I’m stressed out right now. I’ve taken a few HS courses (Intro to 2D Art, Algebra 1, Spanish 1, and Prep for College and Careers). As of halfway through the 3rd quarter, I have a B+ in Spanish 1. I also have an A- in Algebra. Last quarter, I had an A- in Algebra and Spanish, putting my GPA around 3.76. This worries me, because I want to go to an Ivy League school or a school around that caliber. Will a 3.76 HS GPA in 8th grade mess me up for these next few years?
No.
Whether HS includes grades from HS courses taken in the 8th grade in the GPA calculation is a matter for the individual schools. Regardless, colleges will place little to no weight on any grades received in the 8th grade. All colleges will know that a 13 y/o student is less emotionally/academically/etc mature that his/her 17 y/o self. File this under things not to worry about.
You’re in 8th grade; you shouldn’t be worrying about college this early.
Our local high school did include any grades earned in high school classes during the 8th grade in high school GPA and class rank calculations. Those grades carried over and were worth the same as if they were earned in any other high school year. Of course, by the time you apply to college as a senior, you will have taken many more classes to even out any dips. Besides, it sounds as if you are out to a great start!
No, it will not mess you up. Our high school also includes in the GPA and rank high school classes earned during 8th grade. You can check with your guidance counselor to see if your school does. Even if they do, colleges like to see an upward trend. You have plenty of time to work on increasing your GPA.
Thank you all for the comforting words.
I just realized my school district calculates GPA by semester. I had a 100 in Spanish first quarter and a 92 second, so that’s a 96 (A). Algebra I had a 94 and a 92, which is a 93 (A) I can always raise the grade throughout the quarter or next quarter. I know it’s stupid, cause I’m an 8th grader, but I get to start with a 4.0 (If I raise this Spanish grade).
Son is in 8th grade but almost every one of his classes will be for high school credit, eg., Math 1, Math 2, Spanish 2, etc. His 8th grade grades for those classes do matter and this is the case for most of the kids in his class.
At our high school 8th grade doesn’t count as credit, gpa, or get put on a transcript which is sent to colleges. The only thing it can help with is to start at a higher level. Most honors kids start in Spanish 2 and geometry. It is just implied to a college that they must know Spanish 1 and algebra 1. Since math requires 4 credits to graduate the kids need to take geometry, algebra 2, precalculus, and calculus. The art would only help if it is a prerequisite for another art class though perhaps a college will care about a high AP score. .
Sounds like your GPA is actually higher than you had originally suspected. But going off of your first post, no, your GPA shouldn’t mess you up for the rest of high school. At my school, you can remove credits from junior high (with some exceptions for graduation requirements). Also if you maintain a high GPA for the next 4 years it’ll easily raise your unweighted GPA to almost 4, and if you manage to get an A+ (with extra credit or in an “easy” class like gym), that could boost it even higher. For example, I got a B and B+ in geometry in 8th grade but if I get As in all or most of my classes this year, my GPA will be a 4.0 again due to an A+ in gym and an A+ in math (this was ONLY because of extra credit, so I got lucky that my teacher gave so much). But in answer to your question, you’ll be able to raise your unweighted GPA throughout high school and it won’t mess you up. 