Need Help Reading My High School Transcript

So I recently got a copy of my high school transcript, and I'm having a tough time understanding some of the terms and abbreviations on it. Could somebody explain what a high school transcript generally contains and how I can interpret it? Thanks!

Sure, I'd be happy to help you understand your high school transcript! High school transcripts generally include the following information:

1. Personal Information: Your name, birthdate, the name of your high school, your graduation year, and sometimes, your student ID number.

2. Coursework: This section lists the classes you took, often organized by academic year or term (e.g., semester, trimester, or quarter system). You'll see class titles, course codes, and the level of difficulty (e.g., regular, honors, AP/IB).

3. Grades: Your final grades for each course are included, usually represented as letter grades (A, B, C, etc.), percentages, or numerical grades (on a scale, like 1.0-4.0 or 1.0-7.0). This might vary based on your school's grading system.

4. Credits: The number of credits you earned for each class is listed, reflecting how much the course contributes to your overall graduation requirements. Credits can be semester-based or year-long, and the total number of credits required for graduation may also be stated.

5. GPA: Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is typically listed, either as a weighted or unweighted number, or both. Unweighted GPAs are calculated on a 4.0 scale (regardless of course difficulty), while weighted GPAs include extra points for honors, AP, or IB classes and may be on a 5.0 or 6.0 scale. Your transcript will probably show both a cumulative GPA (overall) and yearly GPAs.

6. Class Rank: Some schools provide class rank, which reflects your academic standing relative to your peers. It can be expressed as a rank (e.g., 35 out of 240) or as a percentile (e.g., top 15%). Not all schools include this information, however.

7. Standardized Test Scores: Some transcripts also include standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT. However, not all schools list these scores, and colleges may still require official score reports.

To understand the abbreviations on your transcript, it might be helpful to know a few common ones:

- H: Honors

- AP: Advanced Placement

- IB: International Baccalaureate

- DE or DC: Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit

- P or S: Pass or Satisfactory (for pass/fail courses)

- W: Withdrawal (if you dropped a course after a certain deadline)

If you see abbreviations that you cannot decipher, it's a good idea to check with your high school counselor or consult your school's course catalog for explanations. That way, you can ensure you accurately understand your coursework, your academic standing, and your progress towards graduation. Good luck!