How to get a 5.0 GPA

This isn’t about cheating the system, it’s about leveling the playing field.

Nabila Wilson Story Helen Beebe Graphics

1To achieve a 5.0 GPA, you must take all 5.0 classes and achieve all As. Right now, to be in the top 10%, some Take all 5.0 classes 4.0s are OK, but I prefer to reserve my 4.0s for times when I’m taking hard classes and might end up getting a B even though I worked really hard.

Using your 4.0s for electives or classes that don’t have to be a 4.0 is a waste of points if you wish to be in the top 10%. To make sure you don’t waste these points, you must follow the guidelines below.

2You must take gym and health

BEFORE your freshman year of high school

These are both required 4.0 classes, but if you take them before you start high school, they won’t be factored into your GPA. Health can be completed online and it’s very short (I finished the entire class in a single week). Check the Bellaire website around April to find info on how to sign up.

Gym must be completed in-person at Bellaire, but it’s still pretty easy and better than taking it during the school year (which is honestly pretty boring). Check the Bellaire website around April to find info on how to sign up.

If you take gym before your freshman year, you can get that credit out of the way. As of November 2022, you are able to convert up to two elective classes (aka 4.0s) to pass or fail so that it doesn’t affect your GPA. This exemption does not apply to your initial credit but it does mean once you get your initial PE credit out of the way, you can take Belles, dance or any sport class without negatively impacting your GPA.

3Take a language class in middle school

Bellaire requires two language credits for graduation, so you can either do one or both of these while in middle school. All language one classes are 4.0s (for example, Spanish 1), but you can take every subsequent class on the HADV 5.0 level (aka Spanish 2, 3, etc).

This also means you’ll be ahead in languages, so you can either take more advanced classes while in high school (like Spanish 5) or simply have an extra free period your junior or senior year.

4Get a fine arts credit in middle school or take a HADV/AP fine arts class

Some middle schools offer “high school” arts credits, whether that’s in the form of an advanced theater, art, or photography class. You can also take a 5.0 fine arts at Bellaire such as Pre-IB/HADV Art and AP Music Theory. There are some other 5.0 classes that act as “honors” art classes that could fulfill this requirement but they are mostly higher-level courses that only juniors or seniors qualify for. However, if you took advanced classes in middle school, you might be able to test into these classes. I would email your prospective teachers to ask if you’re unsure.

Note: Because of Bellaire’s new option to convert two 4.0 credits to pass/fail, once you have gotten your fine arts credit out of the way, you can utilize this policy for up to two classes. So if you want to take a fun art or theater class after you get your first credit, you can do so without hurting your GPA.

For now, this game is here to stay, and I don’t want anyone to be left out of a chance of winning just because they don’t learn a couple tricks.

Whether or not you’re determined to become one of our many valedictorians, your GPA and the classes you take are really important (trust me, I know, I’m currently applying to college) but most people don’t think about it until it’s too late.