GPA Benchmark?

<p>Hi,
So I'm a high school student heading into my sophomore year. I've had my mind set on the University of Maryland for about 2-3 years now.
In my freshman year, my GPA for the year came out to a 3.17 I'm sure I can go higher, but I just wanted to get an idea as to how high my score should be to pretty much secure a decent chance.
I heard that UMD also looks at the high school you came from. I find it significant enough to note that I was in a pretty bad school that year, but I'm now enrolled in the #1 school in my city. </p>

<p>I am also in-state, in case that matters.
Thanks</p>