GPA (Grade Point Average) is a standard way of measuring academic achievement by the end of each semester. 

Types of GPA

1. Unweighted GPA:

   • This is the simplest form of GPA calculation.
   • It uses a standard scale where:
     • A = 4.0
     • B = 3.0
     • C = 2.0
     • D = 1.0
     • F = 0.0
   • It does not take into account the difficulty of the courses.

2. Weighted GPA:

   • This accounts for the difficulty of the courses.
   • Advanced Placement (AP), Pre-AP, or HADV classes are given extra points.
   • A common scale might look like:
     • A (regular) = 4.0
     • A (AP/Pre-AP/HADV) = 5.0
     • B (regular) = 3.0
     • B (AP/Pre-AP/HADV) = 4.0
   • This encourages students to take more challenging courses.

Key Differences

• Calculation: Unweighted GPA uses a flat scale, while weighted GPA gives additional points for advanced courses.
• Purpose: Weighted GPA reflects a student's willingness to challenge themselves academically, while unweighted GPA presents a straightforward average of grades.

At DeBakey, there is no way for a student to earn a perfect 5.0 GPA, as all Health Science classes are graded on a 4.0 scale and these courses are mandatory. This means that even if a student excels in advanced courses, the required classes limit the maximum attainable GPA, impacting overall academic evaluation. Understanding these differences can help students and parents assess academic performance relative to course difficulty.