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Student data gathered during one academic year is used in making awards for High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) for the following academic year. Test scores, unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA), class rank, and class size are data elements needed in determining HSSP awards. ISAC obtains student data from high schools for those students in the top 50% of the class at the end sixth semester* on the HSSP 6th Semester Academic Information Roster. As part of this process, counselors are provided the opportunity to create their own school-generated roster or complete an HSSP Sixth Semester Academic Roster provided by ISAC. A delivery process overview letter is mailed to high schools each spring.
Test Scores
Test scores from the ACT and SAT exams taken between September 1, and June 30, (during the student’s third and fourth semester prior to graduation) are reported to ISAC. For students who have multiple scores, only the highest score will be used to determine HSSP eligibility. The ACT exam portion of the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) score will be treated the same as a national date test score and will be used in eligibility determination if it is the highest score achieved by the test taker. The PSAE is required by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for all juniors who attend Illinois public high schools.
Class Rank and Grade Point Average (GPA)
As part of the process, high school counselors must provide the sixth semester* class rank and unweighted GPA for students (as of June 30, of that year), as well as the GPA scale (4.0, 5.0, or other). The GPA scale reported and the cumulative unweighted GPA calculated must be consistently applied for all students reported.
Please be aware that a student’s class rank is an essential element used in the formula for selection of Byrd Honors Scholars. Therefore, all schools must provide an unweighted GPA for each student with an Illinois Standard Test Score (ISTS) of 31 or greater when submitting sixth semester data to ISAC.
* Sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation.
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