Revisiting GPANovember 6, 2018

• History• Current Calculation Method• Problems with Current Calculation Method• Proposed Calculation Method• Next Steps

GPA & Class Rank Committee

School Year 2015-16 Study Group 30 MembersSchool Year 2017-18 Committee 40 Members

Middle & High School Representatives

• School Leaders • Teachers• Students • Parents

College Admissions

• Virginia Tech• Radford University

GPA & Class Rank Committee

School Board Approved Revisions to Policy 6-6.3June 2018

• Discontinued ranking of students by GPA

• Replaced Val/Sal with MCPS Achievement Standards:

Distinguished Scholar: GPA of 4.0 and AboveScholar: GPA of 3.80 - 3.99Honor Graduate: GPA of 3.60 - 3.79

Members of the GPA & Class Rank Committee continued to work on a way to calculate GPA that would award additional grade points for weighted courses but not lower a GPA for taking additional unweighted courses.

MCPS Policy 6-6.3

The student’s grade point average shall be computed to four (4) decimal

places and shall be based on the total number of quality points earned

divided by the total number of credits attempted.

However, if all final grades are equal and the number of weighted

courses completed is equal, no student shall be penalized in the

computation of class rank for completing more classes than other

students. In such cases, to avoid GPA penalties for completing a higher

number of nonweighted classes, the lowest common number of non-

weighted classes among the students with matching final grades and

numbers of weighted courses shall be used in computing class rank.

PRIOR TO 2015:

MCPS Policy 6-6.3

The student’s grade point average shall be computed to four (4) decimal

places and shall be based on the total number of quality points earned

divided by the total number of credits attempted.

However, if all final grades are equal and the number of weighted

courses completed is equal, no student shall be penalized in the

computation of class rank for completing more classes than other

students. In such cases, to avoid GPA penalties for completing a higher

number of nonweighted classes, the lowest common number of non-

weighted classes among the students with matching final grades and

numbers of weighted courses shall be used in computing class rank.

APPROVED 2015:

When a student takes unweighted electives in addition to weighted AP and/or DE classes, that student’s GPA will be lower than a student’s GPA who took a study hall.

Why Change GPA Calculation?

Student X Student Y

A = 5A = 5A = 5A = 5A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4----------------44/10 = 4.4000 GPA

A = 5A = 5A = 5A = 5A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4A = 4----------------48/11 = 4.3636 GPA

Decisions made based solely on GPA:

• Dropping “unweighted” A’s earned in Middle School• Deciding not to continue in a Fine Arts or CTE program that they love• Forgoing a Work-Based Learning or Research Project opportunity • Taking external courses at local colleges/universities• Overloading AP and/or DE courses

“Gaming the System”

GPA Reminders

Grade Point Average: The average number of grade points earned per credit attempted.

GPA = 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅

𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅

Calculating a Grade Point AVERAGE allows all students to be compared to the same achievement standard, regardless of the number of credits attempted.

MCPS Grade Point Scales

4-Point Scale

(Unweighted Classes)

5-Point Scale

(Weighted Classes)

A = 4 points

B = 3 points

C = 2 points

D = 1 point

F = 0 points

A = 5 points

B = 4 points

C = 3 points

D = 2 points

F = 0 points

Student X = (11x5) + (22x4) / 33 = 4.3333 Student Y = (11x5) + (24x4) / 35 = 4.3142

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Reframing the Problem

• The more total credits a student attempts, the less the additional grade points for weighted courses are worth.

• As a result, limiting the number of credits a student attempts will raise his/her GPA.

What’s Causing the Problem?

• We are awarding the additional grade points for weighted courses prior to dividing by the total number of credits attempted.

• The total number of credits attempted varies from student to student.

Each student actually gets a different amount added to his/her GPA for earning the same grade in the same course

A=5 A=5 A=5 A=5

GPA = 4.045

21 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A25 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

31 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

35 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

GPA = 4.031 GPA = 4.027GPA = 4.038

What’s Causing the Problem?

Because the additional grade point earned is divided by a different number of total credits attempted

AP CHEMISTRY

The Solution

• First calculate EVERYONE’S GPA on a 4-point scale.

• Use the same denominator (32) for all students to determine the additional grade points for weighted classes.

• Then add those grade points to get Final GPA.

Each student gets a the same amount added to his/her GPA for earning the same grade in the same course

A=5 A=5 A=5 A=5

GPA = 4.031

21 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A25 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

31 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

35 Unweighted A’s

1 Weighted A

GPA = 4.031 GPA = 4.031GPA = 4.031

The Solution

Because the additional grade point earned is divided by the same number (32) for everyone

AP CHEMISTRY

The Impact

• Every additional grade point for a weighted class will be worth the same amount for every student.

• Students with the same grades and the same number of weighted credits will always have the same GPA.

• There is no incentive to limit the number of unweightedcredits. Limiting the number of credits attempted will no longer raise a student’s GPA.

• Allows all students to be compared to the same achievement standard, regardless of the number of credits attempted.

Why Divide by 32?

• Matches our standard high school course load(4 years x 8 credits per year = 32 credits)

• Comparable to using a 5-point scale (A=5)

• Produces very similar GPAs to our current system

The Effect

Examined the impact of using the proposed GPA Calculation method on 2,111 actual MCPS students (Graduating Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018):

• Average GPA stayed the same (3.18)

• Average change in GPA was very small (0.0009)

• 48% of students’ GPAs were unchanged

Proposed MethodStudent X = (33x4) / 33 = 4.0 + 0.34 = 4.34 Student Y = (35x4) / 35 = 4.0 + 0.34 = 4.34

Student X = (11x5) + (22x4) / 33 = 4.3333 Student Y = (11x5) + (24x4) / 35 = 4.3142

Current Method

1. Calculate EVERYONE’S GPA first on a 4-Point Scale2. Add Grade Points to that GPA for weighted classes (comparable to A = 5):

11 weighted credits = 11 additional grade points11 ÷ 32 = 0.34

PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICY 6-6.3

Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)

MCPS will calculate Grade Point Average (GPA) for each high school student using a four-point system for all high school credit courses (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0). The number of credits earned for each course will be multiplied by the numerical value of the final course grade to obtain the number of grade points earned for each course. The total grade points earned will be divided by the total credits attempted to determine each student’s GPA (calculated to two decimal places, with no rounding).

Additional Grade Points for Advanced CoursesFor each passing grade earned in an advanced course (Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and approved courses taken at an accredited college/university), students will be awarded one additional grade point. The total additional grade points will be divided by 32, and the result will be added to the GPA. The resulting GPA will be comparable to a “weighted GPA” using a five-point system (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, F=0). The final GPA will be calculated to two decimal places, with no rounding.

Examples

PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICY 6-6.3

If a student attempted 32 credits that did not include any advanced courses, then the student’s GPA would be would be calculated as follows:

If this same student’s coursework included passing 8 advanced courses, then the student would be awarded 8 additional grade points. The final GPA would calculated as follows:

Grade point averages are computed by using final grades for ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade classes.Grades earned in high school credit courses taken prior to ninth grade will be included in the computation of grade point averages.

GPA (without additional grade points) 3.90

Additional Grade Points Earned 8

GPA Increase (8 ÷ 32) 0.25

Final GPA (3.90 + 0.25) 4.15

Course

Grades

Grade Points

Per Credit

Number of Each

Grade Earned

Grade Points

Earned

Credits

Attempted

A 4 29 116 29

B 3 3 9 3

C 2 0 0 0

D 1 0 0 0

F 0 0 0 0

Totals 125 32

Total Grade Points Earned 125

Total Credits Attempted 32

GPA (125 ÷ 32) 3.90

The Impact

• Every additional grade point for a weighted class will be worth the same amount for every student.

• Students with the same grades and the same number of weighted credits will always have the same GPA.

• There is no incentive to limit the number of unweightedcredits. Limiting the number of credits attempted will no longer raise a student’s GPA.

• Allows all students to be compared to the same achievement standard, regardless of the number of credits attempted.

Recommendations from GPA & Class Rank CommitteeOctober 18, 2018

• Provide information for students/parents on MCPS webpage after first reading to School Board.

• Begin implementation begin with current juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.

• Include GPA Calculation in Curriculum Information Nights for students/parents.