Class rank only reported in weighted GPA

DigitalDad
Wed, 11 Jan 2023 21:43:17 +0000

Two different measures here, that both are in use by colleges:

a) Class Rank

19% + 24% = >43% ahead of him - so that puts him in the 5th decile (41-50%) - so basically an average student at his schools as far as grade.

“Rank” is commonly done based on weighted GPA, because it is the intention that an A student with all AP-else-honors classes should indeed rank higher, than someone getting A’s in “regular” classes.

b) GPA

As far as GPA, a number of colleges will look at the unweighted GPA, possibly the schools grading scheme (e.g., is an “A” a 4.0 or 4.3), and then recalculate their own weighted GPA using their own factors to arrive at a “normalized” value that betters suits assessing GPAs from different schools.

Here, your son’s unweighted GPA and rigor (which level of classes he attended) will factor.

All that theory aside… Overall, depending on the UW grading scale your son is apparently either a very solid “B” student, or possible an “A” student, which is a good achievement.

Selective colleges that do look for rigor would probably be a challenge, but otherwise, he looks to me to be a good candidate for very many good colleges that are quite happy to enroll, what evidently is a good student.