<p>I would interject that a 4.0 is not necessarily equivalent to a 95%. Our school district policy is that a 3.5 gpa is for percentages between 91 and 95% (an “A-”); a 4.0 is given for students who have an average percentage for a class ranging between 96% and 100% (an “A”).</p>
<p>My daughter has taken as difficult a course load as possible in our district (even taking a “dual enrollment” class at the college in our town when she was in 8th grade as well as several other classes at the local college during high school as well as all offered AP classes and tons of “accelerated” classes). In many of her classes she has received a 100% or higher and her gpa is still only a 4.0.</p>
<p>I serve on the district’s “dual enrollment” committee. At one meeting I suggested that our district consider weighting classes for students who “work their butts off” and are still given only a 4.0 and other students taking much easier classes receive a 4.0 as well. Our principal is philosophically opposed to weighting grades b/c in his opinion the kids taking less difficult classes are likely working just as hard for their grades.</p>
<p>So, to answer tk21769, when students have a gpa higher than 4.0 it is often because their school district gives classes considered to be more difficult (often AP and dual enrollment) a higher value than the rest of the classes offered by that high school.</p>