Understanding the High School Grades & Graduation Requirements Tabs
Keeping track of your student’s academic progress is one of the best ways to support them throughout high school. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the High School Grades and Graduation Requirements tabs in Focus so you can better understand your student’s GPA, credits, and graduation progress.
Understanding the Grades Tab
The High School Grades tab provides important information about your student’s academic standing and progress toward graduation.
Cumulative GPA
You’ll notice two GPA categories listed:
- Unweighted Cumulative GPA
This GPA is based on a standard 4.0 scale and does not include additional points for advanced courses. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 unweighted GPA to graduate. - Weighted Cumulative GPA
This is the GPA most colleges and universities review on transcripts. It includes additional quality points for advanced courses such as: - Honors
- AP (Advanced Placement)
- Dual Enrollment
For example, earning an “A” in an Honors course may count higher than a standard 4.0 value. Because of this, a student’s weighted GPA may be significantly higher than their unweighted GPA.
Core GPA
The Core GPA reflects grades earned specifically in core academic subjects. While important, the weighted cumulative GPA is typically the primary metric colleges consider during admissions.
Credits Attempted vs. Credits Earned
You’ll also see:
- Total Credits Attempted
- Total Credits Earned
If these numbers do not match, it may indicate that a student failed one or more classes and did not earn credit for them.
Understanding the Graduation Requirements Tab
The Graduation Requirements tab is one of the most helpful tools for tracking your student’s progress toward earning a diploma.
First Step: Enable “Show Detailed”
Before reviewing the page, make sure the “Show Detailed” checkbox in the top-right corner is selected. This allows you to see a detailed breakdown of completed, failed, and currently enrolled courses.
Graduation Requirements Overview
The page is divided into several columns that explain:
- Required subject areas
- Credits needed to graduate
- Credits still remaining
- Courses already completed
- Courses currently in progress
Students must earn a total of 24 credits to graduate.
Subject Area Requirements
Examples of graduation requirements include:
- 4 English credits
- Algebra 1 or equivalent
- Geometry or equivalent
- Additional Mathematics credits
- Science credits
- Electives
It’s important to note that specific required courses like Algebra 1 and Geometry are separate requirements in addition to the total math credits required.
Understanding the Status Indicators
The Graduation Requirements tab uses symbols and colors to help you quickly understand your student’s progress.
Check Marks
- Green Check Mark
The requirement has been completed successfully. - Check Mark with “Pending” or Hourglass
The student is currently enrolled in a course that will fulfill the requirement once completed successfully.
Understanding Course Colors
Each course listed is color-coded:
- Green = Passed
- Yellow = Currently Enrolled
- Red = Failed
This makes it easy to quickly identify completed courses and areas that may need attention.
Understanding Credits
Next to each course, you’ll see a number such as:
- 1.0 = One full credit earned
- 0.5 = Half credit earned
- 0.0 = No credit earned (course failed)
You’ll also notice labels like:
- Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 = Quarter-based courses
- S1, S2 = Semester-based courses
These indicate when the course was taken.
Final Thoughts
The Grades and Graduation Requirements tabs are valuable tools for staying informed about your student’s academic progress. By regularly reviewing GPA information, credits earned, and graduation requirements, families can better support students and ensure they stay on track for graduation.
If you have additional questions about your student’s progress, please reach out to your school counselor or academic advisor for assistance.