Grade Point Averages Greater Than 4.0

High schools now have a scale for honors and Accelerated Placement classes that go above the 4.0 max. This gives recognition to students who pursue and successfully complete a more rigorous academic curriculum. Most high school consider it fair because the student who completes the more rigorous courses receives a higher GPA than a student who takes the "easy" standard courses and passes with a 4.0 but did a lot less work and gained less knowledge than the honors or AP student. Colleges and Universities often ignore this weighted GPA and instead look at the students transcript to gauge the rigor of the courses the student completed. If they see a 4.0 and all standard courses, that student will probably not even be considered by a Division 1 or top Division 2 school, unless he or she is an awesome athlete. Athletes often get a pass on academics when it comes to rigor.

I have never heard of this, but then I graduated in 1980

Yup the GPA can be higher than 4.0. I think it's fine why not! I was never 4.0+ student, but I was above average.