Written By: Amelie Goacher 

Rye Country Day School is one of several institutions that choose not to calculate or report a grade point average (GPA) for their students. This decision is rooted in the school’s philosophy of emphasizing holistic growth, individuality, and personal academic journeys rather than distilling a student’s achievements into a single numerical value. This approach offers both advantages and challenges, particularly when it comes to preparing students for competitive college admissions. While the absence of a GPA allows for a greater emphasis on a student’s holistic application, it also poses questions about the GPA’s significant role in the admissions process. 

The philosophy behind not emphasizing GPA or sharing it with colleges aligns with RCDS’s broader academic ideals. Mr. Kyle, the Upper School Dean of Students, highlights that student growth is best measured individually rather than through direct competition with peers. If a student who “was invested in taking stock of their growth were to do it through other mechanisms,” such as tracking comments between eighth and twelfth grade, “it would reflect their actual growth much more accurately,” he explained. Instead of GPA reductionism, which overlooks the qualitative aspects of student progress, RCDS focuses on providing a more “fully dimensional representation” of students, showcasing their academic history, extracurricular involvement, and personal achievements.

Ms. Rincon, Assistant Director of College Counseling, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that colleges are encouraged to analyze a student’s transcript holistically when a GPA is not provided. “We want colleges to look at the entire transcript and see the full academic history and picture of each one of our students. This takes the focus away from one number and prevents them from quickly skimming over the transcript,” she said. In other words, because RCDS does not report GPA, students’ accomplishments and rigor become evident to college admissions officers. Letters of recommendation are crucial in painting this picture; teachers and college counselors provide in-depth letters that highlight individual strengths, academic growth, and specific achievements, capturing the essence and personality of each student. Furthermore, the emphasis on grades is still apparent at RCDS, despite the decision not to disclose GPA to colleges. Withholding students’ GPAs pushes colleges to consider more comprehensive transcripts, which showcase all classes, including grade trends and the difficulty of courses, thus allowing them to evaluate a student’s full academic trajectory. Ms. Rincon also noted that while colleges may calculate their own GPA for applicants, the absence of a reported GPA from RCDS allows colleges to “slow down” and understand each student’s unique journey, highlighting their “individual excellence.”

Although the faculty perspective strongly supports the school’s approach to GPA, many students disagree with the policy. Keira Zheng ’25, a student at RCDS, shares a mixed perspective. Colleges can easily calculate GPA even when it is not provided, but she believes that a greater internal emphasis on this number throughout her high school career would have helped her “stay focused and motivated.” Zheng observed that tracking GPA early on might help students align their goals with their dream schools: “It would have helped me across the years… to see if I’m on track for senior year.” Shifting focus away from these numbers may help students be less judgemental of themselves and their peers, but it can come at a high cost. Zheng acknowledged that at certain schools, there is a “threshold GPA” students are expected to meet before the school even begins to consider their extracurriculars. Reaching these higher GPAs can help “keep open the door to your dream schools.” 

Nonetheless, RCDS works diligently to prepare students for competitive admissions environments even without expressing their GPA. Through robust college counseling, extracurricular opportunities, and personalized guidance, students are well-equipped to stand out as interesting and passionate individuals. This is strongly reflected in Rincon’s sentiment: “We are trying to highlight the individuality of each one of our students as individual academic and extracurricular choices can stand out more when they are not prefaced by a reductive number.”

The no-GPA policy at RCDS reflects the school’s commitment to fostering growth and a holistic view of student achievement. While some students may initially find the absence of a GPA challenging, the school has implemented thoughtful systems to help them effectively showcase their academic and personal accomplishments. By encouraging risk-taking, reducing stress, and promoting a focus on the bigger picture, RCDS prepares students not only for college admissions but also for a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and learning. Ultimately, withholding GPA often works to students’ advantage during the college application process as they are considered more comprehensively by admissions officers, setting them apart from the crowd.