Short answer: most schools put you on the honor roll for a B average or better (about a 3.0 GPA), or for getting only A's and B's. The high honor roll usually needs an A- average (about 3.5 or higher), and the principal's list usually needs all A's. Many schools also set a lowest grade you're allowed, so one C can knock you off.
The honor roll is a list of students who got strong grades in one marking period, usually a quarter or a semester. Every school writes its own rules, so the same report card can make the list at one school and miss it at another.
Here's what's typical, with real rules from real schools.
Typical honor roll levels
Many schools have two or three levels. These are the most common:
| Level | Typical GPA | Typical grades |
|---|---|---|
| Honor roll | 3.0 or higher | A B average, or all A's and B's |
| High honor roll | 3.5 or higher | An A- average, or mostly A's with no grade below a B |
| Principal's list | 3.8 to 4.0 | All A's |
Some schools use different names, like "merit roll", "A honor roll" and "A/B honor roll", or "distinguished honor roll". The idea is the same: a basic level, a higher one, and sometimes a top one.
Want to see what a GPA means as a letter grade? Use the GPA converter.
Real honor roll requirements from schools
Here's how three high schools and one college actually do it:
| School | Honor roll | High honor roll | Top level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Hills Regional HS (NJ) | 83 average, no grade below 80 | 90 average, no grade below 83 | Principal's honor roll: every grade 90 or higher |
| Morris Hills HS (NJ) | Merit: 87 average, no grade below 80 | 93 average, no grade below 85 | None |
| South Hadley HS (MA) | Only A's and B's (83% or higher) | All A's (93% or higher) | None |
| Rose State College (OK) | Vice President's: 3.0 to 3.99 GPA, no grade below C | None | President's: 4.0 GPA |
Notice three different systems: an average plus a lowest-grade rule (Warren Hills, Morris Hills), letter grades only (South Hadley), and a GPA (Rose State, where full-time students also need 12 or more credit hours that semester). Morris Hills also gives extra weight to honors and AP classes when it works out the average.
Is the honor roll all A's and B's?
At many schools, yes. "All A's and B's" is the simplest and most common honor roll rule, especially in middle school.
At schools that use an average instead, you might make the honor roll with a C, as long as your average is high enough and the school has no lowest-grade rule. But most schools that use an average add one.
Is a 3.5 GPA honor roll?
Yes, almost everywhere. A 3.5 is a B+ to A- average, which clears the usual 3.0 honor roll cutoff. At many schools, it's enough for the high honor roll too.
The catch is the lowest-grade rule. A 3.5 that includes a C can still miss out at schools that don't allow any grade below a B.
The "lowest grade" rule: a worked example
This is the rule that surprises most students and parents. Take Warren Hills' rules from the table above:
- Honor roll: 83 average and no grade below 80.
- High honor roll: 90 average and no grade below 83.
Now compare two students with six classes each.
Student A gets five A's (95 each) and one C (75). Average: (95 × 5 + 75) ÷ 6 = 550 ÷ 6 = 91.7
Student B gets a B+ (87) in all six classes. Average: 87
| Average | Lowest grade | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student A | 91.7 | 75 | No honor roll. The 75 is below the 80 floor. |
| Student B | 87 | 87 | Honor roll. 87 average, no grade below 80. |
Student A has the higher average but misses the list entirely. One weak class matters more than a few strong ones. If you're close to the line, put your effort into your lowest grade first.
To see what you need on remaining work to lift one class, try the grade calculator.
What is the high honor roll?
The high honor roll is the level above the regular honor roll. It usually needs an A- average (about 90% or a 3.5 to 3.7 GPA), often with no grade below a B.
At Morris Hills, for example, it takes a 93 average with no grade below 85. At South Hadley, it takes all A's.
What is the principal's list?
The principal's list (or principal's honor roll) is usually the top level. It typically needs all A's, or a GPA of about 3.8 to 4.0.
At Warren Hills, every grade has to be a 90 or higher. Not every school has a principal's list. Some use the high honor roll as their top level.
Do weighted classes count?
It depends on the school. Some schools work out honor roll averages with extra weight for honors and AP classes, as Morris Hills does. Others use plain, unweighted grades.
If your school weights grades, an A or B in an AP class can help you reach the higher levels. See weighted vs unweighted GPA for how the extra points work.
Does the honor roll matter for college?
A little, but not much on its own. Colleges see every grade on your transcript, so they already know if your grades were strong. The honor roll just sums that up.
It's still worth listing in the honors section of a college application, especially if you made it most terms or reached the high honor roll. For what counts as a strong GPA overall, see what is a good GPA.
Some car insurers also give a "good student" discount for a B average or honor roll. It's worth asking.
Honor roll vs dean's list
The honor roll is mostly a middle and high school thing. Most colleges have a dean's list instead, which usually needs a 3.5 semester GPA on 12 or more credits. A few colleges, like Rose State, also have an honor roll.
The dean's list and Latin honors at graduation are covered in Latin honors GPA.
How to make the honor roll
- Find your school's exact rules. Check the student handbook or school website. Look for both an average and a lowest grade.
- Find your weakest class. That's usually the grade that decides it.
- Work out what you need. Use your current grade and what's left this term to see what you need on upcoming tests.
- Ask early. If one class is slipping, talk to the teacher before the term ends, not after grades are in.
Frequently asked questions
Is honor roll hard to get? For a student with mostly A's and B's, not usually. The regular honor roll is meant to be reachable. The high honor roll and principal's list are much harder.
What GPA is honor roll in middle school? Usually a B average (about 3.0), or all A's and B's. Middle schools often use letter grades instead of a GPA.
Can you make the honor roll with a C? At some schools, yes, if your average is high enough. At many others, no. Any grade below a B rules you out.
Is the honor roll the same as the National Honor Society? No. The honor roll is based only on grades for one term. The National Honor Society is a club you're invited to join, based on your grades plus service, leadership and character.
How often is the honor roll announced? Usually every marking period, so four times a year for schools on quarters, or twice a year for semesters.
