Transcript – Credit requirements – Classes
US high school has no specific path regarding what classes you take each year. Certain courses are required for graduation, and you must take a set number of classes. You can also explore any study area you want at different difficulty levels. Each class usually counts for 1 credit, but some count for more.
Core vs. Elective classes vs. Study Blocks
Every year, you can take up to 8 classes
Core
Classes you have to take to graduate
- English 9, 10, 11, and 12
- Algebra I and II
- Geometry
- Another type of math (usually pre-calculous)
- Earth Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Another science (usually astronomy, physics, or oceanography)
- Health and PE (2)
- World Studies (2)
- VA and US History
- Government
- Fine Arts
- Economics and Personal Finance
- World Language (3)
Electives
Classes that fill the rest of your schedule
- 3 are required for graduation but you can take more
Study Blocks
- It’s a free block where you stay in a classroom
- Usually used to complete homework
- Good to take if you have a busy schedule or take difficult classes
In certain cases, you may be qualified for an excused block. This can be either a late arrival or an early release; seniors usually take it. If interested, talk to your counselor and see if you qualify.
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Grading System
Virginia Beach schools use the point grading system. Each assignment the student completes is worth a specific amount of points set by the teacher. The percentage of the points collected by the student out of all the points possible is the student’s grade.
percentage to letter grade
A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 64-66 E below 64
VB public schools: https://vbcoursecatalog.vbschools.com/grading-scale
Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA
Unweighted GPA
Unweighted GPA is a student’s GPA according to the letter grade they received on each course without counting the difficulty of the courses taken
The GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale:
A=4, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B=3, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C=2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D=1.0, E=O
| Grade | GPA |
|---|---|
| A | 4 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| Grade | GPA |
|---|---|
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| E | 0 |
Weighted GPA
Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment, and IB courses give students additional points toward their GPA because they are more difficult than core courses. Those additional points appear on the weighted GPA.This is how, on a 4.0 scale, students can have a GPA higher than 4.0.
| Grade | Semester Course | Year Course |
|---|---|---|
| A, A- | .0244 | .0488 |
| B+, B, B- | .0183 | .0366 |
| C+, C, C- | .0122 | .0244 |
| D+, D | .0061 | .0122 |
| E | 0 | 0 |
01
Core classes
- Easiest classes
- Satisfy credit requirements
- The final exam is given by the teacher
- Don’t give additional points for weighted GPA
02
Honors Classes
- A bit more advanced than core classes
- They can be used to satisfy the same requirements as core classes
- They give points toward weighted GPA
- The final exam is given by the teacher
03
AP Classes
- Offered by College Board
- They are more difficult than core and honors classes
- Considered college level for the US
- Give even more points than honors classes toward the weighted GPA
- The final exam offered by the teacher
- You can be exempt from the final if you take the AP test
- AP tests are used as a way of getting college credit
- When you take an AP class, your teacher will ask you to create an account on the College Board website and then sign into their class using their access code
- Resources like videos and practice problems exist on College Board’s website
04
International Baccalaureate (IB)
- International program has more advanced classes
- It is used to enter universities both in the US and abroad
- It is good for international students wanting to return to their country for college if their country accepts IB
- In Virginia Beach, this program is only offered in Princesse Anne High School
- You don’t have to live in the Princesse Anne school zone to attend the IB program
For more information:
05
Dual Enrollment
- College level courses
- You need to enroll in one of the regional community colleges to take them
- According to the program you chose, you may take the class or classes in your high school or in the college campus
- Each high school in VA Beach offers different dual enrollment classes
- If you are interested in cyber security, Tidewater Community College offers a program in collaboration with VB schools
- If you are interested in dual enrollment in general, talk to your counselor about the different opportunities your school offers
Transcript from your old school
To continue school on your grade in an American high school, you must bring your official school transcript from your old school and officially translate it to English if it isn’t already.
Because in Virginia you are able to take certain high school classes in middle school, bringing a transcript from your middle school, even f you are already in high school, could lead to the school recognizing more classes. In this way, you will need to take fewer classes for graduation or satisfy requirements for taking advanced classes early.
Remember that classes here may be recognized according to how many hours each course took to complete. To be awarded credit, you must have completed a specific number of hours in class. If you have completed less, you will either not get the credit or the hours will count towards the broader subject category the class belonged to. For example, I had already taken biology, physics, and chemistry in Greece. Still, none of those classes individually satisfied the time requirement to give me credit. Instead, the hours were combined, and I received two science credits that ended up covering my biology and chemistry requirements.