HOPE Scholarship Information

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.

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 or call them at 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 = 4.0 Grades from = 3.0 Grades from = 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: – 5 = 86 = = 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: Honors Bio. A Math I A Math I B Health980.5 Step 1: Identify courses that count

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: Honors Bio. A Math I A Math I B880.5 Step 2: Identify Honors/AP and adjust bonus points.

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: Honors Bio. A Math I A Math I B880.5 Step 3: Convert grades to 4.0 scale.

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: Honors Bio. A Math I A Math I B Step 4: Adjust for AP courses. Step 5: Record converted scores on the worksheet and average: = 9 9/3 = 3.0

HOPE- Sample 2 Course:Grade:Credits: AP U.S. Hist. A Inter Band III A Inter Band III B Latin III A Latin III B820.5 Step 1: Identify courses that count

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: AP U.S. Hist. A Latin III A Latin III B820.5 Step 2: Identify Honors/AP and adjust bonus points.

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: AP U.S. Hist. A Latin III A Latin III B790.5 Step 3: Convert grades to 4.0 scale.

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: AP U.S. Hist. A Latin III A Latin III B Step 4: Adjust for AP courses.

HOPE Course:Grade:Credits: AP U.S. Hist. A Latin III A Latin III B Step 5: Record converted scores on the worksheet and average: = /3 = 2.83