Q&A: Can I Raise My GPA With Online Courses?
Answer: It is possible to raise your GPA while taking online courses, but it will be completely dependent on your school district's rules and regulations. Typically, it would be permissible for a student to take a course for a second time and be simultaneously enrolled in both the traditional school and the online course. Taking more than one online course per quarter or semester may, nevertheless, prove to be difficult.
If you do earn a higher grade in the online course, the low grade could be removed from your high school transcript and thus improve your overall GPA. It may not be possible to be enrolled in more than one online course, as this could jeopardize your success in your regular course load. Regulations will vary depending on your school district's polices.
Before enrolling in an online course, it would be wise for you to seek pre-approval from your school guidance counselor, so that you are certain the credit will be accepted before completing all of the coursework. The online school should be able to provide you with a course description, but it will be up to your school district to decide if the credit is transferrable.
Many online courses available for kindergarten through 12th grades offer students an individualized approach to learning. Courses may be taught for mastery, which means that after completing a pre-assessment of course material, students could be exempt from having to repeat all of the course content. Be aware, though, that enrollment guidelines for credit recovery courses will vary for each online school. Students with dual enrollment in an online credit recovery course and their local high school need to stay motivated to remain on track with both, which will require both organization and time management skills.
Christi Wilson is a credentialed teacher of highly-gifted students in Northern Nevada. She has 11 years of classroom teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in education leadership, and has even taught K-12 education online. A mother of three busy boys, she knows how important it is to keep students engaged in the classroom and interested in a lifetime of learning.