A passing grade means you’ve earned enough points to get credit for a high school class, keeping you on track to graduate. But what counts as passing?
In most U.S. high schools, a passing grade is typically a D or higher, which corresponds to a score of 60% or above on a 100-point scale. However, this can vary depending on your school or district. Some schools set the passing grade at 65% or even 70%, especially for core classes like Math, English, and Science. For example:
To graduate, most high schools require you to pass all core classes and earn a minimum number of credits. If you fail a class (below 60%), you might need to retake it or attend summer school to earn the credit. Some schools also require a minimum GPA (e.g., 2.0, which is a C average) to graduate.
Special Cases: Some classes, like Advanced Placement (AP) or honors courses, might have stricter passing requirements. Additionally, if you’re aiming for college, a D might technically be passing, but colleges often look for higher grades (C or above) in core subjects.
Use our Grade Calculator to input your scores and see if you’re passing. If you’re close to the passing threshold, our Grade Improvement Calculator can help you figure out what you need to pass.
Pro Tip: Aim for at least a C in your classes to keep your GPA strong for college applications. Check out our guide on How to Calculate Your High School Grades for more tips.
A passing grade for high school students is typically a D (60%) or higher, but it varies by school. Use our High School GPA Calculator at Grade-Calculator.io to track your grades, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
