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 courses in grades 9–12 according to the level of the course. The levels of courses shall be Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

• 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.

The following information shall apply to all graduating classes through the graduating class of 2029.

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 following information shall apply beginning with the graduating class of 2030.

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: courses taken in grades 6-8 (with the exception of Algebra 1 and Geometry), 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, February, 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 according to the following:

1. Rank shall be determined after all grades are recorded.
2. Grades earned for all high school credit courses (except as noted below) shall be computed.
3. Final senior rank shall be determined after the third nine-week grading period of the student's senior year.

English

• English I or English I Honors or English I IH
• English II or English II Honors or English II IH  
• English III or English III Honors or English III Dc or AP English III (Includes American Studies) or IB English III
• English IV or English IV Honors or English IV Dc or AP English IV or IB English IV or Eng IV Substitutions*
• *Two Semesters of English 4 Substitution Courses Can Apply Only When Courses Are Used As a Substitution
• And Include: Literary Genres, Creative Writing, Research and Technical Writing, Oral Interpretation III
• Debate III, Independent Study in Speech, Independent Study in Journalism, Advanced Journalism
• Newspaper III, Journalism Yearbook III.

Mathematics

• Algebra I or Algebra I Honors or Algebra L IH
• Geometry or Geometry Honors or Geometry IH
• Math Models with Applications
• Algebra II or Algebra II Honors or Algebra II IH
• Advanced Quantitative Reasoning (AQR)
• Pre-calculus or Pre-calculus Honors or Pre-calculus Dc or Pre-calculus Ih or Ib Math Studies SL
• Ap Calculus Ab or Ap Calculus Bc or Ib Mathematics Analysis & Approaches SL or HL or IB
• Mathematics Applications & Interpretation SL or HL
• Statistics or Statistics DC
• AP Statistics
• AP Computer Science A or IB Computer Science HL
• Digital Electronics
• Accounting II Honors

Social Studies

• World Geography or World Geography Honors or AP Human Geography
• World History or World History Honors or AP World History (Includes Humanities)
• US History or US History DC or AP US History or IB History of the Americas (Includes American Studies)
• US Government or US Government Blended or US Government DC or AP   Government (Includes American Principles)
• Economics or Economics Blended or Economics DC or AP Economics Micro (Includes American Principles) or
• AP Economics Macro or Ib Economics SL/HL

Science 

• Biology or Biology Honors or Biology IH 
• Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) 
• Chemistry or Chemistry Honors or Chemistry IH
• Physics or Physics Honors or IB Physics SL
• AP Biology + Advanced Bio Lab or IB Biology SL/HLor Biology DC
• AP Chemistry + Advanced Chem Lab or IB Chemistry SL/HL 
• AP Physics C* or AP Physics 1/2** or IB Physics HL
• AP Environmental Science or Ib Environmental Systems Sl Environmental Systems 
• Earth and Space Science 
• Anatomy and Physiology 
• Engineering Science 
• Food Science
• Forensic Science 
• Engineering Design/Prob Solving 
• *AP Physics C Is a One-year Course Consisting of Two Separate Semester Courses (AP Physics C Mechanics and AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism)
•  **AP Physics 1/2 Is a One-year course Consisting of Two Separate Semester Courses (AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2)

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.