Education Commons^™

Comparing Weighted And Unweighted Grade Point Averages In Predicting College Success Of Diverse And Low-Income College Students, Russell Warne, Chanel Nagaishi, Michael Slade, Paul Hermesmeyer, Elizabeth Peck

Russell T Warne

While research has shown the statistical significance of high school grade point averages (HSGPAs) in predicting future academic outcomes, the systems with which HSGPAs are calculated vary drastically across schools. Some schools employ unweighted grades that carry the same point value regardless of the course in which they are earned; other schools use weighting systems that assign greater value to grades earned in honors courses. Due to these inconsistencies, comparison of HSGPAs from different schools is difficult or impossible. We coded 710 transcripts from undergraduate students involved in the Joint Admissions Medical Program in Texas. All grades were standardized on …