Honors and AP Courses

[lauraf]

Hi. I can't thank you enough for your wonderful program! It's a life saver, helping me build great records for my high schoolers. Thanks!!

I am wondering if there is a way to weight grades for Honors and AP classes for the transcript (which is sooooo wonderful, by the way!!)? For example, our public schools give 4 points for an A in a regular class, 5 points for an A in an "Honors" class, and 6 points for an A in an AP class for purposes of GPA calculation. Being easily able to show a weighted GPA on a transcript will help my daughters be competitive with "traditional" students for scholarships. (One daughter is taking
AP US History through an online provider which has been approved by the College Board, for example.)

Thanks so very much!

Laura

[HSkedtrack]

When you say 4 points, did you mean credits?

[lauraf]

Sorry I was unclear.

If a student taking a regular class gets an A as a grade, he is awarded 4 points toward computing his GPA. So, if he takes 6 classes, for which he will receive 6 credits, perhaps he earns 3 A's and 3 B's. The GPA would be 3.5.

Many public schools now are offering extra points above the traditional 4 for an A to students who take Honors and AP courses. So, if a student takes 2 regular classes for which he earns A's, he is awarded 8 points towards his GPA (4 points each). If he also takes 2 Honors classes, for which he earns A's in both, he is awarded 10 points toward figuring his GPA(5 points each). If the same student completes his schedule with 2 AP courses, in which he earns A's, he would receive 12 points toward computing his GPA (6 points each). This student would still receive 6 credits toward his graduation requirements (based on the number of classes taken, not on the grade received), same as the first student who took regular classes. However, his GPA for the year would be 5.0, rather than 4.0, reflecting weighted grades for more difficult classes.

As best as I can figure, the transcript function automatically calculates 4.0 points for an "A" grade toward the GPA. This is independent of "credit," which reflects whether the class was taken for an entire year or only 1/2 year. I'd like to be able to choose an Honors or AP grading scale which would award more than 4.0 points for an A toward GPA. Does that make sense?
Some public schools award and extra 0.5 point for Honors and and extra 1.0 point for AP, while others offer the extra 1.0 point for Honors and extra 2.0 for AP. Either way, I do notice that your transcript does include the grading scale used, which is GREAT. I would just love to be able to use it for a weighted GPA for scholarship competition.

To be competitive for college scholarships based on academic achievement, GPA must be competitive with public schools. The transcript needs to "look" like others, including weighted grades for AP and Honors classes. Not that I like this. Nor do we imitate public schooling at home each day. It's just a sad fact that all of our creative homeschooling needs to be presented in language and format familiar to colleges.

Thank you again, and again, and again for the incredible program as it is!!!! I certainly am NOT complaining, just trying to plan ahead for document creation as two of my girls are already in high school.

Again, I am soooo grateful. Just wondering if I can make adjustments for this purpose.

Laura

[HSkedtrack]

The calculation of the grade point average depends on the customizable grading scale defined on Admin-Reference-Grading Scale page. We can add a table for A B C D F grading scale for Honors and another one for AP in addition to the 'normal' A B C D F grading scale table and you will be able to customize the grade point equivalent. In making the transcript, just choose the correct grading scale that will be used for the specific course. Would this address your situation?

Homeschool Skedtrack Team

[lauraf]

Woooohooooo!

Yes, that would be great! Beyond great! Fantastic! Amazing!

I have been so upset for the past two days because the "school" I am paying to have my high schoolers enrolled in won't let me customize course names or grading scale. I thought enrolling them would give legitimacy to their records, but now I'm finding that it's just like public school in that they are in charge and I am not.

I cannot tell you how this option for choosing grading scale options would favorably affect my life!!!! Wow! I could be in charge of their records which would accurately reflect their work.

Thank you!!!!

And again, the scheduling program, as it is, makes my life sooooo much easier. It also gives me amazingly detailed records of work and resources should colleges ever ask.

I am soooo verrrrryyyyy grateful to you for this ministry. I don't know how to express my gratitude.

Thank you so much!

Laura

[HSkedtrack]

When exactly do you need it? We know what to do but is unsure when it is going to be available.

[lauraf]

My daughter's community service award application is due December 10. Please do not worry about adding grading scale options by then. I will add a note to her application instead. I'm sure you are very busy, and I would not ask you to take time away from your other obligations for me.

Thanks to Homeschool Skedtrack she will already have an amazing, professional transcript! I am sooo grateful.

Perhaps by next spring? That would be fantastic for other purposes.

Whenever it's convenient for you.

Thank you, thank you again!!!!

Laura

[lauraf]

I forgot to mention that in Florida, it seems that the most common weighted grading scale adds 0.5 points for Honors classes and adds 1.0 points for AP classes.

Many, many thanks again!

Laura