Corona del Mar High School offers 27 AP courses in 2026-27, including AP Seminar and AP Research, which make up the College Board’s AP Capstone. The school has only five honors courses, and English, history and world languages have none, so AP is the main vehicle for course rigor and GPA weighting here: the prerequisite sheet states that every AP course adds 1.0 to the school GPA. In May 2026, students took 1,796 AP exams in 30 subjects, and adding up the score distribution in the School Profile, 84.7% earned a 3 or higher. This page lists the grade levels and grade thresholds of each AP course, 2026 results by subject, and course combinations by intended major.
The 27 AP Courses at Corona del Mar High School
The 2026-27 prerequisite sheet and School Profile together list 27 AP courses: Human Geography, World History: Modern, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Comparative Government and Politics, Macroeconomics, English Language, English Literature, Seminar, Research, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Cybersecurity, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics C: Mechanics, Chinese, French, Spanish, Drawing, 2-D Art and Design, Art History and Psychology. AP courses at Corona del Mar High School are not fully open enrollment: most list a GPA threshold, a grade in the preceding course or a teacher recommendation on the prerequisite sheet. For example, AP U.S. History requires a 3.4 GPA, and AP Calculus BC requires an A- in both semesters of Honors Enhanced Math III. The counseling FAQ states that students cannot drop an honors or AP course because it is too difficult.Grade Levels for AP Courses at Corona del Mar High School
The only AP open in grade 9 is AP Human Geography, offered in AGS and non-AGS sections. From grade 10, students can take AP World History: Modern and AP Computer Science Principles, and AGS students add AP Seminar. Grade 11 opens AP English Language, AP U.S. History and AP Psychology, and AGS students take AP Research; the non-AGS section of AP Seminar is open only to grades 11 and 12. AP Computer Science A and AP Cybersecurity are open only to grades 11 and 12. AP English Literature and AP U.S. Government / AP Macroeconomics are senior courses, and AP Art History gives priority to grade 12. Math, science and world language AP courses have no grade restriction and depend on grades in the prerequisite courses.
Entry Requirements for Each AP Course at Corona del Mar High School
Corona del Mar High School’s prerequisite sheet lists the grade and recommendation requirements for each AP course. The table below follows the 2026-27 prerequisite sheet course by course; GPA thresholds are a mix of recommendations and firm requirements, so the sheet’s wording takes precedence.
| AP course | Grade level and prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP Human Geography | Grade 9; the AGS section requires AGS enrollment and an information meeting, and a 3.5 GPA is highly recommended for the non-AGS section |
| AP World History: Modern | Grade 10; GPA of 3.2 or higher and a B or better in Comp Lit 1 |
| AP Seminar | Required for AGS students in grade 10; the non-AGS section is open only to grades 11 and 12 |
| AP Computer Science Principles | Grade 10 or higher; an A in English recommended |
| AP English Language and Composition | Grade 11; recommended 3.0 GPA, information meeting, reading benchmark quiz and teacher recommendation |
| AP U.S. History | Grade 11; GPA of 3.4 or higher and a meeting in March |
| AP Research | Required for AGS students in grade 11, following AP Seminar |
| AP Psychology | Grades 11 and 12; recommended 2.5 GPA |
| AP Computer Science A | Grades 11 and 12; an A in Geometry or a B or better in Enhanced Math II, plus an A in English |
| AP Cybersecurity | Grades 11 and 12; no prerequisite; not on the 2026-27 UC A-G list |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Grade 12; recommended 3.0 GPA, information meeting and teacher recommendation |
| AP U.S. Government / AP Macroeconomics | Grade 12, one semester each; cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher |
| AP Comparative Government / AP Macroeconomics | Grade 12, taken by AGS students |
| AP Calculus AB | B- or better in both semesters of Enhanced Math III or Pre-Calculus |
| AP Calculus BC | A- in both semesters of Honors Enhanced Math III and a teacher recommendation |
| AP Statistics | A in both semesters of Algebra 2, or C or better in Honors Enhanced Math III, plus a teacher recommendation |
| AP Biology | B or better in Honors Biology or an A in Biology; B or better in Chemistry; GPA of 3.25 or higher |
| AP Chemistry | A in Honors Chemistry (a B needs teacher recommendation) or an A in Chemistry with teacher recommendation; B or better in Algebra 2 or concurrent Algebra 2 |
| AP Environmental Science | B or better in Honors Biology or an A in Biology; B or better in Chemistry and Geometry |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | B or better in AP Calculus, or concurrent AP Calculus |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | B or better in Mandarin 3, or teacher recommendation |
| AP French Language and Culture | A- or higher in French 3, with teacher recommendation and approval |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | A (95%) in Spanish 3 and an A in Spanish 4, plus a diagnostic and speaking exam |
| AP Drawing | Portfolio evaluation and teacher recommendation |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | AP Studio Art 1AB or teacher approval |
| AP Art History | Priority to grade 12; grade 11 students must be recommended |
AP Capstone and the Academy of Global Studies (AGS) at Corona del Mar High School
AP Capstone is the College Board diploma program built on AP Seminar and AP Research. At Corona del Mar High School, AGS students take AP Seminar in grade 10 and AP Research in grade 11, and all are AP Capstone Diploma candidates; non-AGS students can also take AP Seminar in grades 11 and 12. AP Seminar counts in UC A-G area b but does not replace Comp/Lit English, and AP Research counts in area g.In May 2026, students took 59 AP Seminar exams and 45 AP Research exams, and according to the score distribution in the School Profile, every one of those exams earned a 3 or higher. Every social science course an AGS student takes over four years is AP: AP Human Geography in grade 9, AP World History in grade 10, AP U.S. History in grade 11, and AP Comparative Government and AP Macroeconomics in grade 12. With AP Seminar and AP Research, AGS students take at least seven required AP courses, and choose their math, science and other AP courses themselves. AGS is applied for in grade 8 and requires Newport-Mesa Unified School District residency; see the Corona del Mar High School College Planning Guide for the application requirements.
Corona del Mar High School 2026 AP Exam Results by Subject
The School Profile publishes the number of exams and the numbers of 5s, 4s and 3s for 30 subjects in May 2026. In the table below, “3 or higher” is the sum of those three counts, and the share is calculated against exams taken; the school does not publish the number of test takers. The AP Statistics and AP U.S. Government rows in the Profile are identical, likely a data entry repeat, and any correction from the school takes precedence. German, Japanese, Microeconomics and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism have no matching course on the 2026-27 prerequisite sheet.
| Subject | Exams | 3 or higher | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP World History: Modern | 246 | 199 | 80.9% |
| AP Environmental Science | 134 | 106 | 79.1% |
| AP Psychology | 122 | 111 | 91.0% |
| AP Macroeconomics | 121 | 82 | 67.8% |
| AP Human Geography | 112 | 104 | 92.9% |
| AP Statistics | 109 | 95 | 87.2% |
| AP U.S. Government and Politics | 109 | 95 | 87.2% |
| AP Calculus AB | 84 | 73 | 86.9% |
| AP English Language and Composition | 82 | 79 | 96.3% |
| AP Computer Science Principles | 80 | 60 | 75.0% |
| AP U.S. History | 78 | 73 | 93.6% |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 68 | 41 | 60.3% |
| AP Seminar | 59 | 59 | 100.0% |
| AP Biology | 52 | 44 | 84.6% |
| AP Chemistry | 46 | 44 | 95.7% |
| AP Research | 45 | 45 | 100.0% |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 43 | 34 | 79.1% |
| AP Calculus BC | 41 | 40 | 97.6% |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 37 | 29 | 78.4% |
| AP Art History | 36 | 30 | 83.3% |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 35 | 32 | 91.4% |
| AP Computer Science A | 22 | 19 | 86.4% |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | 12 | 8 | 66.7% |
| AP French Language and Culture | 7 | 4 | 57.1% |
| AP Drawing | 6 | 6 | 100.0% |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | 100.0% |
| AP German Language and Culture | 3 | 2 | 66.7% |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 2 | 2 | 100.0% |
| AP Microeconomics | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 1 | 1 | 100.0% |
Adding up the table, 1,521 of 1,796 exams earned a 3 or higher, or 84.7%. Among subjects with larger numbers of exams, the share scoring 3 or higher was highest in AP English Language (96.3%), AP Chemistry (95.7%), AP U.S. History (93.6%) and AP Human Geography (92.9%), and lower in AP Spanish (60.3%), AP Macroeconomics (67.8%) and AP Computer Science Principles (75.0%).
AP Courses Corona del Mar High School Does Not Offer
- AP Precalculus
- AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Microeconomics
- AP European History
- AP Music Theory
- AP 3-D Art and Design
- AP courses in languages other than Chinese, French and Spanish, such as German and Japanese
Physics is the clearest gap in the school’s AP offerings: the prerequisite sheet lists only regular Physics and AP Physics C: Mechanics, with no AP Physics 1 or AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C: Mechanics requires prior or concurrent AP Calculus. In math, the school has no AP Precalculus; Pre-Calculus on the accelerated pathway is a regular or honors course.
Corona del Mar High School AP Exam Registration and Fees
Students register for AP exams in My AP Classroom and pay through MySchoolBucks; an exam is ordered only after both steps are complete. For 2026-27 the registration and payment deadline was November 6, 2026, and each exam cost $103, with reduced fees applied automatically for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. From November 7 the College Board adds a $40 late fee, and exams ordered but not taken after November 6 carry a $40 cancellation fee. The school page states that AP exams are available at the school only to students enrolled in that AP course at Corona del Mar High School.Corona del Mar High School AP Course List
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 11 | Recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher; must attend an information meeting and pass a reading benchmark quiz; teacher recommendation requiredAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | Recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher and an information meeting; teacher recommendation requiredAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | b |
| AP Seminar | AP | 10 (AGS); 11-12 (non-AGS) | The grade 10 section is required for the Academy of Global Studies (AGS); a separate section for non-AGS students is open to grades 11 and 12 onlyOne of the two AP Capstone core courses; does not replace Comp/Lit English. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | b |
History / Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Human Geography | AP | 9 | AGS section: 3.5 GPA, information meeting, enrollment in AGS; non-AGS section: 3.5 GPA highly recommendedAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | a |
| AP World History: Modern | AP | 10 | GPA of 3.2 or higher and a B or higher in Comp Lit 1Required for AGS in grade 10. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | a |
| AP United States History | AP | 11 | GPA of 3.4 or higher and a meeting in MarchRequired for AGS in grade 11. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | a |
| AP U.S. Government and Politics / AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higherOne semester each. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | a / g |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics / AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | Taken by AGS students; the prerequisite sheet does not list it separatelyAGS seniors take this pair to meet the government and economics requirement. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | a / g |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | — | B- or better in both semesters of Enhanced Math III, or B- or better in both semesters of Pre-CalculusAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | — | A- in both semesters of Honors Enhanced Math III; teacher recommendation requiredAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | — | A in both semesters of Algebra 2, or C or better in Honors Enhanced Math III; teacher recommendation requiredAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | c |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 11-12 | A in Geometry or B or better in Enhanced Math II, and an A in EnglishCounts in UC A-G area c (the school A-G sheet lists c or g). AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Environmental Science | AP | — | B or better in Honors Biology or an A in Biology; B or better in Chemistry and GeometryAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | d |
| AP Biology | AP | — | B or better in Honors Biology or an A in Biology; B or better in Chemistry; GPA of 3.25 or higherAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | — | A in Honors Chemistry, or a B with teacher recommendation, or an A in Chemistry with teacher recommendation; B or better in Algebra 2, or concurrent Algebra 2 with a B or better in GeometryAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP | — | B or better in AP Calculus, or concurrent enrollment in AP CalculusThe only AP physics course the school offers. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | d |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | A in English recommended; grade 10 or higherThe prerequisite sheet lists grades 9-12 but also states grade 10 or higher. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | d |
World Languages
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP French Language and Culture | AP | — | A- or higher in French 3; teacher recommendation and approvalAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | e |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture (AP Mandarin) | AP | — | B or better in Mandarin 3 and/or teacher recommendationAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | — | A (95%) in Spanish 3 and an A in Spanish 4, plus a diagnostic and speaking exam; teacher approvalAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | e |
Visual & Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Drawing | AP | — | Portfolio evaluation and teacher recommendation required; workshops or classes recommendedAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | f |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | AP | — | AP Studio Art 1AB or teacher approvalAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | Grade 12 has priority; grade 11 students must be recommendedAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | f |
Electives
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | Recommended GPA of 2.5 or higherAP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | g |
| AP Research | AP | 11 (AGS) | Required for AGS in grade 11; follows AP SeminarThe second AP Capstone core course. AP courses add 1.0 to the school GPA; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications | g |
| AP Cybersecurity | AP | 11-12 | —Not on the 2026-27 UC A-G list; the School Profile lists it in the g column | — |
Corona del Mar High School AP Combinations by Intended Major
Corona del Mar High School AP: Frequently Asked Questions
How many AP courses does Corona del Mar High School offer, Irvine families ask?
Corona del Mar High School's 2026-27 prerequisite sheet and School Profile together list 27 AP courses across history and social science, English, math, science, world languages, art and computer science; AP Seminar and AP Research make up the College Board's AP Capstone. The school does not offer AP Precalculus, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Microeconomics or AP European History; its only AP physics course is AP Physics C: Mechanics.
Do Corona del Mar High School AP courses have entry requirements, for Irvine families asking?
Corona del Mar High School lists requirements for most AP courses on its prerequisite sheet: AP World History requires a 3.2 GPA and a B or better in Comp Lit 1, AP U.S. History a 3.4 GPA, AP U.S. Government and AP Macroeconomics a 3.4 cumulative GPA, and AP Biology a 3.25 GPA; AP Calculus BC requires an A- in both semesters of Honors Enhanced Math III and a teacher recommendation, and AP English Language requires a reading benchmark quiz and teacher recommendation. The counseling FAQ adds that honors and AP courses cannot be dropped because they are difficult.
Can grade 9 students take AP at Corona del Mar High School, Irvine families ask?
Corona del Mar High School's grade 9 students can take one AP course: AP Human Geography. It has an AGS section, which requires AGS enrollment and an information meeting, and a non-AGS section, for which a 3.5 GPA is highly recommended. From grade 10, AP World History and AP Computer Science Principles open, and AGS students add AP Seminar.
How do Corona del Mar High School students score on AP exams, for Irvine families comparing schools?
Corona del Mar High School's 2026-27 School Profile publishes the number of exams and the numbers of 5s, 4s and 3s for 30 subjects in May 2026. Adding up the table, students took 1,796 exams and 1,521, or 84.7%, earned a 3 or higher. In AP World History, the most-taken exam, 199 of 246 exams scored 3 or higher; 40 of 41 AP Calculus BC exams and 44 of 46 AP Chemistry exams did as well, and every AP Seminar and AP Research exam earned a 3 or higher.
How do students register for AP exams at Corona del Mar High School, and what do they cost, Irvine families ask?
Corona del Mar High School students register for AP exams in My AP Classroom and pay through MySchoolBucks. For 2026-27 the deadline was November 6, 2026, and each exam cost $103, with reduced fees applied automatically for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals; from November 7 a $40 late fee applies, and exams ordered but not taken carry a $40 cancellation fee. The school page states that only students enrolled in that AP course at the school can test there.
What is AP Capstone at Corona del Mar High School, for Irvine families asking?
Corona del Mar High School's AP Capstone is the College Board diploma program built on two courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Students in the Academy of Global Studies (AGS) take AP Seminar in grade 10 and AP Research in grade 11, and all are AP Capstone Diploma candidates; non-AGS students can also take AP Seminar in grades 11 and 12. In May 2026, all 59 AP Seminar exams and all 45 AP Research exams earned a 3 or higher.
