- US History (G7–G8)
- World History (G7–G8)
Facts and timelines, source reading, cause and effect, short writing; weekly, year-round. Next: AP History and Chrono League.
How to start
Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.
Want to talk to a course advisor now?
Contact a course advisorFrequently Asked Questions
Is a history course necessary in middle school?
It matters for students who plan to take AP History later. The course follows Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) middle school social science and trains four things, facts and timelines, reading primary sources, cause and effect, and short writing, which are the same skills AP History is built on.
How do Irvine students pick US or World History?
Usually whichever matches what the student is taking at school, since both sections are aimed at grades 7 and 8 and follow the district's social science sequence. A student heading toward AP US History can reasonably begin with the US section.
How often does the class meet?
Once a week, year round. Each session moves along the same four lines: facts and timelines, source reading, cause and effect, and short writing, so students build the habit of reading sources and writing about them well before high school.
Does this help Irvine students with writing?
Yes. The short writing component asks students to use sources to explain causes rather than retell events, and that habit is what the high school DBQ writing course later develops for the AP history exams. Starting it in middle school makes the high school work less abrupt.
Are there history competitions for Irvine students?
Yes. Students who want them can join Chrono League, the all-round history competition training camp, alongside the weekly course. The timeline and factual base built in class is exactly what competition training draws on, so the two run well together.
