Los Alamitos Unified School District uses the traditional algebra, geometry, Algebra II sequence, with courses named Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II, rather than the Integrated Math used by Irvine Unified. Families transferring from Irvine often map Math II to Geometry and end up miscounting the placement year. Los Alamitos High School does not publish a separate math pathway chart, but the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook gives the grade levels and prerequisites for every course, and three routes follow from them. This page covers the grade 9 starting point, the three routes, course thresholds and the grade levels for AP Calculus.
Los Alamitos High School Grade 9 Math Starting Point
The handbook sets the starting point through prerequisites: Algebra I requires Math 8 with a B or better and teacher recommendation; Geometry Honors (grades 9-10) requires Algebra I with a B and teacher recommendation, or a B or better in middle school with teacher recommendation; Algebra II/Trigonometry (grades 9-11) requires Geometry Honors with a B or better and teacher recommendation. Ninth graders who need more support begin with Introduction to Algebra and then take Algebra I.
| Grade 8 situation | Grade 9 math |
|---|---|
| Math 8 with a B or better and teacher recommendation | Algebra I |
| Needs more support | Introduction to Algebra, then Algebra I |
| Algebra I completed in middle school with a B and teacher recommendation | Geometry Honors |
| Geometry Honors completed with a B or better and teacher recommendation | Algebra II/Trigonometry |
The school does not state which math courses Los Alamitos Unified middle schools offer, and it publishes no middle-to-high-school placement chart. Students transferring from outside the district should send middle school math transcripts to a counselor as soon as the interdistrict permit is approved and confirm their grade 9 math course.
Los Alamitos High School’s Three Math Routes
Standard route (Algebra I in grade 9)
- Grade 9: Algebra I; students who need support start with Introduction to Algebra
- Grade 10: Geometry, or Principles of Geometry
- Grade 11: Algebra II, or Intermediate Algebra for students not planning a math or science major
- Grade 12: Advanced Math/Trigonometry (Algebra II with a B or better), Finite Math, Introduction to Data Science, or AP Statistics for students with an A in Algebra II
Honors route (Algebra I completed in middle school)
- Grade 9: Geometry Honors
- Grade 10: Algebra II/Trigonometry, with a B or better in Geometry Honors
- Grade 11: AP Precalculus, with a B or better in Algebra II/Trigonometry
- Grade 12: AP Calculus AB (precalculus C+) or BC (precalculus B+), or AP Statistics
Fastest route (Geometry Honors completed by grade 8)
- Grade 9: Algebra II/Trigonometry, which the handbook opens to grades 9-11
- Grade 10: AP Precalculus, open to grades 10-12
- Grade 11: AP Calculus AB or BC, both open to grades 11-12
- Grade 12: AP Statistics, or BC after AB; students taking or past calculus can add AP Physics C: Mechanics. The school lists no math course beyond Calculus BC
Los Alamitos Unified School District uses the traditional Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II sequence rather than the Integrated Math used by Irvine Unified. The school does not publish a separate math pathway chart; the three routes below follow the grade levels and prerequisites in the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook. Actual placement follows the counselor’s decision based on grades and teacher recommendations.
Los Alamitos High School Math Course Thresholds and Grade Levels
| Course | Notes |
|---|---|
| Geometry Honors | Grades 9-10; Algebra I with a B and teacher recommendation. Weighted in neither the school GPA nor the UC GPA |
| Algebra II/Trigonometry | Grades 9-11; Geometry Honors with a B or better and teacher recommendation. Combines Algebra II and a semester of trigonometry; the School Profile lists it as an unweighted honors course |
| Advanced Math/Trigonometry | Grades 11-12; Algebra II with a B or better, a test average of at least 80% and teacher recommendation |
| AP Precalculus | Grades 10-12; Algebra II/Trigonometry with a B or better, or Advanced Math/Trigonometry with an A- or better, each with teacher recommendation. The first weighted math course |
| AP Calculus AB | Grades 11-12; precalculus with a C+ or better |
| AP Calculus BC | Grades 11-12; precalculus with a B+ or better |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11-12; teacher recommendation plus an A in Algebra II or a B in Algebra II/Trigonometry, Advanced Math/Trigonometry or Finite Math |
| Introduction to Data Science | Grade 12 only; completion of an Algebra II course; counts toward UC A-G area c |
The standard route has two bridge courses: Principles of Geometry covers content similar to Geometry and leads to Intermediate Algebra, and Intermediate Algebra is for students not planning a math or science major and does not lead to Advanced Math/Trigonometry. Grade 12 students can also take Finite Math (Algebra II or Intermediate Algebra with a C or better).
Los Alamitos High School Math Weighting and the UC Calculation
The School Profile lists Geometry Honors and Algebra II/Trigonometry as unweighted honors courses, and neither is on the UC-approved honors list. The first weighted math course is AP Precalculus; AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics and AP Computer Science A, which counts as mathematics, are all weighted in both the school GPA and the UC GPA. The UC list also shows a Pre-Calculus (H) course, but it does not appear in the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook.
UC counts only courses from grades 10 and 11. On the honors route, Algebra II/Trigonometry in grade 10 is unweighted and the weight starts with AP Precalculus in grade 11; on the fastest route, AP Precalculus comes in grade 10, so UC weighting in math starts a year earlier. The difference between the two routes in the UC GPA comes down mostly to that one grade 10 course.
Los Alamitos High School Computer Science and Engineering Courses
Computer science and engineering courses at Los Alamitos High School belong to two Career Technical Education pathways: the Computer Science pathway is built on three AP courses, and the Engineering pathway uses Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses. They fall into different UC A-G areas, which helps fill different requirements.
- AP Computer Science Principles: grades 9-12, teacher recommendation, UC A-G area d (laboratory science)
- AP Computer Science A: grades 9-12, teacher recommendation, taught in Java, UC A-G area c (mathematics)
- AP Cybersecurity: grades 9-12, no prerequisite, launched in fall 2026; listed in UC A-G area d
- PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design: grades 9-12, Algebra I recommended
- PLTW Principles of Engineering: grades 10-12, Introduction to Engineering Design with a C or higher
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing Honors: grades 11-12, the first two engineering courses with C or higher and teacher recommendation; weighted in both the school GPA and the UC GPA
All three AP computer science courses are open to grades 9-12, making them weighted courses available as early as grade 9. AP Computer Science A is taught in Java and counts as UC mathematics; AP Computer Science Principles counts as laboratory science. Students planning AP Physics C: Mechanics should note that it requires concurrent or completed calculus, so on the fastest route it comes in grade 11 at the earliest.
Los Alamitos High School Math Course List
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | Precalculus with a C+ or betterTranscript abbreviations: AP Calc AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | Precalculus with a B+ or betterTranscript abbreviations: AP Calc BC, AP Calculus BC, Calculus BC AP | c |
| AP Precalculus | AP | 10-12 | Algebra II/Trigonometry with a B or better and teacher recommendation, or Advanced Math/Trigonometry with an A- or better and teacher recommendationThe first weighted course in the math sequence; Transcript abbreviations: AP PreCalc | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Teacher recommendation and one of: an A in Algebra II, or a B or better in Algebra II/Trigonometry, Advanced Math/Trigonometry or Finite MathTranscript abbreviations: AP Stat, Statistics AP | c |
| Algebra II/Trigonometry | Honors | 9-11 | Geometry Honors with a B or better and teacher recommendationCombines Algebra II and a semester of trigonometry in one year for accelerated students; the School Profile lists it as an unweighted honors course, and the UC list treats it as a standard course; Transcript abbreviations: Algebra II Trig, SDAIE Alg2Trig | c |
| Geometry (H) | Honors | 9-10 | Algebra I with a B and teacher recommendation, or a B or better in middle school and teacher recommendationMarked honors on the transcript, but the School Profile lists it as unweighted and it is not on the UC-approved honors list, so neither the school GPA nor the UC GPA weights it; Transcript abbreviations: Geometry H, SDAIE Geomet H | c |
| Pre-Calculus (H) | Honors | — | —UC-approved honors course, weighted in the UC GPA; Still on the UC list as a UC-approved honors course, but the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook lists AP Precalculus instead; Transcript abbreviations: Pre-Calculus | c |
| Advanced Math/Trigonometry | CP | 11-12 | Algebra II with a B or better, a test average of at least 80% and teacher recommendationPrepares students for precalculus; Transcript abbreviations: Adv Math/Trig | c |
| Algebra A/B & Algebra C/D | CP | — | —Algebra I taught over a longer sequence; Not listed in the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook; check with the school whether it is offered; Transcript abbreviations: Algebra A, Algebra B, Algebra C, Algebra D, SDAIE Algebra A, SDAIE Algebra B, SDAIE Algebra C, SDAIE Algebra D | c |
| Algebra I | CP | 9-12 | Math 8 with a B or better and teacher recommendationPassing Algebra I is required to graduate; Transcript abbreviations: Algebra I, Algebra I 1st sem., Algebra I 2nd sem., SDAIE Algebra I | c |
| Algebra II | CP | 10-12 | Geometry with a C or betterTranscript abbreviations: Algebra II, SDAIE Algebra II | c |
| Explorations in Data Science - Youcubed Adaptable Curriculum | CP | 12 | Completion of an Algebra II courseListed in the handbook as Introduction to Data Science; Transcript abbreviations: Intr Data Sci | c |
| Finite Math | CP | 11-12 | Intermediate Algebra or Algebra II with a C or betterTranscript abbreviations: Finite Math, Finite Math F, Finite Math S, Finite Math Y | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-12 | Algebra I with a C or betterTranscript abbreviations: Geometry, SDAIE Geometry | c |
| Intermediate Algebra A/B CP | CP | 11-12 | Algebra I and Geometry (or Principles of Geometry), each with a C or betterFor students not planning a math or science major; does not lead to Advanced Math/Trigonometry; Transcript abbreviations: Intmd Algebra | c |
| Introduction to Algebra | CP | 9 | Teacher recommendationA bridge course before Algebra I; students still need Algebra I afterward; Transcript abbreviations: Intro to Alg | c |
| Principles of Geometry | CP | 10-12 | Pass the spring semester of Algebra I and Algebra I teacher recommendationSimilar content to Geometry; leads to Intermediate Algebra; Transcript abbreviations: Prncpl Geometry | c |
Los Alamitos High School Math: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Los Alamitos High School use integrated math or traditional algebra and geometry, as Irvine families should know?
Los Alamitos High School uses the traditional sequence, with courses named Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II, not the Integrated Math used by Irvine Unified. Families transferring from Irvine need to translate Math I and Math II progress into algebra and geometry. Under the 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook, graduation requires 20 credits of math including at least Algebra I; UC and CSU require three years (Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II) and recommend four.
Irvine families ask: where does grade 9 math start at Los Alamitos High School?
Los Alamitos High School does not publish a separate placement chart; the starting point follows the prerequisites in its Curriculum Handbook. Algebra I requires Math 8 with a B or better and teacher recommendation; Geometry Honors requires Algebra I with a B and teacher recommendation, or a B or better in middle school with teacher recommendation; Algebra II/Trigonometry is open to grades 9-11 and requires Geometry Honors with a B or better and teacher recommendation. Students who need more support start with Introduction to Algebra and then take Algebra I.
How early can students take AP Calculus at Los Alamitos High School, for Irvine families planning ahead?
Los Alamitos High School's 2026-27 Curriculum Handbook opens both AP Calculus AB and BC to grades 11-12: AB requires precalculus with a C+ or better, and BC a B+ or better. AP Precalculus is open to grades 10-12 and requires Algebra II/Trigonometry with a B or better, or Advanced Math/Trigonometry with an A- or better. A student who takes Algebra II/Trigonometry in grade 9 can therefore reach AP Calculus in grade 11 at the earliest.
Are Geometry Honors and Algebra II/Trigonometry weighted at Los Alamitos High School, as Irvine families should check?
Los Alamitos High School's 2026-27 School Profile lists both Geometry Honors and Algebra II/Trigonometry as unweighted honors courses: they are graded on the 4.0 scale in the school GPA and count as standard courses for UC. The first weighted math course is AP Precalculus, followed by AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics; AP Computer Science A counts as UC A-G mathematics and is weighted as well.
Can Irvine families' children take math ahead over the summer at Los Alamitos High School?
Los Alamitos High School's summer school page lists only remedial programs: Credit Recovery and Skills Lab, which meets graduation requirements but not UC/CSU A-G. Session one in 2026 ran June 15 to July 1, all in person on campus. The page lists no summer math acceleration courses, so students hoping to move ahead over the summer should first confirm with a counselor whether the school will accept an outside course.
