Georgia HOPE & Zell Miller GPA Calculator
Quick answer: GSFC recalculates a HOPE GPA from your core courses only (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language): A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0, with no plus or minus. AP, IB and dual enrollment core courses get +0.5 on a B, C, D or F — not on an A — and honors courses get nothing extra. HOPE needs a 3.00 and four rigor credits; Zell Miller needs a 3.70, four rigor credits and an SAT of 1200 or ACT of 25.
Georgia HOPE & Zell Miller calculator
How GSFC calculates the HOPE GPA
Only core courses count: English (course numbers beginning 23), mathematics (27), science (26 or 40), social studies (45), foreign language (60–64), the GaDOE fourth-science list and, from the class of 2027, GaDOE-approved advanced fine arts. Enter just those courses — an elective such as track and field does not count.
GSFC: “an ‘A’ equals 4.0, ‘B’ equals 3.0, ‘C’ equals 2.0, ‘D’ equals 1.0, and ‘F’ equals 0. Note: There is not a separate scale for grades that include a plus (+) or minus (-), example “B-“ equals 3.0.” “The high school HOPE GPA calculation will count all attempts of the same course, if taken more than once.”
“From the eligible core courses, any weighting added by the high school is removed, then half a point (0.5) is added back to grades of ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘F’ for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment (DE) degree-level core courses.” An A gets nothing extra, honors courses are not weighted, and “The HOPE Scholarship GPA calculation does not allow for any rounding.”
| Grade | Regular or honors core course | AP, IB or dual enrollment core course |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.5 |
GSFC’s own example: AP English Literature C (2.5), GSE Algebra I B (3.0) and dual enrollment Ethnic Studies B (3.5), one credit each, give 9 quality points over 3 credits = 3.0; Advanced Track and Field is not a core course and is left out.
HOPE and Zell Miller requirements
| HOPE Scholarship | Zell Miller Scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| HOPE GPA at graduation | 3.00 | 3.70 (or 3.00 as named Zell Miller valedictorian or salutatorian) |
| Rigor credits | 4 full credits | 4 full credits |
| Test score | — | SAT 1200 or ACT 25, single administration, before graduation (not needed for valedictorian or salutatorian) |
Rigor credits come from the Academic Rigor Course List: advanced math, advanced science, foreign language, and AP, IB or dual enrollment degree-level core courses. The calculator counts AP/IB/dual enrollment rows as rigor automatically; tick “Rigor list” for other courses on the list. The ACT equivalent of SAT 1200 is a 25 for students who graduate after 31 December 2023, and GSFC says it can change each year.
These requirements are for graduates of an eligible (accredited) high school or accredited home study program. Graduates of other schools qualify through test scores instead — see GSFC’s pages.
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia HOPE count plus and minus grades?
Do honors classes count extra for HOPE?
Does a retaken course replace the old grade for HOPE?
Is my HOPE GPA rounded?
What score do I need for Zell Miller?
Sources
- GSFC: Understanding the High School HOPE GPA — core courses, grade values, plus/minus, weighting, repeats, rounding, worked example
- GSFC: HOPE Scholarship initial academic eligibility — 3.0 HOPE GPA and four rigor credits
- GSFC: Zell Miller Scholarship initial academic eligibility — 3.7, rigor, SAT 1200 / ACT 25, valedictorian and salutatorian route
- GSFC: Academic Rigor Course List (September 2026) — courses that count as rigor credits
All are official state documents, checked on 2026-10-01.