University High School offers 27 AP courses. In May 2026, 1,024 students took 2,970 AP exams, and 94.9% scored 3 or higher. This page brings together pass rates by subject, the grade levels in which each course is offered, and entry requirements, to help families decide which courses to take and in which grade.
Pass Rates by Subject
| AP subject | 2026 exams | Score 3+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 251 | 96% | |
| Psychology | 244 | 97% | |
| US History | 220 | 99% | |
| Macroeconomics | 215 | 84% | |
| Precalculus | 213 | 97% | |
| US Government | 205 | 92% | |
| Statistics | 168 | 96% | |
| Chemistry | 161 | 100% | |
| English Literature | 127 | 92% | |
| Physics 1 | 116 | 99% | |
| Calculus BC | 106 | 98% | |
| Calculus AB | 104 | 97% | |
| CS Principles | 101 | 84% | |
| Physics 2 | 98 | 95% | |
| Biology | 96 | 96% | |
| Environmental Science | 90 | 93% | |
| CS A | 79 | 89% | |
| Chinese | 79 | 97% | |
| Art History | 49 | 98% | |
| African American Studies | 48 | 100% | |
| World History | 42 | 93% | |
| Physics C Mechanics | 37 | 100% | No matching course; self-study |
| Microeconomics | 24 | 79% | No matching course; self-study |
| Spanish Language | 19 | 100% | |
| Music Theory | 14 | 86% | |
| Physics C E&M | 13 | 92% | No matching course; self-study |
| 2-D Design | 9 | 100% | |
| Drawing | 9 | 100% | |
| Latin | 7 | 71% | |
| French | 4 | 100% | |
| Japanese | 3 | 100% | No matching course |
| Human Geography | 3 | 66% | No matching course |
Grade Levels Offered
No AP courses are offered in grade 9. From grade 10, students may take AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, and AP Cybersecurity. AP US History is offered in grade 10 on the condition that the student earned Honors Distinction in both semesters of World History. Most AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12..
Entry Requirements for Each AP Course
The requirements below come from the 2026-27 course catalog. CP refers to College Prep courses.
| AP course (grades offered) | Entry requirements |
|---|---|
| AP English Language (grade 11) | 87% or higher in both semesters of CP English 2, or 80% or higher in both semesters of Honors English 2, plus a teacher recommendation |
| AP English Literature (grade 12) | Completion of AP English Language or English 3, plus a teacher recommendation |
| AP US History (grade 10) | Honors Distinction in both semesters of World History, or a course grade of 92% or higher with 90% or higher in writing |
| AP Government + AP Macroeconomics (grade 12) | B or higher in AP US History, or A- or higher in the previous course with teacher approval |
| AP Biology | An average of B or higher in honors science courses in grades 9 and 10, or an average of B+ or higher in CP courses |
| AP Chemistry | B or higher in Honors Chemistry, or an A in CP chemistry |
| AP Physics 1 & 2 (grade 11, two courses in one year) | B- or higher in Math III and concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus |
| AP Environmental Science | C or higher in the spring semester of 10th-grade chemistry, and completion of Math II |
| AP Precalculus (grade 10) | 80% or higher in Enhanced Math II, 85% or higher on the end-of-course (EOC) exam, and a passing assessment; or completion of Math II followed by the Summer Bridge course |
| AP Calculus AB / BC | C- or higher in AP Precalculus for AB and B or higher for BC; BC also requires completing summer work and a teacher recommendation |
| AP Computer Science Principles (grade 10 and above) | A grade above B- in Math I |
| AP Computer Science A (grades 11 to 12) | Java experience and a teacher recommendation |
| AP Spanish Language | An A in Spanish 3 |
| AP Art History | A grade above B in honors English or honors social science, or an A in CP courses |
AP Courses Not Offered at the School
- AP Physics C
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Human Geography
- AP Japanese
- AP Seminar / AP Research
Among these, AP Physics C and AP Microeconomics are taken by self-studying students every year, with solid pass rates. Students who wish to take these exams need to complete the coursework outside school. EDUBUS can help families choose the most cost-effective outside AP credit courses and arrange testing sites and registration for outside AP exams; details appear below.
AP Course List (from the Course Catalog)
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 11 | 87%+ both semesters of CP English 2 OR 80%+ both semesters of Honors English 2, plus teacher recommendation on listed skillsYear; weighted ‡ | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | Skill-level expectations (college-level reading 50-100 pp/week; timed essays every ~2 weeks); see Honors/AP placementYear; weighted ‡; ~80% of grade is writing | b |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Precalculus | AP | 10-12 | ≥ 80% in Enhanced Math II both semesters + 85% EOC + teacher appraisal (2 of 3); from regular Math II: Summer Bridge course with ≥ B, 85% EOC, appraisal (to enroll in Summer Bridge need A (not A-) in Math II both semesters + teacher rec); from Math III: > C- (A recommended)Year; weighted ‡; the main acceleration route (Enhanced Math II -> AP Precalc -> AP Calculus) | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 10-12 (description 11-12) | Gr 10-11: ≥ C- in AP Precalculus or Precalculus (both semesters). Gr 12 only: ≥ D in AP Precalc, ≥ C- Precalc, or ≥ B- in Math 3 (both semesters)Year; weighted ‡ | c |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 10-12 | ≥ C- in AP Precalculus (both semesters) or ≥ B- in Pre-Calculus (both semesters)Year; weighted ‡ | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 10-12 | ≥ B in AP Precalculus (both semesters) or ≥ A in Pre-Calculus (both semesters) with completion of summer assignment; teacher recommendationYear; weighted ‡; may NOT drop into Calculus AB once semester begins; ~50% more material than AB | c |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | > B- in Math I (both semesters) or C- in any higher math; no prior programming neededYear; weighted ‡; Python | d |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 11-12 | Prior programming experience recommended and ≥ B- in Math III (both sem) or higher math, OR ≥ B- in AP CSP (both sem) [description: ≥ B- Math II or > C- higher math]Year; weighted ‡; Java | c |
| AP Cybersecurity | AP | 10-12 | > B- in Math I or C- in any higher mathYear; weighted ‡; new College Board course | d |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B avg in 9th & 10th grade Honors science courses, or ≥ B+ avg in CP science coursesYear; weighted ‡ | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | ≥ C in 10th grade Next Gen Chem (spring); concurrent or completed Math II or higherYear; weighted ‡ | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B in Honors Next Gen Chemistry, or A in Next Gen Chemistry (both semesters)Year; weighted ‡ | d |
| AP Physics 1 and 2 | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B- in Math III and concurrently enrolled in Pre-Calculus or higherYear; one year prepares for BOTH AP Physics 1 and 2 exams; weighted ‡. (AP Physics C exams are taken by UHS students but no Physics C course is in the catalog) | d |
History/Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP U.S. History | AP | 10-12 | Met all World History Honors Distinction requirements both semesters OR overall course grade 92% and writing assessment 90%; see AP social science criteriaYear; weighted ‡; taken in 10th grade in most-rigorous sequence | a |
| AP Political Science (US Government & Politics) | AP | 12 | ≥ B in AP US History or A- in prior social science course + teacher permissionSemester; weighted ‡ | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | ≥ B in AP US History or A- in prior social science + teacher permission; Math II with B- or better recommendedSemester; weighted ‡ | g |
| AP World History: Modern | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B in AP US History or A- in CP US History (spring) + teacher permissionYear; weighted ‡ (School Profile lists AP World History without * — check weighting) | a |
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | Recommendation from previous history/social studies teacherYear; weighted ‡ | g |
| AP African American Studies | AP | 11-12 | Recommendation from previous history/social studies teacherYear; weighted ‡ | g |
Visual and Performing Arts - Visual
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Studio Art - Drawing | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B in Advanced Studio Art AND teacher permission; AP Art History recommendedYear; weighted ‡; 24-piece portfolio in May | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | > B in previously taken core Honors English or Social Science course, or A in CP English/Social Science (spring)Year; weighted ‡ | f |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | ≥ B in Advanced Visual Imagery or Advanced Graphic Design AND teacher permission; AP Art History recommendedYear; weighted ‡ | f |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | Advanced Ceramics, Advanced Visual Imagery or Advanced Graphic Design AND permission; AP Art History recommendedYear; weighted ‡ (School Profile lists only AP 2D Design and AP Drawing) | f |
Visual and Performing Arts - Performing
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Music Theory | AP | 10-12 | Advanced experience on primary instrument or voice; teacher recommendationYear; weighted ‡ | f |
World Language
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | ≥ C in previous level and teacher recommendationYear; weighted ‡ | e |
| AP Latin | AP | 11-12 | ≥ C in previous levelYear; weighted ‡ | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | ≥ C in previous level; A in Spanish 3 + teacher recommendationYear; weighted ‡ | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 11-12 | ≥ C in previous level (description: and A in Spanish 3)Year; weighted ‡ | e |
AP Combinations by Intended Major
Frequently Asked Questions
In Irvine Unified School District, can 9th graders at University High School take AP courses?
No. University High School has no AP courses in 9th grade. Beginning in 10th grade, students can take AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, and AP Cybersecurity, as well as AP US History after earning honors distinction in both semesters of World History. Most AP courses are taken in grades 11 and 12.
Which AP courses does University High School not offer?
Among the five high schools in Irvine Unified School District, University High School does not offer AP Physics C, AP Microeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP Japanese, or AP Seminar / Research. In 2026, students still took the Physics C Mechanics exam (37 exams, 100% pass rate) and the Microeconomics exam (24 exams, 79% pass rate) after self-study, which shows that top students supplement their coursework through outside courses.
Why are AP Physics 1 and 2 taken in the same year at University High School?
University High School schedules AP Physics 1 & 2 in the same school year (11th grade). The entry requirement is a grade of B- or higher in Math III and concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus. In 2026, the pass rate was 99% for Physics 1 and 95% for Physics 2; this is the main pathway for the school's science students.
Is there a limit on the number of AP courses at University High School?
University High School has no written cap on AP courses; the only rule is a maximum of 2 science courses per year. The practical limit comes from the schedule: students take 6 courses per semester, and a 7th course must be an open elective, so 4 to 5 AP courses per year in grades 11 and 12 is a common upper limit.
Which AP exams have lower pass rates at University High School?
In 2026, the lower pass rates at University High School were AP Macroeconomics at 84%, AP Computer Science Principles at 84%, AP Music Theory at 86%, AP Computer Science A at 89%, and self-studied AP Microeconomics at 79%. All other major subjects were at 92% or higher, with Chemistry, US History, and Physics 1 near or at 100%.
