Skip To Main Content

What is Laude?

Students seated with the graduation gowns on

 

The Laude system recognizes students who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and complete high-level coursework in grades 9 through 12. Students are awarded Laude points for each completed pre-approved Advanced Placement, Honors and Dual Enrollment course. In their senior year, a student's laude status is noted on their final transcript and they receive a Laude cord to be worn at graduation. 

Laude Honor Distinctions 

  • Cum Laude (honor distinction) — 15 to 24 points
  • Magna Cum Laude (great honor distinction) — 25 to 34 points
  • Summa Cum Laude (highest honor distinction) — 35 or more points

Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Courses

All courses at D.C. Everest are designed to provide students with the skills they need to be successful upon graduating. In addition, specific courses — Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment — offer students the opportunity to earn college credits in high school while pursuing advanced learning opportunities. These college-level courses:

  • Require a higher level of commitment and engagement as students explore advanced content at a faster pace and in more depth
  • May require students to complete coursework during the summer in advance of the school year
  • Involve additional work outside of the classroom
  • Provide students with the knowledge, understanding, analytical and study skills necessary for advanced study

The general distinctions between AP and DE courses are as follows:

Advanced Placement with an apple

 

Advanced Placement

  • AP courses follow a national, standardized entry-level college curriculum
  • To potentially earn college credit students must take a national AP exam at the end of the year and typically earn a score of 3 or better
  • Universities/colleges — and their specific programs — have varying rules concerning what AP scores a student must earn for college credit at their institution
 
Duel Enrollment with College Building

 

Dual Enrollment

  • DE courses follow the specific curriculum of a school (for example, Northcentral Technical College, UW-Stevens Point, etc.)
  • To potentially earn college credit, the student must pass the course 
  • Universities/colleges — and their specific programs — have varying rules concerning what DE courses are accepted for college credit at their institution

Here is a list of the current Duel Enrollment Courses

Graduation Cords

To recognize high-achieving students, the District awards a variety of cords that are worn by students at graduation.

  • Gold cords — Summa Cum Laude
  • Silver cords — Magna Cum Laude
  • Bronze cords — Cum Laude
  • Purple cords — Global Scholar
  • White cords — National Honor Society Member

Academic Letter

Each year the D.C. Everest School District presents academic letters to students who have maintained an exceptional grade point average and demonstrated scholarship outside the classroom by participating on an academic team, engaging in skills contests, tutoring/mentoring, working on an independent academic project, or pursuing academic improvement in another manner. To qualify for the letter, students must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.9 GPA as a freshman, a 3.75 as a sophomore, and a 3.5 as a junior.

Junior and Senior High Grading Scale

Grade Percentage Ranges

Each letter grade corresponds to a percentage range:

Grade: A

  • High Range: 100%
  • Low Range: 92%

Grade: AB

  • High Range: Less than 92%
  • Low Range: 88%

Grade: B

  • High Range: Less than 88%
  • Low Range: 82%

Grade: BC

  • High Range: Less than 82%
  • Low Range: 78%

Grade: C

  • High Range: Less than 78%
  • Low Range: 72%

Grade: CD

  • High Range: Less than 72%
  • Low Range: 68%

Grade: D

  • High Range: Less than 68%
  • Low Range: 62%

Grade: F

  • High Range: Less than 62%
  • Low Range: 50%

Grade: NE (No Evidence)

  • High Range: Less than 50%
  • Low Range: 0.0%

Weighted Grading Scale

Weighted Grading Chart - please find accessible text on this page.

 

Each grade earns a different GPA value depending on the type of course.

Grade: A

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 4.0
  • Honors/Certification: 4.5
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 5.0

Grade: AB

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 3.5
  • Honors/Certification: 4.0
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 4.5

Grade: B

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 3.0
  • Honors/Certification: 3.5
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 4.0

Grade: BC

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 2.5
  • Honors/Certification: 3.0
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 3.5

Grade: C

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 2.0
  • Honors/Certification: 2.5
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 3.0

Grade: CD

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 1.5
  • Honors/Certification: 2.0
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 2.5

Grade: D

  • Non-Weighted Courses: 1.0
  • Honors/Certification: 1.0
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 1.0
  • Grade: F

Non-Weighted Courses: 0.0

  • Honors/Certification: 0.0
  • Advanced Placement / Dual Enrollment: 0.0

Important Note:
Grades of D or F do not receive any additional GPA boost.

Weighted Grading

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, weighted grading on a 5.0 scale will be implemented for all students in grades 9-12, to more accurately reflect students’ academic achievements and encourage students to challenge themselves with advanced coursework without fearing it will negatively impact their cumulative GPA. To recognize a student's enrollment in rigorous learning experiences and courses that prepare them for college and career pathways, additional GPA points will be assigned as follows:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses are worth an additional 1.0 GPA, as long as the student's grade is a CD or better.  
  • An honors course or a course where the student earns an industry recognized certification will receive a .5 GPA boost. 
  • Start College Now (SCN) and Early College Credit Program (ECCP) courses will be assigned a 1.0 addition to the GPA for that course.
  • College courses not approved through SCN or ECCP will not be added to the student's high school transcript.

The District will retain its current Laude system to recognize high-achieving students at graduation. This system will continue to celebrate student success without limiting the recognition to a set percentage of the class, ensuring that more students have the opportunity to earn this prestigious honor.