Foothill High School’s 2026-27 Course Selection Sheets come in four versions, one each for grades 9 to 12, with course numbers grouped by UC A-G category. This page combines the four sheets, the Course Shopping materials and the UC A-G list into a map of 127 courses, starting with the selection rules and graduation requirements and then listing the full course map. The district course catalog covers every course that could be offered anywhere in Tustin Unified; the school’s selection sheets show what Foothill High School actually offers.
Foothill High School Course Selection Rules
| Schedule | Foothill High School runs a six-period day: on regular days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) period 1 starts at 8:30 a.m. and period 6 ends at 3:35 p.m., each period lasts 57 minutes, and an 8-minute Foothill Television (FTV) broadcast runs between periods 2 and 3; most Wednesdays are late-start days with period 1 at 9:38 a.m. Zero period starts at 7:25 a.m. Semester courses last 18 weeks and year-long courses 36 weeks. |
|---|---|
| Credits and course load | Each course earns 5 credits per semester. The district requires students in grades 9 to 11 to attend six class periods daily; seniors with enough credits may take five classes with parent and counselor approval. |
| Seventh and zero period | Students are limited to six classes per semester; students in instrumental music, athletics, yearbook, ASB, AVID, IB and CTE programs may add a seventh class. Zero period is offered only as available and is not guaranteed. |
| Scheduling | The selection sheets state that the master schedule is built from data collected during course selection, so choosing a course does not guarantee placement; students make a year-long commitment to their courses, and changes may not be granted. Not every course on the sheets is offered every year. |
| Dropping a course | Under the district catalog, a student who withdraws from an elective after the third Friday of a semester, or from a core course (English, math, science or history) after the Monday following the first progress report, receives a withdraw F for the semester. |
| Credit check | The counseling department's credit check expects 60 credits by the end of grade 9, 120 by grade 10, 180 by grade 11 and 230 by grade 12. |
| Physical education | Incoming grade 9 students may not take summer PE and must be scheduled into PE during periods 1 to 6; incoming grade 10 students may take summer PE only if they are athletes or have an impacted schedule. |
| 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. |
| Off-campus and community college courses | The district course catalog requires prior written approval from the principal for off-campus courses taken for high school credit (except ROP), and courses that meet district graduation requirements must be taken on a district campus, including in summer. The school's dual enrollment page adds that community college courses cannot be used for advancement or to meet graduation requirements such as English, Algebra, Geometry, World Language, World History, U.S. History, Government and Economics; when credit is approved, the course counts as weighted, students may earn no more than 40 concurrent college credits, at most two community college courses are added to the transcript over four years, and a posted grade cannot be removed or changed. |
Foothill High School Graduation Requirements (230 Credits)
| Subject | Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 40 |
| Mathematics (through Geometry) | 20 |
| Science (three years, including one year of life science and one year of physical science) | 30 |
| Social Science (one year each of World History and U.S. History, one semester each of Government and Economics) | 30 |
| World Language / Visual & Performing Arts / Applied Arts (at least 10 credits in world language or visual and performing arts) | 20 |
| Physical Education (must pass the physical fitness test) | 20 |
| Electives | 70 |
Graduation requirements and college admission requirements are two different standards. The district requires only 20 credits of math through Geometry, three years of science without a laboratory requirement and 20 combined credits of world language and the arts. A student who plans only to the graduation standard may reach grade 12 without Algebra 2, without two years of laboratory science or without two consecutive years of one world language, so courses should be planned to the A-G standard.
Foothill High School Course Levels by Subject
The sequences below come from the counseling department’s course pathway pages and the 2026-27 selection sheets. CP means college preparatory (the regular, non-honors, non-AP course), Honors is the honors section, AP is Advanced Placement and IB is International Baccalaureate.
English
- Grade 9: English 1 or English 1 Honors
- Grade 10: English 2, English 2 Honors or AP Seminar English 10
- Grade 11: English 3, AP English Language or IB English HL1
- Grade 12: English 4 ERWC, AP English Literature or IB English HL2
Social Science
- Grade 9: no social science requirement; Pre-IB students may take World History Honors
- Grade 10: World History, World History Honors or AP European History (the selection sheet lists World History as the prerequisite)
- Grade 11: U.S. History or AP U.S. History; IB Diploma students count AP U.S. History as year 1 of History of the Americas HL
- Grade 12: one semester each of American Government and Economics, AP U.S. Government and AP Microeconomics, or IB History of the Americas HL2
Science (standard sequence)
- Grade 9: Biology: The Living Earth
- Grade 10: Chemistry in the Earth System
- Grade 11: Physics of the Universe
- Grade 12: a science elective such as Forensic Science, Oceanography or an AP science course
Science (honors, AP and IB sequence)
- Grade 9: AP Biology instead of regular Biology
- Grade 10: Chemistry Honors or AP Chemistry
- Grade 11: AP Physics 1, with AP Environmental Science, AP Chemistry or AP Biology as an additional science; IB Diploma students take IB Biology HL1
- Grade 12: AP Physics 2, IB Biology HL2, AP Environmental Science or another AP science not yet taken
Grade levels and prerequisites for advanced science courses (one course per row):
| Course | Grades and prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP Biology | Listed for grades 9, 11 and 12 on the 2026-27 selection sheets; the IB schedule recommends Biology or AP Biology in grade 9 |
| Chemistry Honors | Grade 10; a UC-approved honors course |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 10-12; designed for students who intend to major in science or engineering |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 11-12; algebra-based and math-heavy; strong math skills are recommended, and the typical math level is Pre-Calculus Honors in grade 11 |
| AP Physics 2 | Grades 11-12; requires a year of physics (AP or non-AP), and AP Physics 1 is strongly recommended |
| AP Environmental Science | Grades 11-12; a one-year interdisciplinary elective with laboratory and field investigations; the IB website lists it as IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL |
| IB Biology HL1 / HL2 | Taken over grades 11 and 12 with an emphasis on anatomy and physiology; non-Diploma students take it in grade 11 alongside Physics |
Math has its own page: Math Pathways.
Foothill High School IB Course Planning
IB courses meet only in grades 11 and 12; grades 9 and 10 follow a recommended Pre-IB set of courses rather than IB courses themselves. Below are the sample four-year schedules from the school’s IB website, which the school describes as examples rather than required schedules.
Recommended Four-Year IB Diploma Schedule
- Grade 9: English 1 Honors, World Language 1 or 2, World History Honors, Biology or AP Biology, one of Geometry, Geometry Honors, Algebra 2/Trig or Algebra 2/Trig Honors, and PE, with a seventh course if desired. Students who take Algebra 1 in grade 9 must take Geometry in the summer after grade 9
- Grade 10: English 2 Honors, World Language 2 or 3, AP European History or World History Honors, Chemistry, Chemistry Honors or AP Chemistry, Algebra 2/Trig (or Honors) or Pre-Calculus (or Honors), and PE
- Grade 11: IB English Literature HL1, World Language 3 or 4, AP U.S. History (year 1 of IB History of the Americas HL), IB Biology HL1, Pre-Calculus (or Honors) or AP Calculus AB/BC (Pre-Calculus Honors or AP Calculus serves as year 1 of IB Math HL), one IB elective (Environmental Systems and Societies, Psychology or Visual Arts) and spring TOK
- Grade 12: IB English Literature HL2, World Language 4 (if not already completed), IB History of the Americas HL2, IB Biology HL2, IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL or SL, an IB elective (if not already completed) and fall TOK
For the AP versus IB decision, the six IB subject groups and registration, see Choosing Between AP and IB.
Foothill High School World Languages
- French 1-3, AP French Language, IB French SL and HL2
- Latin 1-3, Latin 4 Honors and IB Latin SL
- Spanish 1-3, Spanish for Native Speakers 2 and 3, AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature
- American Sign Language: an IVC dual enrollment course for grades 11-12 (application required) that meets two years of the UC A-G world language requirement in one year
Foothill High School offers French, Latin and Spanish, plus American Sign Language through IVC dual enrollment. UC A-G requires two years of the same language, with three recommended, and IB Diploma students must complete level 2 by the end of grade 10. The school does not offer Chinese, so students who have studied Chinese at home should discuss with a counselor in grade 9 how to meet the world language requirement.
Foothill High School Career Technical Education Pathways
The district lists nine CTE pathways at Foothill High School: Applied Medical, Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Graphic Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Media Arts, Robotics and Visual Imagery. Students take a concentrator course and then a completer course, and passing both in the same area earns a pathway cord at graduation. Engineering has three-year and four-year sequences, with Principles of Engineering offered only in grade 10, and Culinary Arts is a two-year pathway that must start in grade 11.
Foothill High School UC A-G Course List
The official UC A-G list includes every course the University of California has approved, which is broader than what the school offers in a given year: it contains many shared Tustin Unified courses, such as animal health care, cosmetology and construction internships, that do not appear on Foothill High School’s selection sheets. In the other direction, AP Precalculus, AP Art History and AP Seminar English 10 on the 2026-27 sheets are not yet on the list. The list matters for two things: confirming which A-G category a course meets, and confirming which honors courses UC weights.
216UC-approved A-G courses
49UC-weighted honors coursesincluding 21 AP, 14 IB
4School honors courses that UC does not weight
These courses are designated honors on the school transcript but are not on the UC-approved honors list, so UC counts them as standard courses in admission
- Algebra 2/Trig Honors
- English 1 (H)
- Geometry (H)
- Honors Algebra 1
Foothill High School Complete Course Map
Expand each subject. Every course shows its level, grades, prerequisites and UC A-G category, with the course number in the notes column for easy comparison with the school’s selection sheets; a dash in the prerequisite column means the sheets and course materials list no prerequisite. Notes on honors courses state whether UC weights them.
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English HL1 (IB) | IB | 11 | Completion of English 2; IB courses are open to all juniorsCourse number 9306; IB English Literature HL, year 1; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | b |
| English HL2 (IB) | IB | 12 | Completion of English HL1Course number 9307; IB English Literature HL, year 2; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | b |
| AP Seminar English 10 | AP | 10 | Completion of English 1Course number 1205T, coded as English 2 Honors for 2026-27; research, argument and team presentations; Not on the UC A-G list; UC treats it under English 2 Honors | b |
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 11 | Completion of English 2Course number 1243; Frequent timed reading, essays and speeches | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | Completion of English 3 or AP English LanguageCourse number 1244 | b |
| English 1 Honors | Honors | 9 | —Course number 1202; Not on the UC honors list; UC counts it as a standard course; Recommended for Pre-IB students | b |
| English 2 Honors | Honors | 10 | Completion of English 1Course number 1205; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | b |
| English 1 | CP | 9 | —Course number 1200 | b |
| English 2 | CP | 10 | Completion of English 1Course number 1203 | b |
| English 3 | CP | 11 | Completion of English 2Course number 1207 | b |
| English 4 ERWC | CP | 12 | Completion of English 3Course number 1213; CSU Expository Reading and Writing Course | b |
| ELD C | Other | 9-12 | By approval or recommendationCourse number 1039; English Language Development course | b |
Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History of the Americas HL2 (IB) | IB | 12 | Completion of AP U.S. HistoryCourse number 9311; Focuses on 20th-century history: rights and protest, authoritarian states and the Cold War; non-Diploma students take it alongside Government and Economics; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | a |
| AP European History | AP | 10 | Selection sheet lists World History as the prerequisiteCourse number 1805; European history from 1480 to the present | a |
| AP U.S. History | AP | 11 | —Course number 1811; IB Diploma students count it as year 1 of History of the Americas HL | a |
| AP U.S. Government and Politics | AP | 12 | —Course number 1820; One semester | a |
| AP Microeconomics | AP | 12 | —Presented with AP Government at course shopping (AP Gov & Econ); UC A-G "g" on the list | g |
| World History Honors | Honors | 9-10 | Grade 9 open only to Pre-IB pathway studentsCourse number 1828; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | a |
| World History | CP | 10 | —Course number 1824 | a |
| U.S. History | CP | 11 | —Course number 1826 | a |
| American Government | CP | 12 | —Course number 1800; One semester, paired with a semester of Economics | a |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL | IB | 12 | Completion of Pre-CalculusListed as IB Math SL: Humanities on the selection sheet; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | c |
| IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL | IB | 11-12 | Completion of Pre-Calculus Honors or higherListed as IB Math HL: STEM; year 1 is Pre-Calculus Honors or AP Calculus, with HL2 in grade 12; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | c |
| AP Precalculus | AP | 10-12 | Taken after Geometry and Algebra 2Course number 1533A, coded as Pre-Calculus for 2026-27; Prepares students for AP Calculus BC or IB Math HL; Not on the UC A-G list | — |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | Thorough knowledge of Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry and Pre-CalculusCourse number 1530 | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | A solid foundation in Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry Honors and Pre-Calculus HonorsCourse number 1531; Students take the BC exam or complete a major project | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra 2Course number 1536; Equivalent to a one-semester, non-calculus college statistics course | c |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 10-12 | Level 2 of the Computer Science pathwayCourse number 1115; Java, object-oriented programming, searching and sorting; also listed in the math column for grades 11 and 12 | c |
| Algebra 1 Honors | Honors | 9-10 | —Course number 1504H; Not on the UC honors list; UC counts it as a standard course | c |
| Geometry Honors | Honors | 9-11 | Completion of Algebra 1Course number 1505; Not on the UC honors list; UC counts it as a standard course | c |
| Algebra 2/Trigonometry Honors | Honors | 9-12 | Completion of GeometryCourse number 1550H; Not on the UC honors list; UC counts it as a standard course | c |
| Pre-Calculus Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 2/TrigCourse number 1529; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA; IB Diploma students can count it as year 1 of IB Math HL in grade 11 | c |
| Algebra 1 | CP | 9-10 | —Course number 1504 | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-11 | Completion of Algebra 1Course number 1506 | c |
| Algebra 2/Trigonometry | CP | 9-12 | Completion of GeometryCourse number 1550; Replaced Algebra 2 for all students beginning in 2023-24 | c |
| Pre-Calculus | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 2/TrigCourse number 1533 | c |
| Statistical Reasoning | CP | 11-12 | Priority to current juniorsCourse number 9026; Teaches the statistical process through sports and real-life situations | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology HL1 (IB) | IB | 11 | —Course number 9305; Emphasis on anatomy and physiology; non-Diploma students take it alongside Physics; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | d |
| Biology HL2 (IB) | IB | 12 | Completion of Biology HL1Course number 9308; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | d |
| AP Biology | AP | 9, 11-12 | —Course number 1726; Grade 9 students may take it instead of Biology | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 10-12 | —Course number 1703; For students intending to major in science or engineering | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 11-12 | Strong math skills recommended; typical math level is Pre-Calculus HonorsCourse number 1727; Algebra-based, mostly mechanics | d |
| AP Physics 2 | AP | 11-12 | A year of physics (AP or non-AP); AP Physics 1 strongly recommendedCourse number 1728 | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | —Course number 1738; Listed on the IB website as IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL | d |
| Chemistry Honors | Honors | 10 | Completion of BiologyCourse number 1732; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | d |
| Biology: The Living Earth | CP | 9 | —Course number 1700; Life science | d |
| Chemistry in the Earth System | CP | 10 | Completion of BiologyCourse number 1702; Physical science | d |
| Physics of the Universe | CP | 11 | —Course number 1713 | d |
| Forensic Science | CP | 12 | Builds on biology and chemistryCourse number 1739D | d |
World Language
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French SL (IB) | IB | 12 | Completion of French 3Course number 1404; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | e |
| French HL2 (IB) | IB | 12 | Completion of French HL year 1Course number 1405; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | e |
| AP French Language and Culture | AP | 10-12 | Completion of French 3Course number 1406 | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Spanish 3 or the native speakers sequenceCourse number 1420; Also known as IB Spanish SL | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Spanish 3 or the native speakers sequenceCourse number 1445; Also known as IB Spanish HL | e |
| Latin 4 Honors | Honors | 12 | Completion of Latin 3Course number 1442; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | e |
| French 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1400 | e |
| French 2 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of French 1Course number 1401 | e |
| French 3 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of French 2Course number 1402 | e |
| Latin 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1421 | e |
| Latin 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Latin 1Course number 1422 | e |
| Latin 3 | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Latin 2Course number 1423 | e |
| Spanish 1 | CP | 9-12 | For students who did not take Spanish in middle schoolCourse number 1414 | e |
| Spanish 2 | CP | 9-12 | Grade 9 students who took Spanish in middle school may enrollCourse number 1415 | e |
| Spanish 3 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Spanish 2Course number 1416 | e |
| Spanish for Native Speakers 2 | CP | 10-12 | Placement by district assessment in April-MayCourse number 1443 | e |
| Spanish for Native Speakers 3 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Spanish for Native Speakers 2Course number 1444 | e |
Visual & Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Arts SL (IB) | IB | 10-12 | IB students onlyCourse number 9320; UC-approved honors course; weighted in UC GPA | f |
| AP Studio Art | AP | 10-12 | Portfolio review and interview requiredCourse number 1358; Listed as AP Drawing on the UC A-G list | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | —Course number 1353; Course materials say it meets A-G "f"; not yet on the UC A-G list | — |
| Drawing & Painting | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1301; Art year 1; meets A-G "f" | f |
| Advanced Drawing & Painting | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Drawing & PaintingCourse number 1302 | f |
| Drawing Studio | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Advanced Drawing & PaintingCourse number 1320 | f |
| Concert Choir | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1339 | f |
| Bass Choir | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1340 | f |
| Treble Choir Advanced | CP | 9-12 | Audition requiredCourse number 1346; Advanced Treble Choir (H) is a UC-approved honors course on the A-G list | f |
| Madrigals | CP | 9-12 | Audition requiredCourse number 1342 | f |
| Band | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1335 | f |
| Orchestra | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1357 | f |
| Guitar | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1365 | f |
| Guitar 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of GuitarCourse number 1373 | f |
| Music Appreciation | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1345; Includes music creation with digital audio workstations | f |
| Beginning Drama | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 1329 | f |
| Drama Workshop | CP | 10-12 | —Course number 1326 | f |
| Theater Arts Advanced | CP | 10-12 | Audition requiredCourse number 1328; Also known as IB Theater SL | f |
| Digital Journalism | CP | 9-12 | —Course number 2100 | f |
| Graphic Publications (Yearbook) | CP | 9-12 | Application requiredCourse number 2105 | f |
Electives
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | —Course number 1841; Also known as IB Psychology SL | g |
| AVID 9 | Other | 9 | Application and two teacher recommendationsCourse number 9401 | g |
| AVID 10 | Other | 10 | Application requiredCourse number 9402 | g |
| AVID 11 | Other | 11 | Application requiredCourse number 9403 | g |
| AVID Senior Seminar | Other | 12 | Completion of AVID 11Course number 9301 | g |
| Ethnic Studies | Other | 11-12 | —Course number 1460; One semester | g |
| Psychology / Sociology | Other | 11-12 | —Course number 1808; One semester each of Psychology and Sociology | g |
| Media Literacy / Financial Literacy | Other | 9-12 | —Course number 6705; One semester each | g |
| Leadership / ASB | Other | 9-12 | ASB election or applicationCourse number 1002 | g |
| Study Skills | Other | 9-12 | By approval or recommendationCourse number 9008 | g |
| Language & Academic Support | Other | 9-12 | By approval or recommendationCourse number 1050 | — |
| Color Guard | Other | 9-12 | —Course number 5621 | — |
Physical Education
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Education Course 1 | CP | 9 | —Course number 1600; Cannot be taken in summer by incoming grade 9 students | — |
| Physical Education Course 2 | CP | 10 | —Course number 1601; Summer option only for athletes or impacted schedules | — |
| Strength & Conditioning | Other | 11-12 | 20 PE credits already completedCourse number 1652 | — |
| Athletics | Other | 9-12 | Added after coaches approve rostersCourse number 1635 | — |
IB Diploma Programme Core
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theory of Knowledge (IB) | IB | 11-12 | IB Diploma candidatesCourse number 9312; One semester in the spring of grade 11 and the fall of grade 12, early evening twice a week | g |
Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | Level 2 of the Computer Science pathwayCourse number 1115P | d |
| Intro to Engineering & Design (PLTW) | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1120; Level 1 of the engineering and manufacturing pathways; meets the arts graduation requirement; the PLTW version is "d" on the UC list | f |
| Principles of Engineering (PLTW) | CTE | 10 | Completion of Intro to Engineering & DesignCourse number 1121; Grade 10 only; can count as a fourth year of science | d |
| Computer Integrated Manufacturing (PLTW) | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Intro to Engineering & DesignCourse number 1133; Uses CNC, welding and other equipment | d |
| Engineering Design & Development (PLTW) | CTE | 11-12 | Level 3 of the engineering pathwayCourse number 1131; Team project defended before outside reviewers | d |
| Manufacturing & Product Development | CTE | 11-12 | Level 3 of the manufacturing pathwayCourse number 1134 | g |
| Intro to Robotics | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1130; Taught in seventh period; recommended every year for robotics team members | g |
| Computer Science & Software Engineering (PLTW) | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1132; Level 1 of the Computer Science pathway: Scratch, Python, web development and cybersecurity | — |
| Culinary Arts | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1180; The grade 12 sheet notes a two-year pathway that must start in grade 11 | f |
| Advanced Culinary Arts | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Culinary ArtsCourse number 1182 | g |
| Digital FilmMaking | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1371FG; Level 1 of Film & Television; meets both "f" and "g" | f |
| Independent Film Projects | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Digital FilmMakingCourse number 1372 | f |
| Digital Video Production | CTE | 10-12 | Application and completion of Digital FilmMakingCourse number 1165; Produces the daily FTV broadcast | f |
| Visual Imagery | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1360; Level 1 of the photography pathway | f |
| Advanced Visual Imagery | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Visual ImageryCourse number 1366 | f |
| Graphic Design | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number 1156 | f |
| Advanced Graphic Design | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Graphic DesignCourse number 1157 | f |
| Sports Medicine (ROP) | CTE | 11 | —Course number 1957D; Level 1 of Applied Medical; completed with IVC kinesiology in grade 12 for the pathway cord | d |
IVC Dual Enrollment
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Entrepreneurship (MGT 1, ENTR 200/211/212) | Dual Enrollment | 11-12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeCourse number 6013; Taught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; MGT 1 in fall and three ENTR courses in spring; 10 high school credits per semester | g |
| Kinesiology & Sports Medicine (KNES 85, KNES 212 / NUT 2) | Dual Enrollment | 12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeCourse number 9230; Taught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; Level 2 of Applied Medical; the spring internship is selective | g |
| Sports Management & Coaching Theory (KNES 101 / KNES 86) | Dual Enrollment | 11-12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeCourse number 9237; Taught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; Priority to rising seniors | — |
| American Sign Language (ASL 21 / ASL 22) | Dual Enrollment | 11-12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeCourse number 6009A; Taught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; One year meets two years of A-G world language | e |
| History of Dance (DNCE 77) | Dual Enrollment | 11-12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeCourse number 6014; Taught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; Fully online; meets A-G "f" | f |
| College Study Skills & Career Exploration | Dual Enrollment | 12 | Attend the information meeting and submit the interest form; priority by submission order and gradeTaught on campus by Irvine Valley College for high school and college credit; New for 2026-27, seniors only | — |
Foothill High School Course Selection 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
Foothill High School Courses: Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine families ask: how many courses do Foothill High School students take, and how is the schedule set up?
Foothill High School runs a six-period day: on regular days period 1 starts at 8:30 a.m. and period 6 ends at 3:35 p.m., each period lasts 57 minutes, and most Wednesdays start late. Students take up to six classes per semester, each earning 5 credits per semester; students in instrumental music, athletics, yearbook, ASB, AVID, IB and CTE programs may add a seventh class. Zero period starts at 7:25 a.m. and is offered only as available, with no guarantee.
How many credits does Foothill High School require for graduation, for Irvine families planning ahead?
Foothill High School follows the Tustin Unified School District graduation requirement of 230 credits: 40 in English, 20 in math (through Geometry), 30 in science, 30 in social science, 20 in world language, the arts or applied arts, 20 in PE and 70 in electives. The district requires math only through Geometry, while the UC and CSU A-G requirements call for Algebra 2, two years of laboratory science and two years of the same world language, so students should plan courses to the A-G standard.
Irvine families ask: can Foothill High School students recover a low grade?
Foothill High School lets students who earn a D or F in most college-prep courses take part in credit recovery; once completed, the original course is repeat-tagged on the transcript, still visible but excluded from credits and GPA, and recovery is available for college-prep courses only. District summer school starts the first Wednesday after the school year ends, and students with a D, F or Incomplete in the first semester are advised to attend; during the year, grade validation is available only in zero or sixth period.
When does Foothill High School course selection happen, for Irvine families planning ahead?
Foothill High School starts course selection for the next year each January: counselors visit classes to explain A-G and graduation requirements, and parents attend Conversations with the Counselors; teachers host lunchtime Course Shopping sessions from mid-January to mid-February; students submit a four-year plan in Aeries by mid-February and meet one-on-one with a counselor between mid-February and early March. IVC dual enrollment courses require attending an information meeting and submitting a separate interest form.
Can students from Irvine families take community college courses at Foothill High School?
Foothill High School juniors and seniors can take Irvine Valley College (IVC) dual enrollment courses on campus for both high school and college credit. Courses taken independently at a community college face more limits: they cannot be used for advancement or to meet graduation requirements, they appear on the transcript only with the principal's approval, approved courses count as weighted, and at most two courses and 40 college credits count over four years.
