Understanding Your Student’s Class Rank
GPA Calculation Definitions:
Austin ISD uses a weighted 4.0 scale. Honors level courses are given a higher grade point value.
Cumulative GPA (weighted 4.0 scale):
AISD rank policy details can be found in EIC (Regulation). The purpose of the district’s class rank policy is to promote rigorous academic standards and readiness for college, career, and life in a globally competitive economy. Class ranking shall be used to determine district honors and awards and will be submitted to colleges and universities.
It is important to note that class rank is a snapshot of a fluid process of adding to and updating the high school transcript. Semester averages may change as teachers’ gradebooks are updated; dual credits are added; and outside credits are completed. Even though transcripts are updated throughout the semester, once class rank is set for the semester, it remains unchanged until the next ranking period. AISD calculates class rank for students beginning the spring of their 10th grade year. Thereafter, students are ranked after the end of each semester. Current semester data is never used to calculate rank.
Beginning with the incoming 9th grade class of 2011-2012, Austin Independent School District (AISD) phased in Rank GPA calculation. This GPA calculation is used to determine class Rank for each student. The calculation is closely aligned with the graduation requirements as mandated by the State of Texas. Rank GPA calculation considers all available final semester grades for the courses that satisfy the student’s graduation plan in the following 5 curriculum areas:
Texas has one graduation plan, Foundations High School Program. Within that plan there are three levels. 19 TAC Chapter 74.11
English Language Arts (ELA): 4 credits
All students must earn 4 credits in ELA to include English I, II, III and one full or 2 half credits of an Advanced ELA course as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(1). If more courses are taken than needed to satisfy the 4th ELA credit, then the 2 semesters with the highest grade point values that satisfy the 4th ELA credit will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
Social Studies (SS): 3 credits
All students must earn 3 credits in SS to include World Geography or World History, US History, Economics and US Government as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(4).
Depending on the student’s graduation plan, 3 or 4 science credits are required – 1 credit must be Biology. If a student earns more science credits as listed in 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(3), the semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. Biology semesters will be replaced with other science semesters if the other science has a higher grade.
Mathematics: FHSP -> 3 credits, FHSP+E and FHSP+D -> 4 credits
Depending on the student’s graduation plan, 3 or 4 math credits are required – 2 credits must be Algebra 1 and Geometry. If a student earns more math credits as listed in 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(2), the semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. Algebra I and Geometry semesters will be replaced with other mathematic semesters with a higher grade.
Language Other than English (LOTE): 2 credits
All students must earn 2 credits in the same foreign language as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(5). If a student earns more credits in the same language than are required, the 4 semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. If a student has more than 2
credits in more than one language, the language with the most credits will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
GPA Calculation Definitions:
Austin ISD uses a weighted 4.0 scale. Honors level courses are given a higher grade point value.
Cumulative GPA (weighted 4.0 scale):
- Includes all high school courses taken for high school credit (cumulative).
- Honors level courses receive higher grade point value.
- Reported on student’s high school transcript.
- Reported on student’s report card.
- Called Weighted GPA in Naviance.
- Includes all high school courses taken for high school credit (cumulative).
- Honors level courses DO NOT receive higher grade point value.
- NOT reported on student’s high school transcript or report card.
- Called Cumulative GPA in Naviance.
- Includes high school courses in the 4 core areas and foreign language that meet graduation requirements. See detail below
- Honors level courses receive higher grade point value.
- NOT Reported on student’s high school transcript.
- Reported on student’s report card (except for non-ranking high schools).
- Not listed in Naviance.
AISD rank policy details can be found in EIC (Regulation). The purpose of the district’s class rank policy is to promote rigorous academic standards and readiness for college, career, and life in a globally competitive economy. Class ranking shall be used to determine district honors and awards and will be submitted to colleges and universities.
It is important to note that class rank is a snapshot of a fluid process of adding to and updating the high school transcript. Semester averages may change as teachers’ gradebooks are updated; dual credits are added; and outside credits are completed. Even though transcripts are updated throughout the semester, once class rank is set for the semester, it remains unchanged until the next ranking period. AISD calculates class rank for students beginning the spring of their 10th grade year. Thereafter, students are ranked after the end of each semester. Current semester data is never used to calculate rank.
Beginning with the incoming 9th grade class of 2011-2012, Austin Independent School District (AISD) phased in Rank GPA calculation. This GPA calculation is used to determine class Rank for each student. The calculation is closely aligned with the graduation requirements as mandated by the State of Texas. Rank GPA calculation considers all available final semester grades for the courses that satisfy the student’s graduation plan in the following 5 curriculum areas:
- English Language Arts (ELA)
- Social Studies
- Science
- Mathematics
- Language Other than English (LOTE)
Texas has one graduation plan, Foundations High School Program. Within that plan there are three levels. 19 TAC Chapter 74.11
- Foundations High School Program (FHSP)
- Foundations High School Program plus Endorsements(FHSP+E) and
- Foundations High School Program plus Endorsement with Distinguished Level of Achievement (FHSP+E+D).
English Language Arts (ELA): 4 credits
All students must earn 4 credits in ELA to include English I, II, III and one full or 2 half credits of an Advanced ELA course as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(1). If more courses are taken than needed to satisfy the 4th ELA credit, then the 2 semesters with the highest grade point values that satisfy the 4th ELA credit will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
Social Studies (SS): 3 credits
All students must earn 3 credits in SS to include World Geography or World History, US History, Economics and US Government as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(4).
- World Geography/World History:
- If a student earns 1 full credit in World Geography and 1 full credit in World History, the full credit with the highest grade point average will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
- If a student earns 1 full credit in World Geography or World History and 0.5 credits in the other course, the course with the full credit will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
Depending on the student’s graduation plan, 3 or 4 science credits are required – 1 credit must be Biology. If a student earns more science credits as listed in 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(3), the semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. Biology semesters will be replaced with other science semesters if the other science has a higher grade.
Mathematics: FHSP -> 3 credits, FHSP+E and FHSP+D -> 4 credits
Depending on the student’s graduation plan, 3 or 4 math credits are required – 2 credits must be Algebra 1 and Geometry. If a student earns more math credits as listed in 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(2), the semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. Algebra I and Geometry semesters will be replaced with other mathematic semesters with a higher grade.
Language Other than English (LOTE): 2 credits
All students must earn 2 credits in the same foreign language as defined by 19 TAC Chapter 74.12(b)(5). If a student earns more credits in the same language than are required, the 4 semesters with the highest grade points will be used in Rank GPA calculations. If a student has more than 2
credits in more than one language, the language with the most credits will be used in Rank GPA calculations.
