How Frisco ISD calculates GPA and class rank
A plain-English guide for students and parents, based on Frisco ISD's 2026-27 High School Academic Guide.
Unofficial guide. Rules can change each year. Always confirm with your school counselor and the official Frisco ISD pages linked at the bottom.
Two GPAs on every transcript
- Unweighted GPA (4.0 scale): every course counts the same. 90–100 = 4.0, 80–89 = 3.0, 70–79 = 2.0, below 70 = 0. Some colleges use this one because it's easier to compare across schools.
- Weighted GPA ("GPA for Rank"): harder courses earn more points. Frisco ISD uses it for top-10% status, class rank, quartiles, valedictorian and salutatorian, and honor graduates.
Both use semester grades from courses taken for high school credit, and both are calculated to three decimal places.
The three tiers
- Tier III (up to 6.0): AP and IB courses, Computer Science III Advanced, and dual credit Calculus III / Differential Equations / Multivariable Calculus. Starting with the Class of 2030, all dual credit courses are Tier III.
- Tier II (up to 5.5): Advanced courses, dual credit (Class of 2029 and earlier), Independent Study & Mentorship, Academic Decathlon, and Project Lead the Way Civil, Aerospace and Digital Engineering and Engineering Design & Development.
- Tier I (up to 5.0): all other courses, including on-level classes, PE, Health and most electives.
Points = the tier's maximum minus 0.1 for every point below 100. Any grade below 70 earns 0 points.
| Semester grade | Tier III | Tier II | Tier I | Unweighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| 97 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.0 |
| 95 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| 90 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 85 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| 80 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| 70 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Below 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Example: a 95 in an AP course (5.5) is worth the same as a 100 in an Advanced course (5.5). Courses worth two credits count twice.
What counts in GPA
Counts (Class of 2024 and later)
- High school credit courses taken in middle school (for example Algebra I, Geometry, Spanish I and II, Health). They're added in the January GPA calculation of 9th grade.
- Frisco ISD summer school and Frisco ISD online courses.
- Approved online courses from Texas Tech, the University of Texas or TXVSN (pre-approved by the counselor).
- World language courses taken outside school hours, from 7th grade on.
Doesn't count
- Credit by Exam and Exam for Acceleration. The score goes on the transcript and earns credit, but not GPA points.
- Pass/fail courses (for example office or library aide, peer tutoring, SAT prep, driver's education), local credits, and college courses that aren't Frisco ISD-approved dual credit.
Leaving fine arts or athletics out of GPA (11th and 12th grade)
Students in 11th and 12th grade may exclude one credit per year from their weighted GPA in band, choir, orchestra, theatre or technical theatre, dance or drill team, color guard, athletics or athletic trainer, or cheer. Art isn't eligible, because Advanced and AP art courses already earn extra weight.
- The student must have taken part in that same program in the two previous high school years.
- The student files the "GPA Opt Out" form by the deadline in both junior and senior year.
- Frisco ISD suggests this only for students with a weighted GPA of 5.0 or higher.
Class rank and the top 10%
- Exact rank is published only for students in the top 10% of their class.
- GPA and rank are calculated in January and June (juniors also in September). For 9th–11th graders, the information is posted in the Student Portal in February and June, including the lowest weighted GPA that's still in the top 10%.
- Seniors are also ranked at the start of the school year, and their spring ranking comes from the April calculation.
- Valedictorian and salutatorian are decided by weighted GPA to the fifth decimal place. If there's still a tie, Frisco ISD compares a weighted GPA of AP courses only. Candidates must attend the high school from no later than the second nine weeks of junior year.
- Honor graduates have a weighted GPA of at least 4.0 (no rounding) at the end of the third quarter of senior year.
Why the top 10% matters in Texas
Texas students who graduate in the top 10% of their class (with the Distinguished Level of Achievement, Frisco ISD's default plan) get automatic admission to Texas public universities, if they apply on time and enroll within two years. UT Austin uses a smaller percentage: the top 6%, according to the 2026-27 guide. UT sets this number each year.
See it for your own courses
My GPA Planner is a free tool that does this math for you. Add your courses and target grades, and it shows your projected weighted and unweighted GPA, what each grade costs, and whether you're on track for graduation. A few questions can build a starting four-year plan. Your plan stays on your device; nothing is sent anywhere.
Open the plannerOfficial sources
- Frisco ISD: GPA and Class Rank
- Frisco ISD 2026-27 Course Catalog and High School Academic Guide (see "Grading and Grade Point Average")