What's a High School Transcript?

Your high school transcript is a complete record of your academic history in high school. It starts with the first grading period of your first year of high school and is updated each term until you graduate.

The format varies from school to school, but most transcripts include:

• Your name, address, and date of birth.
• The name of your school.
• The courses you've taken and when you took them.
• Your grades for each grading period.
• The weight of each grade (grades in higher-level courses like AP are often worth more than the same grade in a standard course).
• The number of credits you earned for each course.
• Your cumulative GPA.
• Any academic honors you've received.

Transcripts and College Applications

High school transcripts are necessary for almost every college application. They give college admissions officers a quick overview of a student's academic performance and help them decide who to admit.

Official and Unofficial Transcripts

There are two types of high school transcripts: official and unofficial. The main difference: Official transcripts are sent to colleges directly from high schools, while unofficial transcripts can be given directly to students. Many schools have online portals where you can print copies of your unofficial transcript.

Colleges almost always ask for official transcripts because they want to make sure the information on the transcript hasn't been changed. Talk to your school counselor or school official to follow the proper procedure to send official transcripts when you're applying to college.

See what else goes into a college application 

How and When Your Transcript Gets Sent

Your high school should send your transcript and a school profile directly to the colleges you're applying to. Ask your school counselor how to make this happen because this is a crucial part of the application process. Some colleges also want a mid-year transcript that shows your first semester grades. At the end of your senior year, you should request your high school to send a final transcript to the college you've decided to attend. This process lets the college know about classes you took, whether you kept your grades up during your last year in high school, and that you graduated. Be sure to check your transcript for errors before it's sent.

Other Uses for Transcripts

Some scholarships, internships, and jobs may also ask for a copy of your high school transcript. You'll probably need an official transcript for scholarship applications, but unofficial transcripts may be acceptable in other situations.

Make sure you know what type of transcript is required before submitting any application.