2014-2015

HOPE
SAA GPA vs. HOPE GPA
• Your SAA GPA is a part of your transcript and is the average of ALL of your grades, including arts classes,
PE/Health, and classes taken in middle school for high school credit. Rank is based on GPA.
• Your HOPE GPA is calculated by the state after senior year to determine eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.
It is not part of your high school record.

•
•
HOPE
Please Note:
Your HOPE GPA will be determined by the
Georgia Student Finance Commission, not by SAA or the Chatham County school system.
If you have any detailed questions or concerns, please feel free to visit the
Georgia Student Finance Commission website at www.gsfc.org
or call them at 1-
800-505-GSFC.

HOPE
•
Identify Courses That Count Towards Your HOPE
GPA
Academic subjects only (English, Math, Science,
Social Studies, Foreign Language).
• No courses taken in middle school. (Note: these courses are a part of your transcript and do count for graduation.)
• No PE or Arts courses.
• Check course numbers if you’re not sure if a class is considered academic.

HOPE
Identify Honors and AP Courses & Adjust
Bonus Points
• Honors and AP course numbers end in 51,
52, or 95. This is the only certain way to identify Honors and AP courses.
• Subtract 3 points from the transcript grade for Honors courses and 5 points for AP courses.

HOPE
Convert Grades To The 4.0 Scale
• Grades from 90-100 = 4.0
• Grades from 80-89 = 3.0
• Grades from 70-79 = 2.0
• Grades from 0-69 = 0.0

HOPE
Adjust For AP Courses
• If your converted grade for an AP class is 2.0 or 3.0, add .5.
• Your converted grade for an AP class should be 4.0, 3.5, 2.5, or 0.
Example:
AP U.S. History Grade: 91 91 – 5 = 86 = 3.0 + .5 = 3.5

HOPE
Record the converted grades on the worksheet.
• Make sure all of your courses are .5 credit. If you have a high school class that says 1.0 credit, let me know.

HOPE
Calculate Your Hope Average
• Add all of your converted grades and divide by the total number of boxes you used on your worksheet.

Rigor Requirements
Class of 2017 & Beyond
Four rigorous classes are required for HOPE eligibility. SAA students may meet this requirement by taking Advanced Algebra, Pre-
Calculus, Chemistry, Physics,
French/Spanish/Portuguese II and III, an AP course in a core subject area, an advanced world language class, or other classes from the state list.

HOPE
Your GPA
•
•
A HOPE GPA of 3.7 (no rounding) combined with an SAT score of 1200 (CR+M) in one sitting or ACT score of 26 makes you eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship.
A HOPE GPA of 3.0 (no rounding) is required for the regular HOPE Scholarship.

HOPE- Sample
Course: Grade: Credits:
26.0120051
Honors Bio. A 82
27.0810011
Math I A 90
27.0810012
Math I B
17.0110011
Health
88
98
Step 1: Identify courses that count
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

HOPE
Course: Grade:
26.0120051
27.0810011
27.0810012
Honors Bio. A 82
Math I A 90
Math I B 88
Credits:
0.5
0.5
0.5
Step 2: Identify Honors/AP and adjust bonus points.

HOPE
Course: Grade: Credits:
26.0120051
27.0810011
27.0810012
Honors Bio. A 79
Math I A 90
Math I B 88
Step 3: Convert grades to 4.0 scale.
0.5
0.5
0.5

HOPE
Course: Grade: Credits:
26.0120051
Honors Bio. A 79 2.0
27.0610011
Math I A 90 4.0
27.0610012
Math I B 88 3.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
Step 4: Adjust for AP courses.
Step 5: Record converted scores on the worksheet and average:
2 + 4 + 3 = 9 9/3 = 3.0

HOPE- Sample 2
Course: Grade:
45.0820051 AP U.S. Hist. A 91
53.0373011
Inter Band III A 92
53.0373012
Inter Band III B 98
60.0430051
Latin III A
60.0430052
Latin III B
88
82
Step 1: Identify courses that count
Credits:
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5

HOPE
Course: Grade:
45.0820051 AP U.S. Hist. A 91
60.0430051
Latin III A 88
60.0430052
Latin III B 82
Credits:
0.5
0.5
0.5
Step 2: Identify Honors/AP and adjust bonus points.

HOPE
Course: Grade: Credits:
45.0820051 AP U.S. Hist. A 86
60.0430051
Latin III A 85
60.0430052
Latin III B 79
Step 3: Convert grades to 4.0 scale.
0.5
0.5
0.5

HOPE
Course: Grade:
45.0820051 AP U.S. Hist. A 86 3.0
60.0430051
Latin III A 85 3.0
60.0430052
Latin III B 79 2.0
Step 4: Adjust for AP courses.
Credits:
0.5
0.5
0.5

HOPE
Course: Grade: Credits:
45.0820051 AP U.S. Hist. A 86 3.5
60.0430051
Latin III A 85 3.0
60.0430052
Latin III B 79 2.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
Step 5: Record converted scores on the worksheet and average:
3.5 + 3 + 2 = 8.5 8.5/3 = 2.83