Add middle school courses in the "Courses" section by selecting the school, course name, and grade earned

The CSU process lets you enter courses from middle school if they count toward your high school GPA or appear on your high school transcript. You add them the same way you add high school courses: go to the "Courses" section, select your middle school from the school dropdown, enter the course title and grade, then save. CSU will not count middle school grades toward your GPA calculation — only high school grades matter — but the courses show up on your record if your high school listed them.

Most students do not need to add middle school courses. If your high school transcript shows only high school classes, leave the middle school section blank. Add middle school courses only if they appear on the transcript your high school sent to CSU or if your high school counselor told you to include them.

Key Takeaways

  • Middle school courses only belong on your CSU app if they appear on your official high school transcript.
  • CSU does not use middle school grades in GPA calculations, even if you add them.
  • You enter middle school courses in the same "Courses" section as high school courses, using the school dropdown to select your middle school.
  • If you are unsure whether your middle school courses are on your transcript, ask your high school counselor before you add them to the app.

When your high school transcript includes middle school courses

Some high schools list middle school courses on the transcript they send to colleges, especially if those courses were advanced or counted as high school credit. Algebra I taken in eighth grade is a common example — if your high school counted it toward your high school GPA or listed it on your transcript, it belongs on the CSU app.

Check your official high school transcript before you add anything. Log into your high school's student portal or ask your counselor to print a copy. If the course appears there with a grade, add it to CSU. If it does not appear on the transcript, do not add it to the app — CSU will only see what your high school sent them anyway.

How to find and select your middle school in the dropdown

Open the "Courses" section of your CSU process. At the top of the page, you will see a dropdown menu labeled "School." Click it and type your middle school's name. The system searches by school name and location, so type the full name if the first few letters do not bring up results.

If your middle school does not appear in the dropdown, type the name of the school district instead, or search by city. CSU's database includes most public and private middle schools, but very small or recently closed schools may not be listed. If you cannot find your school after three searches, contact the CSU process support line — they can add it manually or tell you which name the system uses for your school.

Entering the course title and grade

Once you select your middle school, the form shows fields for "Course Title" and "Grade." Type the exact name of the course as it appears on your transcript — "Algebra I" rather than "Math" or "Advanced Math." If your transcript abbreviates the name, use the abbreviation. Accuracy matters because CSU matches what you enter against what your high school sent them.

In the "Grade" field, enter the letter grade you received: A, B, C, D, or F. Do not enter plus or minus signs — the CSU system does not use them. If you took the course pass/fail or received a different grade notation, select the option closest to your actual performance, or leave it blank and contact CSU support to explain the notation.

Why CSU does not count middle school grades in your GPA

The CSU system calculates GPA using only courses taken in grades 10 and 11 (or the equivalent at your school). Middle school courses, even if they appear on your transcript, do not factor into that number. This is true whether you took the course in eighth grade or ninth grade — if it was before your sophomore year, CSU does not use the grade.

This means adding a middle school course will not hurt your GPA, but it will not help it either. The only reason to add it is to give CSU a complete picture of your academic record. If the course is already on your high school transcript, CSU will see it whether you add it to the app or not — adding it just makes sure the information is accurate.

What happens if you add a course that is not on your transcript

If you add a middle school course to the CSU app but it does not appear on the transcript your high school sent, CSU will notice the mismatch during their review. They may contact your high school to verify the course, or they may straightforward ignore the entry on the app and use only what the transcript shows. Either way, the discrepancy can slow down your process review.

To avoid this, always check your official transcript first. If you took a course but it is not listed, ask your high school counselor why. Some schools do not transcript middle school courses at all, even if you took them. If your counselor says the course should be on the transcript but is not, ask them to add it before you submit your CSU app.

Correcting or removing a middle school course you added by mistake

If you added a middle school course and then realized it should not be there, go back to the "Courses" section, find the course in the list, and click the delete or remove button next to it. The button is usually a trash icon or an X. Confirm the deletion when the system asks.

You can edit a course you already added by clicking on it and changing the school, course name, or grade. Make the change and save. If you are not sure whether a course should stay on the app, leave it and contact CSU support — they can tell you whether it matches your transcript and advise you on whether to keep it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to add middle school courses if they are on my transcript?

No. CSU will see them on your transcript whether you add them to the app or not. Adding them just makes sure the information is complete and accurate. If your transcript is clear and you are confident CSU has it, you do not have to add them manually.

Will adding a middle school course lower my GPA?

No. CSU only uses grades from tenth and eleventh grade to calculate GPA. Middle school courses do not count toward that number, even if you add them to the app.

What if my middle school is not in the CSU dropdown?

Try searching by school district name or city. If that does not work, contact CSU process support and give them your school's full name and location. They can add it or tell you the name the system uses for your school.

Can I add a middle school course if it does not appear on my high school transcript?

You can type it into the app, but CSU will not see it on your official transcript, which may cause confusion during review. Ask your high school counselor first whether the course should be on your transcript. If it should be but is not, have them add it before you submit your app.

What if I took a middle school course but got a grade notation like "pass" instead of a letter grade?

Select the letter grade that best matches your performance, or leave the grade field blank and contact CSU support to explain the notation. They can note it in your file so there is no confusion during review.