According to the 2025-26 School Profile, Woodbridge High School offers 122 UC A-G courses, 27 of which are AP. In May 2025, 1,022 students took 2,359 AP exams, and 958 students scored 3 or higher, or 93.74%. The school’s most distinctive AP feature is not the number of courses but the starting point: it is the only one of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District that opens an AP course to grade 9. This page brings together grade restrictions, the prerequisites for each course, and combination recommendations by intended major, to help families decide which courses to take and in which grade.
Five Years of AP Exam Data
| Year | Students / exams / share scoring 3 or higher |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 891 students / 1,706 exams / 84.62% |
| 2022 | 940 students / 1,998 exams / 87.23% |
| 2023 | 1,044 students / 2,259 exams / 86.11% |
| 2024 | 1,076 students / 2,578 exams / 89.03% |
| 2025 | 1,022 students / 2,359 exams / 93.74% |
The share scoring 3 or higher rose from 84.62% in 2021 to 93.74% in 2025, an increase of about 9 percentage points over four years, with the largest gain in 2025. In 2021 and 2022, a larger number of students were also enrolled at San Joaquin High School, so student counts for those years are not fully comparable with later years.
Note that Woodbridge High School does not publish exam counts or score distributions by subject, only schoolwide totals. Difficulty therefore cannot be compared by subject. Families can rely on two alternative sources of information: first, the prerequisites stated on each department page, since courses with stricter prerequisites usually screen students earlier; second, the course description documents that teachers release before course selection.
Grade Restrictions
Grade 9 may take one AP course, AP Human Geography, the only AP course open to grade 9 at any of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District. Grade 10 may take AP World History, AP English Language, AP Precalculus, and AP Computer Science Principles. From grade 11, AP United States History, AP Physics 1, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB and BC, and AP Statistics open. AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP United States Government, and AP Macroeconomics are taken in grade 12..
The biggest difference between this arrangement and the other district high schools lies in grades 9 and 10. AP Human Geography in grade 9 lets students encounter AP-level reading loads and free-response questions a year earlier, and AP English Language in grade 10 moves the English track split from grade 11 to grade 10. Taken together, a student on the humanities track may have completed two AP courses by the end of grade 10, and the entry requirements for both depend only on grades earned in grades 8 and 9.
Prerequisites for Each AP Course
The requirements below come from the department pages. CP stands for College Prep (the regular level), and EOC stands for End-of-Course exam.
| AP course (grade offered) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP Human Geography (9) | Meet two of three criteria: grades of A in grade 8 English and social science, a passing teacher evaluation, and a grade of A on the grade 8 social science end-of-course exam (EOC) |
| AP World History (10) | Grade of B or higher in English 1 or AP Human Geography, or teacher recommendation |
| AP English Language (10) | Honors notation in grade 9 English 1 Embedded Honors and a grade of B+ or higher in both semesters |
| AP US History (11) | Grade of A or B in AP World History, or a grade of A in CP World History with teacher recommendation |
| AP English Literature (12) | Grade of B or higher in both semesters of Honors American Literature, or a written recommendation from the grade 11 English teacher |
| AP Government and AP Macroeconomics (12) | No formal prerequisite; the school recommends prior AP coursework; advanced math is not required |
| AP Psychology (11 to 12) | No prerequisite; full-year course |
| AP Precalculus (10 and up) | Completion of Enhanced Math II, the summer Math Bridge, or Math III |
| AP Calculus AB / BC (11 to 12) | Meet two of three criteria in AP Precalculus: a grade of C or higher in each grading period for AB (B or higher for BC), a score of 80% or higher on the end-of-course exam, and teacher evaluation |
| AP Statistics (11 to 12) | Grade of C or higher in each grading period of Math III; may be taken concurrently with Pre-Calculus |
| AP Computer Science Principles (10 to 12) | Grade of B- or higher in Math II, or teacher recommendation |
| AP Computer Science A | Grade of B+ or higher in Math III or Enhanced Math II, or B+ or higher in AP Computer Science Principles |
| AP Physics 1 (11) | Grade of B or higher in Chemistry in the Earth System or teacher recommendation, with concurrent enrollment in Math III or higher |
| AP Physics C (12) | Grade of B or higher in AP Physics 1, concurrent enrollment in or completion of any Calculus course, and a science teacher recommendation |
| AP Biology and AP Chemistry | Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Physics in the Universe or AP Physics 1, teacher recommendation, and a recommended grade of A at the CP level or B or higher at the Honors level |
| AP Chinese | Grade of C or higher in Honors Chinese 3, or teacher recommendation |
| AP Spanish Language | Three or more years of Spanish, or a grade of C or higher in Spanish for Native Speakers 2 Honors |
| AP Latin | Grade of C or higher in Honors Latin 3, or teacher recommendation |
| AP Art History (10 to 12) | Strong performance in prior art or social science courses |
| AP 2-D Art & Design | Completion of Advanced Computer Graphics |
| AP Drawing | Completion of Advanced Painting and teacher approval |
| AP Music Theory | Basic vocal or instrumental performance skills |
AP Courses Not Offered
- AP Microeconomics: discontinued after the 2024-25 school year
- AP European History
- AP Comparative Government
- AP African American Studies
- AP Seminar / Research
- AP French and AP Japanese: the school's world language program offers only Spanish, Latin, Chinese, and American Sign Language
The most significant gap is AP Microeconomics. The course was discontinued after the 2024-25 school year, while AP Macroeconomics is still offered in grade 12. Students planning to apply to economics or business majors who want to submit scores for both economics AP exams need to complete the microeconomics portion outside school and register for that exam separately.
AP Course List (from Department Pages)
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Pre-Calculus | AP | 10-12 | Successful completion of Enhanced Math II, summer Math Bridge, or Math 3Weighted (+1) | c |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | 2 of 3: C or better in all marking periods of AP Pre-Calculus; >=80% on EOC; teacher appraisal. OR C or better in all marking periods of Pre-CalculusWeighted; TI-84+ recommended; flyer adds: A or better in FST, C in Honors Pre-Calc/Enhanced Math 3 | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | 2 of 3: B or better in all marking periods of AP Pre-Calculus; >=80% EOC; teacher appraisal. OR A in all marking periods of Pre-CalculusWeighted | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Grade of C or better in all marking periods of Math IIIWeighted; can be taken concurrently with Pre-Calculus | c |
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 10 | English 1 Embedded Honors with Honors designation and B+ or higher both semestersWeighted; taken as sophomore | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | B or higher both semesters of Honors American Literature, or written recommendation of 11th grade English teacherWeighted | b |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 11-12 | Chemistry with B or higher or teacher rec; concurrent enrollment in Math III or higherWeighted; algebra-based; ~1 hr homework per block | d |
| AP Physics 2 | AP | 12 | AP Physics 1 with B or higher with teacher recommendationWeighted | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics / Electricity & Magnetism | AP | 12 | AP Physics 1 with B or higher; concurrent or completed Calculus; science teacher recommendationWeighted; prepares for both Physics C exams in one year | d |
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | Completion of or co-enrollment in Physics in the Universe or AP Physics 1; teacher rec; recommended A in Living Earth & Chemistry or B+ in Honors versionsWeighted | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | Same as AP Biology (Physics co-enrollment, teacher rec, A in LE & Chem or B+ in Honors)Weighted; after-school labs approx. every other week; ~2-3 hrs/week study | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | Completion of or co-enrollment in Physics/AP Physics 1; teacher rec; recommended B or higher in Living Earth and ChemistryWeighted | d |
Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Human Geography | AP | 9 | Must meet 2 of: A in 8th grade English and Social Science; teacher appraisal; A on 8th grade Social Science EOCWeighted; WHS is the only IUSD school offering an AP to 9th graders | g |
| AP World History | AP | 10 | B or higher in Honors English 1 / English 1 / AP Human Geography, or teacher recommendationWeighted | a |
| AP U.S. History | AP | 11 | A or B in AP World History, or A in World History with teacher recommendationWeighted; no summer assignment | a |
| AP Government and Politics | AP | 12 | No formal prerequisite; prior AP coursework strongly recommendedSemester; weighted | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | No formal prerequisite; prior AP coursework strongly recommendedSemester; weighted. AP Microeconomics discontinued after 2024-25 | g |
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | —Yearlong; weighted | g |
World Language
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 12 (intended for seniors) | 3+ years of Spanish or Spanish Speakers 2 with C or better, or teacher recWeighted | e |
| AP Latin (Vergil-Caesar) | AP | 12 | C or higher in Honors Latin 3 or teacher recommendationWeighted | e |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | C in Honors Chinese 3 or teacher recommendationWeighted; heritage/native speakers placed by dept chair | e |
Visual & Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Drawing | AP | 9-12 | Completion of Advanced Painting/Drawing and teacher approvalWeighted | f |
| AP 3-D Art & Design Portfolio | AP | 9-12 | Permission from instructorWeighted | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 9-12 | Success in art and/or social science classes; open to 10-12Weighted | f |
| AP Music Theory | AP | 9-12 | Basic performance skills in voice or instrument; grades 10-12Weighted per CSF list | f |
Career Technical Education
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2-D Art & Design | AP | 9-12 | Completion of Advanced Computer GraphicsWeighted | f |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 9-12 | Grades 10-12; teacher recommendation or B- or higher in Math IIWeighted; ICT pathway | d |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 9-12 | Math III or Enhanced Math II or higher with B+ or better and/or B+ in AP CSP (flyer: AP CSP B+ + teacher rec); summer assignmentWeighted; Java | c |
This list contains 28 courses, one more than the 27 on the School Profile: AP Music Theory. The course appears on the Visual and Performing Arts department page but is not included in the School Profile AP list, so families should confirm with the department before course selection whether a section will run in the current school year.
Recommended Combinations by Intended Major
Frequently Asked Questions
Among the five Irvine Unified School District high schools, which AP course can grade 9 students take at Woodbridge High School?
AP Human Geography. Woodbridge High School is the only one of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District that opens an AP course to grade 9. Admission requires meeting two of three criteria: grades of A in grade 8 English and social science, a passing teacher evaluation, and a grade of A on the grade 8 social science end-of-course exam. Enrollment is completed during course registration in April of grade 8.
At Woodbridge High School, is AP Human Geography worth taking in grade 9?
It is worthwhile for students planning to pursue the social sciences or business. At Woodbridge High School, it is the only weighted course available in grade 9, and it is one of the recommended entry points to AP World History in grade 10. For students headed toward STEM, if grade 9 already includes Enhanced Math II and Honors Living Earth, the workload of an additional AP course should be evaluated first.
Does Woodbridge High School publish AP pass rates by subject?
No. The Woodbridge High School School Profile publishes only schoolwide totals: in 2025, 1,022 students took 2,359 AP exams, and 958 students scored 3 or higher, or 93.74%. The number of exams and the score distribution for each subject are not published, so difficulty cannot be compared by subject; families can rely only on each course's prerequisites and the recommendations of the teachers.
Which AP courses does Woodbridge High School not offer?
Woodbridge High School does not offer AP European History, AP Comparative Government, AP African American Studies, or AP Seminar / Research, and in world languages it does not offer AP French or AP Japanese. AP Microeconomics was discontinued after the 2024-25 school year; students who want to take this exam need to complete the course outside school.
Is there a limit on the number of AP courses at Woodbridge High School?
Woodbridge High School has not published a cap on the number of AP courses. The practical limit comes from the schedule: a student may take at most 6 courses per semester, and the 7th and 8th courses must be open enrollment courses such as varsity athletics, performing arts, or yearbook. As a result, 4 to 5 AP courses per year in grades 11 to 12 is the common upper limit; more would require using 7th period, and academic courses are not scheduled in 7th period.
Why is AP English Language taken in grade 10 at Woodbridge High School?
This reflects the Woodbridge High School English sequence: English 1 Embedded Honors in grade 9, AP English Language in grade 10, Honors American Literature in grade 11, and AP English Literature in grade 12. Admission to AP English Language in grade 10 requires the honors notation in grade 9 and a grade of B+ or higher in both semesters. Students who miss this threshold can take only regular American Literature in grade 11.
