Recalculation of Weighted GPA – Update

At its June meeting, the Board of Education adopted a new method for calculating student weighted grade point average (WGPA). The new calculation addressed shortcomings in the traditional District 211 method of calculating WGPAs, that being a student’s WGPA would be reduced if the student took additional regular level courses, even if the student earned straight As in all courses. The adopted weighting boost is .1333.

After this new method was adopted, a retired mathematics teacher studied the matter and informed us of an unintended negative consequence. In order to rectify this situation, a weighting boost must be used that will satisfy two conditions:
1.) A student must not be encouraged to drop weighted classes for regular-level classes on an effort to earn a higher WGPA by taking fewer weighted classes and earning a higher grade in the regular-level class; and,
2.) A student’s WGPA must not be reduced simply because the student chooses to take additional regular-level classes.

After additional research and calculations, the weighted boost of .22225 was adopted by the Board at the October 12, 2006 meeting because it satisfies the two requirements listed above.

Additional information on the new equation to calculate weighted grade point values is available at: http://www.d211.org/pdf/wgpa_adjustment.pdf.