A semester average shows the overall average of grading periods, quarters, or checkpoints during one semester.

Semester average formula

Step 1: Gather your grading period scores

Start with the grades you want to average. These may be quarter grades, progress report grades, or other semester checkpoints.

Step 2: Add all the grades together

Add the numbers from each grading period. Make sure you are only using the grades that belong in the semester average.

Step 3: Count how many grades you used

Count the number of grades included in the total. This matters because some schools use two grading periods, while others may use three or four.

Step 4: Divide the total by the number of grades

Divide the sum of the grades by the number of grades you used. That result is your semester average.

Example 1

A student has these four grading period scores:

• Quarter 1: 88
• Quarter 2: 92
• Quarter 3: 85
• Quarter 4: 95

Example 2

A student only has three grades recorded so far:

• Grade 1: 78
• Grade 2: 84
• Grade 3: 88

Common mistakes

• forgetting to divide by the correct number of grades
• leaving out one grading period by accident
• including a grade that does not belong in the semester average
• mixing weighted grading rules with a simple average

When a simple average is not enough

Some schools use weighted grading categories or give different importance to certain grading periods. In that case, a semester average may need a weighted formula instead of a plain average.

Use the calculator instead of doing it by hand

If you want the faster version, use the Semester Average Calculator on School Progress Hub. It helps you average multiple grading period scores quickly.