What grades do you need to pass high school?

Learn more about High School Grade Requirements in Arizona.

Students in high school are required to pass a minimum of 22 credits in order to graduate. The minimum passing grade is a D, or 60%. Some high schools have a minimum GPA requirement to graduate high school, but the state of Arizona expects you to pass all the required classes. At the Rose Academies, we use a mastery grading system. The minimum passing grade for each class is a C.

What is GPA?

GPA, also known as Grade Point Average, is a number that represents your average grade in all your classes.

If you’ve already started high school, you have a few classes on your high school transcripts already.

Here are a few examples of what your GPA might look like:

If you have all As, your GPA is a 4.0.
If you have all Bs, your GPA is a 3.0.
If you have a mix between As and Bs your GPA is around a 3.5.
If you have all Ds, your GPA is a 1.0.

How is my GPA Calculated?

The first thing to know is that every grade you get – A, B, C, D or F – is associated with a number. The traditional GPA scale works like this:

A – 4 points
B – 3 points
C – 2 points
D- 1 points
F – 0 points

It’s important to keep track of your own grades so you know if you’re on track to pass high school. You can calculate your own GPA by adding up the points for each of your grades and then dividing by the number of grades you added. This will give you your “Grade Point Average.” Check out the example below and try it out yourself. You can also check out this online GPA Calculator!

Why do grades matter?

Have you ever wondered why grades matter? In high school, your teachers, family and friends are probably asking you if you’re keeping your grades up and passing your classes. Why does it matter?

First of all, it’s important to make sure you are at least passing your classes with a D or higher. If you fall below a 60% in any of your classes you will not pass the class, you don’t get credit for taking the class, and you have to take the class again to pass high school! Nobody wants that! Some schools have higher requirements, like the Rose Academies use a mastery grading system. The minimum passing grade for each class is a C.

Depending on what you want to do after high school, your grades may have an impact on what your choices are after you graduate. Do you want to go to college? Are you interested in attending a technical school? What are you plans?

What grade do you need to get into programs or colleges after high school?

Whether you’re just starting high school or getting ready to finish up, it’s important to look towards the future and make sure you have everything you need to reach your goals.

If your goal is to attend a college, take some time to look at the colleges you are interested in to see what their class requirements and minimum GPA are to be admitted.

For example, in Tucson, the University of Arizona prefers incoming freshmen to have a 3.0 GPA. Other programs at the U of A, like the Nursing program, require a 3.5 GPA. Every college has its own requirements, so make sure to check them out so you know what goals you are reaching for. The University of Arizona also has additional class requirements to be admitted including two years of a foreign language. Each school has different requirements so make sure you check them out!

If your goal is to attend a trade school after high school, you will most likely need your high school diploma. Each trade school has different requirements, so take some time to look at what options are available to you.

For example, Pima Medical Institute and the Tucson College of Beauty both require a high school diploma or GED, but they do not have a minimum GPA requirement. They also don’t require any additional classes. However, Pima Medical Institute and other similar programs do require an entrance exam to make sure you have basic skills to be successful in your coursework.

If your goal is to get a job right after high school, you may not have a minimum GPA requirement, but many jobs still prefer you to have a high school diploma as a job requirement. In addition, as you get older, you may decide you want to attend a college or trade school.

No matter what your goals are, take time to set your goals and talk to your teachers and your principal to make sure you have the grades you need to pass high school and reach your future goals!