Understanding the South Carolina GPA Calculation Method

Navigating the GPA calculation system in South Carolina can seem complex, especially with variations between districts and the transition to a 10-point grading scale. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how GPA is calculated in South Carolina, covering aspects relevant to high school students, college students at the University of South Carolina, and the impact of these calculations on academic opportunities.

High School GPA Calculation in South Carolina

The South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale is the standard method used to calculate GPA and determine class rank for high school students. This applies to all courses carrying Carnegie units, including those earned in middle or junior high school.

Uniform GPA Calculation Formula

The GPA is calculated uniformly across all schools using a standardized formula. This formula yields a student’s GPA, which is then used to rank students from highest to lowest in their class. It's important to note that GPA computations are not rounded to a higher number.

Grading Scale and Quality Points

The Kershaw County School District adopted a 10-point grading scale for grades 1-12 starting in the 2016-17 school year. This change aimed to create a more equitable environment for students competing for academic and athletic awards, as well as scholarships. Additionally, this shift facilitates a smoother transition into higher education, where colleges and universities generally use the 10-point grading scale.

The 10-point scale sets the floor for a passing grade (D) at 60, a C at 70, a B at 80, and an A at 90. GPAs are derived from the quality points associated with each numeric grade a student earns in a course.

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Transitioning Between Grading Scales

As of August 15, 2016, all GPAs earned under the previous 7-point scale were locked. High school students' GPAs are calculated using a combination of the grading scales under which the credits were earned. For instance, a student's final GPA might be determined using a combination of years under the 10-point grading scale and years under the previous 7-point grading scale.

Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA

Unweighted GPA: This uses a 4.0 scale for every class, irrespective of the course's difficulty.
Weighted GPA: This assigns additional points to advanced courses, such as Honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses, to reflect their increased difficulty. High schools often add +0.5 for Honors courses and +1.0 for AP/IB courses to the grade’s point value before it's multiplied by the number of credits. Weighted GPAs can exceed 4.0 due to these additional points.

Inclusion of Coursework

In most districts, all coursework from 9th through 12th grade is included in the cumulative GPA.

Calculating GPA: Step-by-Step

Convert each course grade into GPA points.
Multiply those points by the course’s credits.
Total the quality points.
Divide the total quality points by the total credits.

Semester Grades and Final Exams

Semester grades are typically determined by a weighted percentage of the two nine-week grades. Each nine-week grade often accounts for 50% of the semester grade. Semester or yearly final exams (excluding state-mandated exams) are usually calculated into the concurrent grading period.

University of South Carolina Grading System

The University of South Carolina employs a specific grading system that affects how undergraduate course credit is granted and how GPAs are calculated.

Passing Grades

Undergraduate course credit is granted only for earned grades of A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, or S. S and U indicate satisfactory (passing) and unsatisfactory (failing) performance, respectively, in courses taken on a pass-fail basis.

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Non-Attendance Grades

FN (Failure-Non Attendance) and UN (Unsatisfactory-Non Attendance) grades are assigned to students who never attended or stopped attending class without officially dropping or withdrawing. Faculty must provide the last date of attendance when assigning these grades, which is used to recalculate awarded funds for financial aid recipients.

Withdrawal Grade

W is assigned for withdrawals after late registration through the last day to withdraw without penalty. In exceptional cases, W may indicate satisfactory performance in courses from which students withdraw after the deadline, often due to medical reasons or other extenuating circumstances.

Incomplete Grade

"I" (Incomplete) is assigned at the instructor's discretion when a student faces a significant disruption affecting their ability to complete coursework. The instructor must complete an Assignment of Incomplete Form, and the student has up to 12 months to complete the work. If the student does not meet the deadline, the "I" converts to an "F" or a designated back-up grade. The grade of “I” does not affect the computation of GPA until a permanent grade is assigned.

No Record Grade

NR (No Record) is assigned by an instructor to indicate a registration or attendance problem. It is a temporary mark and must be replaced by a grade. An NR is changed to a grade of F after one semester if no other grade can be obtained from the instructor.

GPA Calculation at the University of South Carolina

The grade point average is computed based on all semester hours attempted for credit within the University of South Carolina, except for hours carried on a pass-fail basis. Grade points earned in courses with a passing grade are calculated by multiplying the number of semester hour credits assigned to the course by a factor determined by the grade:

A: 4
B+: 3.5
B: 3
C+: 2.5
C: 2
D+: 1.5
D: 1

The GPA is determined by dividing the sum total of all grade points by the total number of hours attempted for credit (excluding hours carried on a pass-fail basis).

Grade Forgiveness Policy

Effective with the Fall 2007-2008 academic year, the University of South Carolina allows currently enrolled, fully-admitted, degree-seeking undergraduates earning a D+, D, F, or WF in a USC course to retake up to two undergraduate courses for grade forgiveness. Both the first and second grades appear on the USC permanent record, but only the second grade is used in computing the overall GPA.

To qualify for grade forgiveness, students must submit a written request to the dean of their school. Certain conditions apply:

Only a regular letter grade can replace a forgiven grade.
Grades of W, I, S, U, or AUDIT may not replace previous grades.
Courses intended to be repeated for additional credit are not eligible.
Students who have been granted Academic Forgiveness to reset the GPA after readmission are not eligible for course grade forgiveness.

Additional Considerations for GPA Calculation

Courses That Count Towards GPA

If a course awards both credit and a letter grade, it generally counts toward GPA. However, some districts may exclude certain non-academic electives, so it’s important to consult the school’s official grading policy.

Pass/Fail Grades

A Pass (P) grade gives credit but does not affect GPA because it has no point value. A Fail (F or NP) is typically 0.0 and lowers the GPA.

Grade Replacement and Averaging Policies

Some high schools use a grade-replacement policy, where the new grade replaces the old one in GPA calculations. Others use grade averaging, where both attempts remain on the transcript. These policies vary widely.

A+ Grade Capping

Many schools cap A+ grades at 4.0 on the unweighted scale, while others award 4.3.

How Colleges View GPAs

Colleges typically review both weighted and unweighted GPAs to understand a student’s performance and the rigor of their coursework. They also examine the transcript to see which courses were Honors, AP, or IB.

Impact of the 10-Point Grading Scale

The transition to the 10-point grading scale in South Carolina aimed to benefit students by leveling the playing field for academic and athletic awards and facilitating a smoother transition to higher education. The new scale adjusts the thresholds for passing grades and other letter grades, potentially impacting students' GPAs and their competitiveness for scholarships and college admissions.

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