5 Things to Know About Grades and Course Selection

Each spring, Winsor students have the opportunity to select their courses for the following year, and it’s natural for questions about college to surface during this process. While colleges encourage students to challenge themselves in the most rigorous curriculum available, that broad advice can be difficult to interpret in the context of a demanding school like Winsor, where every course is taught at a high level.

Here are five things to understand about course selection and grades at Winsor:

How can a student be sure they are meeting the expectations for future college applications?

Every Winsor student pursues a full and balanced academic program. By meeting our graduation requirements alone, students automatically meet—and typically exceed—the expectations of selective colleges. All Winsor students take four years each of English and mathematics, along with three to four years of science, history, and foreign language. In their senior year, some students may choose to “double up” in a particular area—such as science, history, or the arts—to deepen their study in a field that especially interests them.

At Winsor, is it better to take an honors class and get a lower grade or a lower-level class and have a higher grade?

This common question rarely has a simple answer. While colleges value academic rigor, they also place great importance on grades—so the real goal is finding the right balance between challenge and sustainability. Each student’s situation is unique, and it’s essential to consider the whole picture: academic interests, extracurricular commitments, and personal well-being. Taking the most demanding possible schedule may look impressive on paper, but if it leaves little room for rest, curiosity, or other passions, it may not serve the student best in the long run.

Does Winsor calculate a GPA?

Winsor calculates an unweighted cumulative GPA on a standard 4.0 scale, with grades assigned as follows: A = 4.0, A– = 3.67, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, and so on. In these calculations, grades are weighted by credit, and only final course grades are included.

Students sometimes worry that this single number will determine their college admission results, but that’s truly not the case. GPA is just one small part of a much bigger picture—colleges look closely at the rigor of a student’s courses, the patterns in their academic growth, and the many ways they contribute to their school community.

Why doesn’t Winsor give extra credit or weight for honors and AP classes in the GPA?  

Because Winsor is a small school where students follow a rigorous, fairly similar curriculum, weighting the GPA doesn’t add much value for colleges. In fact, many colleges recalculate GPAs during their review process so they can evaluate a student’s record according to their own priorities and standards. 

Interpreting grades and school environment accurately is a crucial part of an admission officer’s work—and one they take seriously. Winsor provides detailed context about our curriculum and course offerings to ensure that each transcript is reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.

How do colleges compare Winsor GPAs to those of other schools? 

While GPA is often used as shorthand for a student’s overall academic record, colleges do not compare GPAs across different high schools, and admission officers understand that grading systems and course offerings vary widely from school to school. Admission decisions are based on multiple factors, and every student’s story is different.

Final Thoughts

In the College Counseling Office, we are happy to meet with students of any grade to discuss their course choices. Our goal is to help students make thoughtful, balanced choices that reflect their interests and priorities.