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TOPS GPA Calculator (Louisiana)
Louisiana’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) uses a TOPS core GPA based only on the courses that complete the 19-unit TOPS core curriculum. Enter each core course, its letter grade, its units and whether LOSFA scores it on the 5.00 scale. The calculator returns your core GPA and compares it, together with your ACT composite, with every TOPS award.
LOSFA’s method: grades are on a 4.00 scale (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0), except designated AP, IB, gifted, dual-enrollment, Honors and LSMSA articulated courses, which use a 5.00 scale (A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, F = 0). Quality points are divided by units. If you took more core courses than needed, LOSFA uses the ones with the highest grades. If you repeated a course, it uses the highest grade. The GPA is never rounded, so 2.499 does not count as 2.50.
Default example: ten units earn 34 quality points, so the core GPA is 3.400. With an ACT of 23 that meets TOPS Performance (3.25 and 23) but not Honors, which needs a 27. The award table below uses the current LOSFA requirements, including the TOPS Excellence Award added by Act 347 of 2025 for students graduating from 2024-25 onward.
Result and step-by-step working
Highest award these numbers meet: TOPS Performance · 10 units
| Course | Grade | Units | Scale | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English I | A | 1 | 4.00 | 4 |
| English II Honors | B | 1 | 5.00 | 4 |
| Algebra I | B | 1 | 4.00 | 3 |
| Geometry | C | 1 | 4.00 | 2 |
| Biology | A | 1 | 4.00 | 4 |
| Chemistry | B | 1 | 4.00 | 3 |
| US History | B | 1 | 4.00 | 3 |
| AP World History | C | 1 | 5.00 | 3 |
| Spanish I | A | 1 | 4.00 | 4 |
| Art I | A | 1 | 4.00 | 4 |
| Award | Core GPA | ACT | Meets both? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPS Tech | 2.50 | 17 | Yes |
| TOPS Opportunity | 2.50 | 20 | Yes |
| TOPS Performance | 3.25 | 23 | Yes |
| TOPS Honors | 3.50 | 27 | No |
| TOPS Excellence | 3.50 | 31 | No |
- Quality pointsOn the 4.00 scale A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Courses LOSFA designates for the 5.00 scale (AP, IB, dual enrollment, Honors, Gifted) get A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, F = 0.
- Divide by units34 ÷ 10 = 3.400. TOPS never rounds: 2.499 does not count as 2.50.
- Compare with each awardACT 23. Opportunity needs the prior-year state average but never less than 20 (here 20). TOPS does not accept an ACT superscore.
TOPS award requirements
| Award | Core GPA | ACT (or SAT/CLT equivalent) |
|---|---|---|
| TOPS Tech | 2.50 | 17 (or ACT WorkKeys Silver) |
| TOPS Opportunity | 2.50 | Prior-year state average, never below 20 |
| TOPS Performance | 3.25 | 23 |
| TOPS Honors | 3.50 | 27 |
| TOPS Excellence | 3.50 | 31 |
Source: Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (mylosfa.la.gov) award pages and “TOPS High School Cumulative GPA” Q&A. TOPS does not accept an ACT superscore.
Frequently asked questions
- Which courses count in the TOPS core GPA?
- Only the courses used to complete the 19 units of the TOPS core curriculum (21 units of the JumpStart core for TOPS Tech). Your transcript GPA includes every course, which is why the two numbers usually differ.
- Which classes get the 5.00 scale?
- Courses LOSFA has designated: AP, IB, gifted, dual-enrollment, Honors and LSMSA articulated courses. LOSFA publishes the list of designated courses, so check that yours is on it.
- Do pass/fail courses count?
- A passed pass/fail core course counts toward the units but not the GPA. A failed one counts toward neither. If your school gave a letter grade, that grade is used.
- Can I use an ACT superscore for TOPS?
- No. LOSFA states that TOPS does not accept an ACT superscore, so enter your best composite from a single test date.
Last reviewed: October 9, 2026. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.