[yarddog]

I saw on the news a month or so back that 40 students in a local high school had perfect 4.0 averages when they graduated.

I graduated in 1965 and our valedictorian didn’t have a perfect average.

[TigerClaws]

4.0 is a low grade these days for valedictorians.

4.5 or so is now standard. If they take AP (advance placement, college credit) classes, they receive 5.0.

Met a mom last month. Her son had a 4.6 GPA.

[CommerceComet]

I saw on the news a month or so back that 40 students in a local high school had perfect 4.0 averages when they graduated. I graduated in 1965 and our valedictorian didn’t have a perfect average.

When I got my undergraduate degree from the flagship state university in 1979, someone was recognized for being the first person graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA in long period of time (15, 20 years something like that). BTW, it wasn't me. I now teach at a similar university and it doesn't even take the time to acknowledge the 4.0 graduates because it is not that uncommon (probably, a couple of hundred out of 5-6,000 graduates).

[hinckley buzzard]

Part of the problem is that now, unlike in the past, students acing Advanced Placement courses get a five, not a four, to average in to their GPA. That's how so many end up with 4.0's.

[CharlesWayneCT]

We got an extra point for “honors” courses, so your GPA was based on how many honors courses you wanted to take. I had a GPA above 4 but was barely in the top 5%. That was in 1977.

In fact, I audited a debate class my senior year, turned out I was pretty good at it, my partner really better, and we won the novice category in our state. Teacher decided to reward me by making me official and giving me an “A” in the class.

That pulled my GPA down.