 

What is the average GPA in middle school?

There is no one reliable answer. Reasons include:

• Not all middle schools use the same GPA scale.
• Not all middle schools track GPA.
• Not all middle schools that calculate GPA use weighted GPA.

This may seem a bit frustrating, especially if you're trying to find out if you're doing well enough in school. No matter your GPA, your focus should be on making small, achievable improvements in class. These little efforts add up and will positively impact your average GPA.