GPA for Rank Policy

In 2018, FISD made a number of policy changes to encourage students to make course selections based on their individual interests and improve their chances of being admitted to colleges and universities of their choice. The adopted policy change was phased in with subsequent graduating classes.

Implementation Timeline

Beginning with the Class of 2019

Frisco ISD no longer publishes class rank beyond the top 10 percent of each graduating class. Transcripts of students in the top 10 percent show their position relative to the total class size, in addition to their unweighted grade point average (GPA), which is based on a traditional 4.0 scale, and their weighted GPA, which is used to determine class rank.

Transcripts for the remaining 90 percent of students show both GPAs, but not class rank, so colleges and universities will have to consider students for admission based on factors other than class rank. This is especially important when large numbers of students are separated by a tiny fraction of a point in the GPA for rank calculation.

The lowest-weighted GPA of seniors in the top 10 percent, first quartile, second quartile, and third quartile will be published in the Student Portal after each calculation period, so students will know generally where they fall in relation to their peers. Information for juniors, sophomores and freshmen will be published only in January and June.

Beginning with the Class of 2021

Beginning with the Class of 2021, juniors and seniors will have the option to designate one athletics or fine arts course each year to drop from the GPA for rank calculation. This option, which is voluntary and only applies to athletics and fine arts courses, is designed to encourage students to continue to pursue their interests and passions, without worrying about a potential negative impact to their GPA for rank. Eligible courses include:

• Athletics - competitive sport, manager, trainer

• Fine Arts - band, color guards, choir, orchestra, theatre, dance/drill team, cheer

Beginning with the Class of 2023

Beginning with the Class of 2023, FISD will adjust the weight given to specific types of courses. The new scale is as follows:

Tier III - 6.0 GPA Scale
Advanced Placement (AP)
International Baccalaureate (IB)

Other Designated Courses (specified in the FISD Academic Guide)

Tier II - 5.5 GPA Scale
Dual Credit Courses
Advanced Courses
Independent Study & Mentorship (ISM)
Academic Decathlon
Project Lead the Way (Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Digital Engineering, Engineering Design & Development)

Tier I - 5.0 GPA Scale
On-Level Courses

Beginning with the Class of 2024

Summer school, online courses, correspondence courses,  pre-approved World Language courses, pre-approved college courses, and courses taken for credit recovery will all be factored into the GPA for Rank.  Previously, these courses were exempted from the GPA for Rank.

Frequently Asked Questions