An Indian American high school student from Florida has made headlines after graduating with a record-breaking 11.99 GPA, the highest ever recorded in the state.
Vaibhav Bhaskar achieved the milestone by taking an unusually large number of advanced courses throughout high school. He is now set to attend Duke University, where he plans to study finance and economics.
At first glance, a GPA of 11.99 may seem impossible. In many countries, grades are measured on a 4.0 or 10.0 scale. However, many U.S. high schools use a weighted GPA system, where advanced classes such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), honors, and dual enrollment courses are worth more than regular classes.
Because Bhaskar completed a massive amount of advanced coursework, his GPA climbed well beyond the traditional 4.0 scale, reaching a record 11.99.
His achievement also led to a policy change. Following his graduation, the local school district revised the way weighted GPAs are calculated so future students will not be able to reach such unusually high scores under the current system.
The change does not take away from Bhaskar’s accomplishment. Instead, it reflects the district’s effort to make GPA calculations more consistent for future graduating classes.
Bhaskar’s record has drawn attention across the United States, with many people surprised that a GPA could reach nearly 12.0. His achievement highlights both his exceptional academic workload and the unique way some U.S. schools calculate weighted GPAs.
