GPA in Junior year after going to a magnet school?

Hi, I’m a current junior near the end of my first year at a competitive state-wide magnet school for STEM students. Coming in, I knew my grades would drop but seeing all A’s going to mostly B’s is pretty disheartening. Everyone always says that schools want to see an upwards trend, so would this be a major negative?

Will colleges understand that moving to a more academically rigorous school means grades will drop?

My standardized test scores have gone up from before I changed schools so that shows progress in the right direction, but is that enough?

My schedule is also almost all AP’s except for electives (they are equivalent to certain courses at in-state colleges but the school has to count them as honors).

I’m sure your counsellor will be able to address the reasons behind the drop in your marks in her report. That being said, it definitely isn’t good that you now have mostly Bs.

A college will find it very easy to understand how you went from the tippy top at one school to something lower at a State level Magnet school. There is absolutely nothing to worry about there. Do see if your school has access to Naviance and look at the colleges people attended with similar stats.