Great Hearts Arizona Adds College Level Designation to Every 10th–12th Grade Course

When Arizona families look at a Great Hearts transcript or report card, you may notice something new beside every 10th, 11th, and 12th grade course: a “CL” designation. Those two letters now identify the courses as College Level, reflecting the depth of the Great Hearts curriculum and complementing expanded college credit opportunities such as Dual Enrollment, AP (Advanced Placement) Exams, and CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Exams.

So, what does that mean for your student in plain language? Every course your 10th, 11th, or 12th grader takes at Great Hearts is now officially designated as College Level. In practical terms, that designation gives colleges, scholarship committees, and other postsecondary programs a clearer picture of the rigor of your student’s academic experience and the level of coursework they have completed during their time in high school.

“All transcripts will now reflect the updated CL course titles regardless of whether the student is registered to earn dual enrollment credit through our university partners,” explained Director of College Counseling, Roslyn Fletcher. “This update may benefit students when applying for admission and during scholarship consideration at universities who recalculate GPA and give weight to college level coursework.”

 This designation is another benefit for our college-bound scholars that has been brought about by the hard work of our college counseling program. Beginning as early as freshmen year, our counselors provide intentional guidance, personalized support, and access to meaningful college and career exploration opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. Through many initiatives, Great Hearts students are equipped to pursue colleges and universities that align with both their intellectual formation and long-term goals.

Fletcher added that when students apply for college admission, there are typically three ways in which a high school transcript is evaluated:

1. The unweighted GPA is taken directly from the high school transcript.
2. The weighted GPA is taken directly from the high school transcript.
3. The university recalculates the GPA. 

Below you will find a handful of examples of universities who have policies that allow for recalculation and give weight to college level or dual enrollment coursework. For additional information please reach out to your academy’s college counselor or Fletcher at Roslyn.Fletcher@GreatHearts.org.

• University of Florida: Dual-enrollment courses in academic core areas and any AP, IB or AICE classes receive an extra 1.0 credit weight, meaning that an A is worth a 5.0 on a 4.0 scale. https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/freshman/our-decision-process
• Florida State University: Grades of “C” or better in academic core dual enrollment courses, AICE, AP, and IB coursework will be weighted and receive one point in the GPA recalculation. https://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/undergraduate-information/admissions
• University of Tennessee: In the core academic subjects, your GPA will be weighted by UT to reflect honors courses (0.5 quality points added), Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge AS and A Level, International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment courses (1.0 quality points added). https://admissions.utk.edu/undergraduate-application/first-year-information/
• University  of Oregon: Weight is added to grades based on certain types of rigor recognized in a particular course. Weight is only added for courses in which a grade of a “C-” or better is received. Courses completed and listed on the high school transcript in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge (AICE), or Dual Enrollment (College in High School) receive one (1) weight point (As are worth 5 instead of 4, Bs 4 instead of 3, etc.). https://admissions.uoregon.edu/self-reported-transcript-and-academic-record-system

This massive benefit is through the efforts of the Great Hearts Arizona Prep School Promise, where the high school experience at our classical academies is being reimagined based on feedback from families. For over 20 years, Great Hearts has provided families with the best in classical education, and now, without compromising what sets our academies apart, we’re taking it to the next level. 

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.