Foothill High School opened in 1963 and is one of three comprehensive high schools in the Tustin Unified School District (TUSD), with a Santa Ana mailing address at 19251 Dodge Ave. California Department of Education (CDE) data show 2,050 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. The school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12, with IB courses open to all students, alongside AP courses, the FEAT engineering pathway, nine career technical education pathways and on-campus dual enrollment with Irvine Valley College (IVC). This page does not rate the school. It answers one question: how a student at this school should plan the four high school years.
How Foothill High School Prepares Students for College
The school’s published data point to four features of Foothill High School.
First, AP and IB are interwoven. The 2026-27 selection sheets and course materials list 24 AP courses, and in 2025-26, 773 students took 1,402 AP exams in 23 subjects, with 89% scoring 3 or higher. On the IB side, the school has 68 IB students in grades 11 and 12 and more than 200 students in Pre-IB courses in grades 9 and 10, and the Class of 2026 had a 100% diploma pass rate. The two paths are not exclusive: the school states that AP U.S. History is year 1 of IB History of the Americas HL, and AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science and AP Spanish each correspond to an IB course.
Second, school weighting and UC weighting differ for math honors courses. The school counts every honors course on a 5-point scale, but the most common honors courses in grades 9 and 10, English 1 Honors, Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors and Algebra 2/Trig Honors, are not on the UC-approved honors list. The school honors courses UC does recognize are English 2 Honors, World History Honors, Pre-Calculus Honors, Chemistry Honors and Latin 4 Honors.
Third, career and college courses are broad. The district lists nine CTE pathways at the school, and 43.5% of the Class of 2026 earned at least one pathway cord; 132 juniors and seniors, about 12%, take Irvine Valley College courses on campus.
Fourth, graduates follow two main paths. The School Profile shows that 48% of graduates attend four-year universities, while 52% choose community college, the armed forces or technical school. On the UC side, 161 students applied for fall 2025 and 120 were admitted, but UC Berkeley admitted 12 of 75 applicants and UCLA 12 of 107.
How to Enroll at Foothill High School
The short answer: Foothill High School has no entrance exam; admission depends only on address and the district’s transfer review, and IB is a path for enrolled students, with the full diploma chosen in the spring of grade 10. The route differs for three groups of families.
Route 1: Living in the Foothill High School attendance area
- Confirm with the district's School Locator that the address is assigned to Foothill High School
- New students complete the district's online enrollment, then contact the counseling secretary to upload documents or book an in-person appointment
- Students already at a Tustin Unified middle school do not re-enroll; their enrollment is forwarded automatically
Route 2: Living in the district but assigned to another school
- Submit a School of Choice transfer request in the Aeries Parent Portal, one per student per year, which cannot be changed or withdrawn
- The 2027-28 window runs from 8 a.m. on January 4 to 3 p.m. on January 22, 2027, and requests are not first come, first served
- When seats run short, the district runs a computer-generated lottery by its priority order, with decisions sent in spring 2027
Route 3: Living outside the district (including Irvine)
- Apply for an inter-district transfer in the same window; out-of-district residents are placed after district residents
- New students entering grades 2 to 12 also submit a transcript, attendance record and discipline record
- Approved students submit an interdistrict permit from their home district (Irvine Unified School District for Irvine residents) by May 10, 2027 and renew it every year
- Transfer students cannot ride district buses, and CIF transfer rules apply to athletics
| Attendance area | Foothill High School enrolls students by Tustin Unified School District attendance area: students who live inside the boundary register by address, with no entrance exam. The district's School Locator is the authority on which school an address is assigned to; new students complete the district's online enrollment and then contact the counseling secretary to upload documents or book an in-person appointment. Students already at a Tustin Unified middle school do not re-enroll, because their enrollment is forwarded automatically to their high school of residence or approved school of choice. |
|---|---|
| Within the district | Students who live in Tustin Unified but outside the Foothill High School boundary apply through the district's School of Choice transfer request in the Aeries Parent Portal, one request per student per year, which cannot be changed or withdrawn once submitted. The 2027-28 window runs from 8 a.m. on January 4 to 3 p.m. on January 22, 2027. Requests are not first come, first served: when seats run short, the district runs a computer-generated lottery by its priority order, and decisions are sent in spring 2027. Foothill High School is not on the district's list of schools with limited availability for 2027-28. |
| From outside the district | Students who live outside the district, including Irvine residents, apply for an inter-district transfer in the same window and are placed after district residents in the priority order. New students entering grades 2 to 12 must also submit a recent transcript, attendance record and discipline record; approved students must submit an Interdistrict Attendance Permit from their home district by May 10, 2027, and the permit is renewed every year. Transfer students are not eligible for district bus transportation, CIF transfer rules apply to athletics, and an approved student may not transfer to another district school during that school year. |
| Honors and AP placement | Foothill High School uses grades and teacher recommendations for primary placement in Honors, AP and IB courses, and students may also request enrollment (2026-27 School Profile). The counseling department's course pathway pages state that students must meet the prerequisite or have a teacher's recommendation to enroll; no grade cutoffs are published. On the grade 9 selection sheet, World History Honors is open only to Pre-IB pathway students, and students whose home language is Spanish take a district assessment in April or May for possible placement in the Spanish for Native Speakers sequence. |
| IB program | Foothill High School's IB courses are open to all juniors and seniors as space allows, either as the full diploma or as individual classes. For students entering the full Diploma Programme in grade 11, the school recommends a weighted academic GPA of at least 4.0 (4.25 is considered highly qualified), advanced work in at least three of English, social science, science, math, world language or visual arts, and completion of French 2, Latin 2 or Spanish 2 by the end of grade 10, which is the IB minimum language requirement. Students on this path in grades 9 and 10 are designated Pre-IB; the contract and application become available in the spring of grade 10, the IB coordinator meets each student individually, and students and parents sign a contract to follow program requirements. |
Foothill High School UC Admissions Over Twelve Years: Applicants, Admit Rates and GPA
The data below come from the University of California Office of the President’s UC Infocenter, reported by source school and updated each year. They answer two questions: how many Foothill High School students apply and are admitted each year, and what GPAs admitted students hold. GPA is the UC weighted, capped GPA, which counts only courses from grades 10 and 11.
The ten lines are hard to tell apart where they overlap. Hover over any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; click to keep it highlighted, and click again to clear it.Tap any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; tap again to clear it.
Official UC data · By high school of origin · 2014–2025
Year-by-Year Data for Six Leading UC Campuses
Families most often ask about UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC Davis. The table lists Foothill High School applicants, admits, enrollees and average GPA at each campus by year; use the buttons to switch measures.
From 2014 to 2025, the admit rate for Foothill High School applicants to UC Los Angeles fell from 14% to 11%, and to UC Berkeley rose from 15% to 16%; the rate at UC Irvine fell from 34% to 23%.
This table has five data views. Use the buttons below to view admits, applicants, enrollees, admit GPA, and applicant GPA; the button for the current view is highlighted in yellow.
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 12 (16%) | 12 (11%) | 27 (25%) | 22 (22%) | 25 (23%) | 34 (44%) |
| 2024 | 8 (11%) | 12 (11%) | 36 (30%) | 30 (30%) | 24 (22%) | 25 (38%) |
| 2023 | 7 (6%) | 12 (8%) | 26 (18%) | 26 (19%) | 26 (19%) | 38 (40%) |
| 2022 | 9 (9%) | 10 (7%) | 14 (10%) | 24 (17%) | 21 (14%) | 17 (19%) |
| 2021 | 13 (14%) | 12 (10%) | 21 (18%) | 21 (22%) | 26 (22%) | 22 (32%) |
| 2020 | 14 (19%) | 19 (16%) | 33 (31%) | 30 (31%) | 33 (30%) | 33 (42%) |
| 2019 | 12 (20%) | 13 (13%) | 15 (17%) | 24 (28%) | 24 (27%) | 19 (33%) |
| 2018 | 20 (31%) | 19 (20%) | 39 (45%) | 32 (33%) | 31 (43%) | 33 (53%) |
| 2017 | 12 (16%) | 14 (12%) | 24 (23%) | 26 (24%) | 32 (24%) | 31 (43%) |
| 2016 | 19 (20%) | 17 (15%) | 26 (26%) | 36 (34%) | 32 (33%) | 20 (34%) |
| 2015 | 18 (28%) | 16 (17%) | 33 (35%) | 26 (29%) | 22 (28%) | 21 (29%) |
| 2014 | 13 (15%) | 16 (14%) | 30 (30%) | 44 (44%) | 34 (34%) | 38 (41%) |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 15% → 16% | ▼ 14% → 11% | ▼ 30% → 25% | ▼ 44% → 22% | ▼ 34% → 23% | ▲ 41% → 44% |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 75 | 107 | 110 | 101 | 110 | 77 |
| 2024 | 70 | 108 | 119 | 99 | 110 | 66 |
| 2023 | 119 | 145 | 144 | 136 | 136 | 95 |
| 2022 | 102 | 147 | 136 | 145 | 148 | 91 |
| 2021 | 93 | 121 | 117 | 97 | 118 | 68 |
| 2020 | 74 | 116 | 108 | 96 | 111 | 78 |
| 2019 | 61 | 102 | 89 | 87 | 88 | 57 |
| 2018 | 65 | 93 | 87 | 98 | 72 | 62 |
| 2017 | 76 | 118 | 103 | 108 | 134 | 72 |
| 2016 | 94 | 115 | 101 | 106 | 98 | 59 |
| 2015 | 65 | 94 | 95 | 90 | 78 | 72 |
| 2014 | 85 | 115 | 100 | 99 | 100 | 93 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▼ 85 → 75 | ▼ 115 → 107 | ▲ 100 → 110 | ▲ 99 → 101 | ▲ 100 → 110 | ▼ 93 → 77 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 5 | 8 | 7 | — | 8 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 | 8 | — | 6 | 9 | — |
| 2021 | 7 | 10 | — | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 6 |
| 2019 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| 2018 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 5 |
| 2016 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 | — |
| 2014 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 4 → 5 | ▲ 7 → 8 | ▼ 9 → 7 | — | ▲ 7 → 8 | 7 → 7 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 4.26 | 4.32 | 4.23 | 4.28 | 4.19 | 4.15 |
| 2024 | 4.23 | 4.24 | 4.21 | 4.25 | 4.12 | 4.18 |
| 2023 | 4.21 | 4.27 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.20 | 4.21 |
| 2022 | 4.31 | 4.25 | 4.24 | 4.27 | 4.15 | 4.18 |
| 2021 | 4.28 | 4.31 | 4.29 | 4.28 | 4.26 | 4.24 |
| 2020 | 4.26 | 4.23 | 4.22 | 4.26 | 4.17 | 4.23 |
| 2019 | 4.18 | 4.25 | 4.21 | 4.24 | 4.13 | 4.20 |
| 2018 | 4.23 | 4.25 | 4.20 | 4.24 | 4.07 | 4.18 |
| 2017 | 4.28 | 4.22 | 4.13 | 4.17 | 4.09 | 4.14 |
| 2016 | 4.17 | 4.24 | 4.19 | 4.09 | 4.12 | 4.09 |
| 2015 | 4.07 | 4.28 | 4.13 | 4.10 | 4.07 | 4.12 |
| 2014 | 4.29 | 4.29 | 4.14 | 4.10 | 4.08 | 4.08 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▼ 4.29 → 4.26 | ▲ 4.29 → 4.32 | ▲ 4.14 → 4.23 | ▲ 4.10 → 4.28 | ▲ 4.08 → 4.19 | ▲ 4.08 → 4.15 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 4.03 | 3.93 | 3.90 | 3.88 | 3.86 | 3.92 |
| 2024 | 4.02 | 3.94 | 3.89 | 3.89 | 3.86 | 3.89 |
| 2023 | 3.96 | 3.94 | 3.86 | 3.88 | 3.84 | 3.97 |
| 2022 | 4.01 | 3.98 | 3.92 | 3.93 | 3.86 | 3.90 |
| 2021 | 3.97 | 3.91 | 3.85 | 3.87 | 3.84 | 3.93 |
| 2020 | 4.05 | 4.00 | 3.92 | 3.88 | 3.86 | 3.96 |
| 2019 | 4.05 | 4.03 | 3.93 | 3.91 | 3.86 | 3.89 |
| 2018 | 4.08 | 3.96 | 3.91 | 3.87 | 3.77 | 3.94 |
| 2017 | 3.89 | 3.82 | 3.73 | 3.71 | 3.63 | 3.79 |
| 2016 | 3.90 | 3.91 | 3.81 | 3.77 | 3.73 | 3.76 |
| 2015 | 3.92 | 3.88 | 3.77 | 3.75 | 3.66 | 3.70 |
| 2014 | 3.94 | 3.89 | 3.86 | 3.84 | 3.74 | 3.81 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3.94 → 4.03 | ▲ 3.89 → 3.93 | ▲ 3.86 → 3.90 | ▲ 3.84 → 3.88 | ▲ 3.74 → 3.86 | ▲ 3.81 → 3.92 |
Applicants and Admits by Campus in the Latest Year
| UC campus (fall 2025) | Applicants | Admits | Admit rate | Enrollees | Admit GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 75 | 12 | 16% | 5 | 4.26 |
| UC Los Angeles | 107 | 12 | 11% | 8 | 4.32 |
| UC San Diego | 110 | 27 | 25% | 7 | 4.23 |
| UC Davis | 77 | 34 | 44% | 7 | 4.15 |
| UC Irvine | 110 | 25 | 23% | 8 | 4.19 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 101 | 22 | 22% | — | 4.28 |
| UC Merced | 29 | 29 | 100% | — | 3.75 |
| UC Riverside | 68 | 61 | 90% | 10 | 3.87 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 57 | 36 | 63% | 3 | 4.00 |
Foothill High School GPA Weighting and Ranking Policy
| School weighting | Foothill High School calculates GPA on a weighted four-point system: college-prep courses earn 4 points for an A (including A+ and A-), 3 for a B, 2 for a C and 1 for a D, while AP and Honors courses earn 5 for an A, 4 for a B, 3 for a C and 1 for a D (2026-27 School Profile). The district course catalog states that IB courses use the same 5-point scale and that each university decides which courses qualify for honors credit. |
|---|---|
| Class rank | In accordance with Tustin Unified School District practice, Foothill High School does not rank students; it provides percentile ranges when universities or scholarship organizations request them. |
| International and unaccredited records | International or unaccredited records are recorded as Pass (P) or Fail (F) on the Foothill High School transcript, and students are encouraged to send their original records directly to colleges. |
| UC calculation | UC applications use UC's own GPA: only A-G courses from grades 10 and 11 count, only UC-approved honors, AP and IB courses on the A-G list earn extra points, and honors points are capped at eight semesters (University of California admissions GPA requirement). |
| Courses UC weights | All AP courses on the UC A-G list (21); IB courses on the UC A-G list, including IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL; English 2 Honors; World History Honors; Pre-Calculus Honors; Chemistry Honors; Latin 4 Honors; Advanced Treble Choir (H) |
| School honors courses UC does not weight | English 1 Honors; Algebra 1 Honors; Geometry Honors; Algebra 2/Trig Honors |
| Credit recovery and repeats | The 2026-27 School Profile states that students who earn a D or F in most college-prep courses may take part in credit recovery (D-validation); once the recovered course is completed, the original course is repeat-tagged on the transcript, remaining visible but excluded from credit totals and GPA. The district catalog states that when a course is repeated to improve the grade, credit is given for the higher grade. |
This rule shapes course planning. English 1 Honors, Algebra 1 Honors or Geometry Honors in grade 9 raise the school GPA but not the UC GPA, because UC counts only grades 10 and 11 and these courses are not on the UC honors list. Algebra 2/Trig Honors in grade 10 is also unweighted by UC, while English 2 Honors, Chemistry Honors and World History Honors in the same year are weighted. Because the school does not rank students, colleges read the transcript itself alongside the course offerings in the School Profile, so rigor has to show through course choices.
Foothill High School Four-Year Timeline
Grade 8
- SeptemberIB information meeting (September 14 in 2026, according to the school's IB website)
- January 4-22School of Choice and inter-district transfer window (2027-28)
- Mid-JanuaryShowcase Knight for incoming families (January 14, 2027)
- SpringComplete the grade 9 selection sheet: math starting point (Algebra 1 to Algebra 2/Trig), Biology or AP Biology, and world language
- May 10Approved out-of-district students submit the interdistrict permit (2027)
Grade 9
- August 13First day of the 2026-27 school year
- JanuaryCounselor orientation in Biology classes; Conversations with the Counselors for parents
- January-FebruaryLunchtime Course Shopping sessions, including Pre-IB and AVID meetings
- FebruarySubmit the four-year plan in Aeries and meet one-on-one with a counselor; CSF applications open in the second semester
- MayAP Biology exam (students in the course)
Grade 10
- January-FebruaryAttend IB subject and IVC dual enrollment meetings; IVC courses require an interest form
- SpringIB Diploma contract and application and a meeting with the IB coordinator; decide between the IB Diploma and an AP schedule for grade 11
- By the end of grade 10Complete level 2 of a world language (the IB minimum language requirement)
- MayAP exams such as AP European History and AP Chemistry
Grade 11
- November 1IB exam payment due (2026-27)
- SpringIB Theory of Knowledge meets in the early evening twice a week
- MarchIB world language oral assessments; one-on-one meeting to set grade 12 courses
- MayAP and IB exams; grades 10 and 11 determine the UC GPA
Grade 12
- FallIB Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay workday (November 14, 2026)
- October-DecemberUC, CSU and private college applications; give recommenders a Brag Sheet early
- AprilAwards of Excellence (April 26 on the 2026-27 IB calendar)
- May 27Class of 2027 graduation
Three decisions shape the path. The grade 9 course selection in the spring of grade 8 sets whether math starts at Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2/Trig and whether biology is regular or AP; the IB decision in the spring of grade 10 sets whether grades 11 and 12 follow the full diploma, individual IB courses or an AP schedule; and grades from grades 10 and 11 determine the UC GPA.
Foothill High School Signature Programs
- IB Diploma Programme: Foothill High School offers the two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12, with IB courses open to all students either as the full diploma or as individual classes. The school currently has 68 IB students in grades 11 and 12 and more than 200 students in Pre-IB courses in grades 9 and 10; the Class of 2026 IB Diploma pass rate was 100%.
- Advanced Placement (AP): AP is the College Board's program of college-level courses. The 2026-27 selection sheets and course materials list 24 AP courses. In 2025-26, 773 students (about 35% of the school) took 1,402 AP exams in 23 subjects, and 89% scored 3 or higher.
- Foothill Engineering And Technology (FEAT): FEAT is a project-based engineering pathway built on Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses: Introduction to Engineering Design uses SolidWorks for 3D modeling, Principles of Engineering covers mechanical, electrical, civil and robotics engineering, Computer Integrated Manufacturing uses CNC, welding and other equipment to produce student designs, and in Engineering Design and Development teams solve an open-ended engineering problem and defend their solution to outside reviewers. Introduction to Engineering Design meets the arts graduation requirement, Principles of Engineering can count as a fourth year of science, and pathway completers are recognized at graduation.
- Irvine Valley College CCAP Dual Enrollment: Through a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) agreement, Irvine Valley College (IVC) teaches college courses on the Foothill campus for juniors and seniors, who earn both high school and college credit. Offerings for 2026-27 include Business and Entrepreneurship (MGT 1, ENTR 200, 211 and 212), Kinesiology and Sports Medicine, Sports Management and Coaching Theory, American Sign Language (ASL 21 and 22), History of Dance (DNCE 77, fully online) and the new College Study Skills and Career Exploration. Students attend a lunchtime information meeting and then submit an interest form, with priority by order of submission and grade level. The School Profile reports that 132 juniors and seniors, about 12%, take an IVC CCAP class.
- Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways: The district lists nine CTE pathways at Foothill High School. Students take a concentrator course and then a completer course in the same area, and passing both earns a pathway cord at graduation; most pathway courses count as UC A-G "g" electives, and Introduction to Engineering Design can count as "f". The School Profile reports that 43.5% of the Class of 2026 earned at least one pathway cord.
- Engineering and manufacturingEngineering and Manufacturing, both starting with Introduction to Engineering Design
- Computing and roboticsComputer Science and Robotics
- Media and designMedia Arts: Film & Television, Visual Imagery (photography) and Graphic Design
- Health and culinaryApplied Medical (Sports Medicine ROP in grade 11, then IVC kinesiology in grade 12) and Culinary Arts (a two-year pathway that must start in grade 11)
- AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): AVID is an academic elective for students aiming at four-year colleges; students attend tutorials with college-aged tutors twice a week and take part in college visits, extracurricular activities and community service. AVID at Foothill High School serves more than 200 students in grades 9 to 12, and new students apply with two teacher recommendations during course registration each February and March. The School Profile reports that all 64 AVID students in the Class of 2026 were admitted to four-year colleges and 97% enrolled in college.
- Arts and media: Choral music has four ensembles, Bass Choir, Concert Choir, Advanced Treble Ensemble and the Madrigal Singers, the last two by audition; instrumental music includes marching band, concert band, orchestra, jazz band and guitar classes, with no experience required. The school also offers theater, journalism, yearbook (by application) and the daily FTV broadcast.
Foothill High School Clubs and Academic Competitions
Foothill High School's club list is kept in a Google spreadsheet linked from the school website and coordinated by ASB. The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and the National Honor Society (NHS) are two service clubs that require academic eligibility. Students apply to CSF each semester based on the previous semester's grades, starting in the second semester of grade 9; students with at least four semesters of membership between the second semester of grade 10 and grade 12, including at least one semester as a senior, earn Sealbearer recognition at graduation and a notation on the transcript.The FEAT engineering page lists the engineering design and robotics competitions students enter:
- FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
- VEX Robotics Competition (VRC)
- SeaPerch underwater robotics
- UCI Energy Invitational
- KidWind Challenge
- Chevron Design Challenge
- C-STEM Linkbot Robotics
The school website does not describe math, physics or computing competition teams. Students who want structured preparation for AMC, physics or computing olympiads need to arrange training outside school.
Foothill High School Counseling and Transcripts
| Counselors and meetings | Foothill High School has five counselors: one serves all grade 9 students and the other four are assigned by student last name, supported by the College and Career Center and the registrar. Counselors visit classes each January to explain A-G and graduation requirements and meet every student individually in February and March to finalize next year's courses, with the goal of every student completing a four-year academic plan in Aeries. |
|---|---|
| Parent sessions | Each January the counseling team holds Conversations with the Counselors, with separate sessions for parents of grade 9, grades 10 and 11, and grade 12 students; in mid-January the school also holds Showcase Knight for incoming families (January 14, 2027), with school tours and information on programs and clubs. |
| Recommendations | Private and out-of-state colleges generally require letters of recommendation. Seniors complete a Brag Sheet for the counselor, teacher or coach writing the letter, and the school notes that the recommendation deadline is the same even for Early Action applications. |
| Transcripts and planning tools | Students order official transcripts themselves through Parchment rather than through the counselor; the school uses Naviance and CaliforniaColleges.edu for college planning and application tracking. |
| Standardized tests | UC and CSU currently do not require SAT or ACT scores, while private and out-of-state colleges set their own policies; the school's CEEB/ACT code is 053234. |
| Summer school | Tustin Unified School District summer school starts the first Wednesday after the school year ends and serves mainly students recovering credit after a D, F or Incomplete in the first semester; during the year, grade validation is available only in zero or sixth period. Incoming grade 9 students may not take summer PE. Students on the IB path who take Algebra 1 in grade 9 must take Geometry in the summer. |
For grade levels and prerequisites of every course, see Courses and Course Selection; for math, see Math Pathways; for the AP and IB decision, see Choosing Between AP and IB.
Foothill High School College Planning Guide: Frequently Asked Questions
Can Irvine families transfer to Foothill High School?
Foothill High School belongs to the Tustin Unified School District and accepts inter-district transfer requests, so Irvine families who live outside the district can apply in the January window, which runs from January 4 to 22, 2027 for the 2027-28 school year. Requests are not first come, first served: when seats run short, district residents have priority and out-of-district residents are placed after them by computer-generated lottery, and Foothill High School is not on the 2027-28 list of schools with limited availability. Approved students must submit an interdistrict permit from their home district, such as Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), by May 10, 2027, and the district does not provide bus transportation for transfer students.
How can students from Irvine families join the Foothill High School IB program?
Foothill High School's IB courses are open to all juniors and seniors as space allows, either as the full diploma or as individual classes. For the full diploma, the school recommends a weighted academic GPA of at least 4.0, advanced work in at least three subjects and completion of a second-level world language course by the end of grade 10. Students follow the Pre-IB schedule in grades 9 and 10, then submit the program contract and application in the spring of grade 10 and meet individually with the IB coordinator. Irvine students living outside the district must first enroll through the district's transfer process.
Irvine families ask: how does Foothill High School weight GPA?
Foothill High School uses a weighted four-point system: college-prep courses earn 4 points for an A, while AP, Honors and IB courses earn 5 for an A, 4 for a B and 3 for a C. In keeping with Tustin Unified School District practice, the school does not rank students and provides percentile ranges when colleges or scholarship programs request them. UC applications follow UC's own rules: English 1 Honors, Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors and Algebra 2/Trig Honors are not on the UC-approved honors list, so UC counts them as standard courses.
How do Foothill High School students do in UC admissions, for Irvine families comparing options?
Foothill High School had 161 students apply to the University of California for fall 2025, and 120 were admitted to at least one campus, according to official source-school data from the University of California Office of the President. By campus, UC Irvine admitted 25 of 110 applicants, UCLA 12 of 107 and UC Berkeley 12 of 75. The average weighted GPA of admitted students was 4.26 at UC Berkeley and 4.28 at UC Santa Barbara.
How do Foothill High School students do on AP exams, a question Irvine families often ask?
Foothill High School's 2026-27 School Profile reports that in 2025-26, 773 students (about 35% of the school) took 1,402 AP exams in 23 subjects, and 89% scored 3 or higher. The school lists 24 AP courses in its 2026-27 selection sheets and course materials, and students who enroll in an AP course must register for that year's exam and sign a contract with their parents and teacher. The school does not publish pass rates by subject.
Where do Foothill High School graduates go, for Irvine families asking?
Foothill High School's 2026-27 School Profile reports that 48% of graduates attend four-year universities, while 52% choose community college, the armed forces or technical school; 81.7% of the Class of 2026 completed the UC and CSU A-G requirements, and 43.5% earned at least one CTE pathway cord. California Department of Education data show a four-year cohort graduation rate of 97.4% and an A-G completion rate of 78.1% for the Class of 2025.
