The following information shall apply to all graduating classes through the graduating class of 2027.

To determine GPA for graduation, grade points shall be assigned to courses in grades 9–12 according to the level of the course. The levels of courses shall be Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB), Honors, Regular, Modified, Applied/Fundamental, and Basic/Developmental.

• AP/IB courses are nationally/internationally recognized for their advanced level of curriculum. Students may have the potential to earn college credit for these courses. District courses in this category, and grade points assigned, are listed in EIC(EXHIBIT).

• Pre-AP and Pre-IB/Honors courses are those courses in which the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are extended and enriched, resulting in an academically rigorous curriculum.
• Regular courses are those courses that provide a challenging curriculum in a variety of offerings based on TEKS.
• Modified courses are those courses in which a student receives a modification to the essential knowledge and skills. This designation denotes a special education grade. A student may receive modifications in a course through an individualized education program (IEP) that is developed through deliberations of the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee.
• Applied/Fundamental courses are those courses that have more significant modifications to the essential knowledge and skills and have been determined by the ARD committee to be appropriate for the student.
• Basic/Developmental courses are those courses that are taught at the prerequisite level and have been determined by the ARD committee to be appropriate for the student.

The following information shall apply to all graduating classes beginning with the graduating class of 2028.

To determine GPA for graduation, grade points shall be assigned to high school credit courses according to the level of the course.

• Level 3 Distinguished
  • AP/IB/DC courses are nationally/internationally recognized for their advanced level of curriculum. Students may have the potential to earn college credit for these courses. District courses in this category, and grade points assigned, are listed in EIC(EXHIBIT).
• Level 2 Honors
  • Pre-AP and Pre-IB/Honors courses are those courses in which the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are extended and enriched, resulting in an academically rigorous curriculum.
• Level 1
  • Regular courses are those courses that provide a challenging curriculum in a variety of offerings based on TEKS.

For students graduating through the class of 2029,  Plano ISD has drafted a letter, which can be viewed here. Students can share this letter to explain the District’s policy to admissions officers. This provides an option for students and parents who would like to communicate about this as part of the admissions process.

The all-inclusive cumulative GPA shall be calculated for all high school students and shall appear on student transcripts.

The calculation of the student's cumulative GPA shall include grades earned in all courses taken for high school credit except in the following:

• student aide
• independent study
• correspondence courses
• online courses
• eSchool
• Academic Decathlon
• summer school programs
• courses taken for no credit
• college courses that are not included in a memorandum of understanding between the District and a partnering institution of higher education, and credit earned through credit by examination

The ranking GPA is internally calculated solely for the purpose of determining the top 10% of a graduating class.  The ranking GPA will only be calculated and available for those students who are in the top 10% of their graduating class.  *Plano ISD Academy High School does not have a ranking GPA.

The ranking GPA will be calculated for the first time during the fall of a student’s 11th grade year. Only students in the top 10 percent shall have class rank recorded on student transcripts at these specified times:

In grade 11: Fall, January, and June;

In grade 12: January, and following the third grading period.

Final senior rank shall be determined after the third nine-week grading period of the student’s senior year

A student's rank in class shall be determined using only specific high school credit courses limited to courses in math, science, so-
cial studies, and English which the Texas Education Agency has identified as eligible to count as a graduation credit in the Foundation High School Program. [See EIC(EXHIBIT)]