The Huntington Beach Union High School District uses the traditional algebra, geometry and Algebra 2 sequence, with courses named Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2, rather than the Integrated Math sequence used by Irvine Unified. Families moving from Irvine often equate Math II with Geometry and misjudge placement. At Edison High School, grade 9 math placement is largely settled by the district placement exams in the spring of grade 8, and the course catalog lays out four common routes and the conditions for moving up. This page covers the placement exams, the four routes, how accelerated courses are weighted, and the prerequisites for AP Calculus and AP Statistics.
How Edison High School Places Grade 9 Math Students
The district's 2026-27 math placement uses multiple measures: grade 8 math grades, teacher recommendation, student preference, Smarter Balanced (SBAC) scores and placement exams. Students in Math 8 take no exam and are placed in Algebra 1 or Algebraic Mindsets by teacher recommendation and student preference; grade 8 students currently in Algebra 1 or Geometry take a placement exam that leads to Accelerated Geometry or Algebra 2/Trigonometry respectively.
| Grade 8 situation | Grade 9 math |
|---|---|
| In Math 8 | Algebra 1 or Algebraic Mindsets, by teacher recommendation and student preference, with no exam |
| In Algebra 1, passed the Geometry Placement Exam | Accelerated Geometry, which also requires B or better in Algebra 1 and teacher recommendation |
| In Algebra 1, not placed in Accelerated Geometry | Algebra 1 |
| Completed Algebra 1 and Geometry, passed the Algebra 2/Trig Placement Exam | Algebra 2/Trigonometry |
The Two District Placement Exams Used at Edison High School
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Geometry Placement Exam | For grade 8 Algebra 1 students who want to start in Accelerated Geometry: 22 questions, 50 points, a 90-minute limit and only the online scientific calculator. Quadratic functions make up 24% of the points, inequalities and functions 22%, linear functions 18%, and polynomials and radicals 16%, with the rest on systems, exponents and number sense |
| Algebra 2/Trig Placement Exam | For grade 8 students who have completed Geometry and want to start in Algebra 2/Trigonometry: also 22 questions, 50 points and 90 minutes. Algebra foundations make up 50% of the points, right triangles and trigonometry 16%, angle properties 14%, and congruent figures, area and volume, and circles 20% combined |
| Exam logistics | Exams are taken online in middle school math classes, and scores are finalized by the district math coordinators after June 4. The 2026 make-up dates were Saturday, June 6 and Friday, August 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ocean View High School, for students who had not taken the exam; they are not retakes |
| Confirmation after school starts | All grade 9 students also take a diagnostic exam in math class within the first three weeks of school to confirm placement |
Edison High School’s Four Math Routes
Fastest route (Geometry completed by grade 8)
- Grade 9: Algebra 2/Trigonometry, after passing the placement exam
- Grade 10: Pre-Calculus Honors
- Grade 11: AP Calculus BC
- Grade 12: AP Statistics
Accelerated route (Algebra 1 completed by grade 8)
- Grade 9: Accelerated Geometry, after passing the Geometry Placement Exam
- Grade 10: Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Algebra 2, or Algebra 2 for the 21st Century
- Grade 11: Pre-Calculus Honors
- Grade 12: AP Calculus BC
Standard route (Math 8 in grade 8)
- Grade 9: Algebra 1
- Grade 10: Geometry
- Grade 11: Algebra 2
- Grade 12: Pre-Calculus
Foundation route (starting with Algebraic Mindsets)
- Grade 9: Algebraic Mindsets, the first year of a two-year Algebra 1
- Grade 10: Algebra 1
- Grade 11: Geometry
- Grade 12: Algebra 2, Consumer Math, or Algebra 2 for the 21st Century
The Huntington Beach Union High School District uses the traditional Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 sequence, not the Integrated Math sequence used by Irvine Unified. Either Algebra 2 or Algebra 2/Trigonometry satisfies the UC math requirement, and the district notes that Algebra 2/Trig counts as one year of Algebra 2 only, not as an added semester of trigonometry. The four routes come from the route chart in the 2026-27 Course Catalog, and moving up also requires the following:
- At the initial grade 9 placement, a parent waiver lets a student move up one math level
- A student moves on only with a C or higher in the prerequisite course; otherwise the current course must be repeated
- A or B grades in both Algebra 1 and Accelerated Geometry are required to move on to Algebra 2/Trigonometry
- The catalog notes that the paths shown are the most common ones and that more courses are offered beyond Algebra 2
Edison High School Routes Into AP Calculus and Prerequisites
| Course | Details |
|---|---|
| Accelerated Geometry | Grades 9-10; prerequisites are B or better in Algebra 1, the Geometry Placement Exam and teacher recommendation. Not weighted by the district or UC |
| Algebra 2/Trigonometry | Grades 9-11; no grade lower than B in any semester of Algebra 1 and Accelerated Geometry, with summer homework. Not weighted by the district or UC |
| Pre-Calculus Honors | Grades 10-12; the catalog prerequisite is "C or better in Algebra 2 Honors." It is the school's first math course weighted by both the district and UC |
| AP Calculus AB | Grades 11-12; C or better in Pre-Calculus or Pre-Calculus Honors |
| AP Calculus BC | Grades 11-12; B or better in Pre-Calculus Honors. The catalog does not require AP Calculus AB first |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11-12; an A in Algebra 2, or B or better in "Algebra 2 Honors"; may be taken alongside Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus |
| Probability & Statistics | Grades 11-12, C or better in Algebra 2; the second semester supports the Golden West College STAT C1000 dual enrollment course, worth 4 college units, and the catalog recommends it for non-STEM majors |
The catalog lists “Algebra 2 Honors” as a prerequisite in several places, but neither the 2026-27 catalog nor the selection forms include that course. The advanced Algebra 2 course on the selection forms is Algebra 2/Trigonometry, so families should confirm with a counselor which course the prerequisite refers to before course selection.
Edison High School Math Courses and UC Weighting
Accelerated Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry sit on the accelerated route, but their titles do not include Honors and the selection forms do not mark them as weighted, so both the district and UC count them as standard courses. Among Edison High School math courses, Pre-Calculus Honors is the first one weighted by both the district and UC; AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Statistics and AP Computer Science A are also on UC’s approved list.
UC counts only grade 10 and 11 courses. On the catalog routes, a student who completed Algebra 1 in grade 8 takes Accelerated Geometry in grade 9 and Algebra 2/Trigonometry in grade 10, so math carries no weight in grade 10 and weighting starts with Pre-Calculus Honors in grade 11; a student who completed Geometry in grade 8 takes Pre-Calculus Honors in grade 10, so math weighting starts in grade 10. Students on the accelerated route can add grade 10 weight with AP Computer Science A (after Algebra 2) or with honors and AP courses in other subjects.
Edison High School Computer Science and Engineering Courses
Edison High School’s computer science and engineering courses fall into two groups: the two AP computer science courses are school courses, and the two engineering courses are Orange Coast College dual enrollment courses taught at Edison for its high school students only. Their UC A-G categories differ, so they can fill different A-G requirements.
- AP Computer Science Principles: grades 9-12 after Algebra 1, UC A-G category d (laboratory science)
- AP Computer Science A: grades 10-12 after Algebra 2, taught in Java, UC A-G category c (mathematics)
- Introduction to Engineering and Design (Orange Coast College ENGR A110): grades 10-12, C or better in Algebra 1, 3 UC/CSU-transferable units
- Engineering Graphics (Orange Coast College ENGR A180): grades 10-12, C or better in Geometry, 4 UC/CSU-transferable units, UC A-G category f (arts)
Edison High School Math Course List
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | C or better in Pre-Calculus or Pre-Calculus HonorsThe catalog recommends it for students interested in STEM majors; Transcript abbreviations: AP Calc AB/A, AP Calc AB/B, AP Calc/AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | B or better in Pre-Calculus HonorsThe catalog recommends it for students interested in STEM majors; Transcript abbreviations: AP Calc BC/A, AP Calc BC/B | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | A in Algebra 2, or B or better in Algebra 2 Honors (catalog wording)The catalog recommends it for students interested in non-STEM majors; Transcript abbreviations: AP Stats A, AP Stats B | c |
| Pre-Calculus Honors | Honors | 10-12 | C or better in Algebra 2 Honors (catalog wording; the matching course on the selection forms is Algebra 2/Trigonometry)UC-approved honors course, weighted by the district and by UC; The first math course at the school weighted by both the district and UC; Transcript abbreviations: Precalc Hon A, Precalc Hon B | c |
| Accelerated Geometry | CP | 9-10 | B or better in Algebra 1, Geometry Placement Exam and teacher recommendationNot weighted by the district or by UC; Transcript abbreviations: Accel Geom A, Accel Geom B | c |
| Algebra 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Transcript abbreviations: Algebra 1 B, Algebra 1A | c |
| Algebra 2 | CP | 10-12 | C or better in Geometry, C in Accelerated Geometry, or teacher recommendationTranscript abbreviations: Algebra 2A, Algebra 2B | c |
| Algebra 2 for the 21st Century | CP | 11-12 | C or better in GeometryThe catalog lists grades 9-12 but describes it as designed for juniors and seniors not on a STEM pathway; Transcript abbreviations: Alg 2 21C 1A, Alg 2 21C 1B | c |
| Algebra 2/Trigonometry | CP | 9-11 | No grade lower than B in any semester of Algebra 1 and Accelerated Geometry; incoming grade 9 students take the Algebra 2/Trig Placement ExamSummer homework required; not weighted by the district or by UC; Transcript abbreviations: Alg 2/Trig A, Alg 2/Trig B, Algebra 2/Trig A, B | c |
| Explorations in Data Science - Youcubed Adaptable Curriculum | CP | — | —Not listed in the 2026-27 course catalog or course selection forms; Transcript abbreviations: Data Science A, Data Science B | c |
| Functional Design Through Algebra | CP | — | —Not listed in the 2026-27 course catalog or course selection forms; Transcript abbreviations: Design Alg 1A, Design Alg 1B | c |
| Geometry | CP | 10-12 | C or better in Algebra 1Transcript abbreviations: Geom A, Geom B | c |
| Geometry + Computer Visualization/Simulation | CP | — | —Not listed in the 2026-27 course catalog or course selection forms; Transcript abbreviations: Geo/Comp Sim A, Geo/Comp Sim B | c |
| Pre-Calculus | CP | 10-12 | C or better in Algebra 2, C in Algebra 2 Honors, or teacher recommendationTranscript abbreviations: Precalculus A, Precalculus B | c |
| Probability & Statistics | CP | 11-12 | C or better in Algebra 2Second semester supports the Golden West College STAT C1000 dual enrollment course taken after school, worth 4 college units; Transcript abbreviations: Prob/Stat | c |
| Trigonometry | CP | — | —Not listed in the 2026-27 course catalog or course selection forms; Transcript abbreviations: Trigonometry | c |
ASE Academy (discontinued)
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASE Algebra 1 | CP | — | —The ASE program was discontinued starting in 2025-26 (School Profile); the course remains on the UC A-G list; Transcript abbreviations: ASE Algebra 1A, ASE Algebra 1B | c |
| ASE Algebra 2 | CP | — | —The ASE program was discontinued starting in 2025-26 (School Profile); the course remains on the UC A-G list; Transcript abbreviations: ASE Algebra 2A, ASE Algebra 2B | c |
| ASE Geometry | CP | — | —The ASE program was discontinued starting in 2025-26 (School Profile); the course remains on the UC A-G list; Transcript abbreviations: ASE Geom A, ASE Geom B | c |
| ASE Precalculus | CP | — | —The ASE program was discontinued starting in 2025-26 (School Profile); the course remains on the UC A-G list; Transcript abbreviations: ASE Precalc A, ASE Precalc B | c |
Edison High School Math Pathway: Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine families should note: does Edison High School use Integrated Math or traditional algebra and geometry?
Edison High School uses the traditional sequence. Huntington Beach Union High School District math courses run Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 in order, not the Integrated Math sequence used by Irvine Unified. Graduation requires three years of math, at least one year of Algebra 1 or higher, with one of the years completed in grade 11 or 12; the UC math requirement can be met with Algebra 2 or Algebra 2/Trigonometry.
How is grade 9 math placement handled at Edison High School, a question Irvine families often ask?
Edison High School places grade 9 math students through the Huntington Beach Union High School District process. Students in Math 8 take no exam and are placed in Algebra 1 or Algebraic Mindsets by teacher recommendation and student preference; grade 8 Algebra 1 students take the Geometry Placement Exam to qualify for Accelerated Geometry, and students who have completed Geometry take the Algebra 2/Trig Placement Exam. The district also weighs grade 8 grades, teacher recommendation and state test scores, and a diagnostic exam in the first three weeks of school confirms placement.
How does a student transferring from outside the district take the Edison High School math placement exam, for Irvine families?
Edison High School's Huntington Beach Union High School District states that out-of-district transfer students, and students who were absent on their middle school's testing date, must register on the district website for a make-up exam; the school's freshman guidance night also tells students from non-feeder schools to sign up there. The 2026 make-up exams were Saturday, June 6 and Friday, August 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Ocean View High School. Make-ups are only for students who have not taken the exam; they are not retakes.
Irvine families should note: are Edison High School's Accelerated Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry weighted in UC applications?
Edison High School's Accelerated Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry are not weighted. Neither title includes Honors and the selection forms do not mark them as weighted, so both the district GPA and the UC GPA count them as standard courses. The first weighted math course at Edison High School is Pre-Calculus Honors, and AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics and AP Computer Science A are all weighted by UC.
What is the earliest grade for AP Calculus at Edison High School, for Irvine families planning ahead?
Edison High School opens both AP Calculus AB and BC to grades 11 and 12. The prerequisite for AP Calculus BC is a B or better in Pre-Calculus Honors, and the catalog does not require AP Calculus AB first. On the school's published routes, a student who completed Geometry in grade 8 takes Algebra 2/Trigonometry in grade 9, Pre-Calculus Honors in grade 10, AP Calculus BC in grade 11 and AP Statistics in grade 12.
