La Quinta High School offers only one advanced course system, AP, with 27 courses, and has no IB or Cambridge courses. In May 2026, 985 students took 2,302 AP exams. The School Profile reports that 86.5% of test takers earned a 3 or higher on at least one exam; this share is calculated by number of students. Calculated from the 2,296 exams totaled in the subject table, 83.1% of exams earned a 3 or higher. This page brings together subject-level results, grades offered, and recommended combinations to help parents make choices before course selection each spring.
The Role of AP at This School
At La Quinta High School, math, science, and social science have no honors level, and AP comes directly after the regular level. This has two consequences. First, AP is almost the only source of weighting among academic subjects: the School Profile states that all AP courses add 1 grade point for each grade, while English 1 Honors and English 2 Honors are unweighted. Second, students in AP classrooms vary widely in preparation, and exam results differ markedly from one AP subject to another, so course selection should consider how prepared the student is for each course rather than only the number of courses.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of AP courses | 27 (School Profile 2026-27), all weighted |
| 2026 exam volume | 985 students, 2,302 exams |
| 3 or higher | 86.5% by number of students (School Profile); about 83.1% by exam (calculated from the 2,296 exams in the subject table) |
| Weighting rule | 1 additional grade point for each grade; the school math department states that the weighting applies only to a C or higher |
| Available in grade 9 | AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP Music Theory (district 2026-27 course catalog) |
| Other advanced systems | No IB or Cambridge; dual enrollment courses in partnership with Coastline College and Golden West College |
AP Pass Rates by Subject (2026)
The following data come from the La Quinta High School 2026-27 School Profile and are counted by exam: the denominator is the number of exams taken, not the number of students. The table is sorted by number of exams, from most to fewest.
| AP subject | 2026 exams | Score 3+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| World History: Modern | 259 | 81.9% | Average score 3.63 |
| English Language and Composition | 218 | 87.6% | Average score 3.52 |
| English Literature and Composition | 212 | 91% | Average score 3.68 |
| Statistics | 174 | 53.4% | Average score 2.62 |
| Calculus AB | 164 | 87.8% | Average score 3.99 |
| Precalculus | 145 | 97.9% | Average score 4.17 |
| US History | 138 | 92.8% | Average score 3.93 |
| Biology | 132 | 64.4% | Average score 2.93 |
| Psychology | 98 | 71.4% | Average score 3.24 |
| Physics 1 | 97 | 91.8% | Average score 4.01 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 91 | 83.5% | Average score 3.44 |
| Calculus BC | 83 | 98.8% | Average score 4.69 |
| Chemistry | 80 | 60% | Average score 2.91 |
| Macroeconomics | 67 | 95.5% | Average score 4.18 |
| US Government | 66 | 95.5% | Average score 4.17 |
| Environmental Science | 61 | 54.1% | Average score 2.64 |
| Human Geography | 56 | 96.4% | Average score 4.38 |
| Computer Science Principles | 51 | 90.2% | Average score 3.90 |
| Computer Science A | 35 | 94.3% | Average score 3.83 |
| Physics 2 | 22 | 100% | Average score 4.32 |
| 2-D Art & Design | 17 | 100% | Average score 4.12 |
| Spanish Literature | 14 | 85.7% | Average score 4.07 |
| Physics C Mechanics | 6 | 100% | Average score 4.50 |
| Drawing | 5 | 100% | Average score 3.80 |
| French | 4 | 0% | Average score 1.50 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 1 | 100% | Average score 3.00 |
Several patterns are worth noting. First, humanities courses and the math preparatory course perform consistently: AP Human Geography, AP US Government, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Precalculus all had more than 95% of exams earning a 3 or higher. Second, laboratory sciences are weaker: AP Chemistry at 60.0%, AP Biology at 64.4%, and AP Environmental Science at 54.1%, and all three had average scores below 3. Third, AP Statistics, with 174 exams and 53.4%, had the lowest share among the subjects with the most exams, and its only prerequisite is completion of Algebra 2. Fourth, AP French Language had only 4 exams, and none earned a 3 or higher; results in small subjects fluctuate widely.
Grade Levels Offered
Under the district 2026-27 course catalog, the AP courses open to grade 9 students are AP Human Geography (open only to grades 9 and 12), AP Computer Science Principles, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP Music Theory; the sample schedule on the school website lists AP Human Geography as a grade 9 social science option. Starting in grade 10, students may take AP World History, AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Computer Science A, and AP Spanish Literature. AP US History, AP Psychology, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP Calculus BC, AP French, the two AP English courses, and the AP art portfolio courses begin in grade 11; AP US Government and AP Macroeconomics are one-semester grade 12 courses.
Grades Offered and Requirements for Each AP Course
The grades offered and prerequisites in the table below come from the Garden Grove Unified School District 2026-27 course catalog. The district catalog does not state grade cutoffs, the school has not published specific cutoffs, and the AP art portfolio courses also require a recommendation from a visual arts teacher.
| AP course | Grades offered and requirements |
|---|---|
| AP Human Geography | Open only to grades 9 and 12, with no prerequisite; the school sample schedule lists it as a grade 9 social science option |
| AP Computer Science Principles | Grades 9 to 12, UC A-G category d; the second-level course in the Computer Science pathway |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | Grades 9 to 12; requires completion of the preceding level (if applicable) |
| AP Music Theory | Grades 9 to 12 |
| AP World History: Modern | Grades 10 to 12; the district recommends taking it in grade 10 |
| AP Precalculus | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, or of Algebra 2 plus Trigonometry |
| AP Calculus AB | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of Precalculus |
| AP Environmental Science | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of Algebra 1 and two years of laboratory science |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 10 to 12; requires concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry |
| AP Physics 2 | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of AP Physics 1 |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Grades 10 to 12; requires concurrent enrollment in or completion of calculus |
| AP Computer Science A | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of Algebra 1; UC A-G category c (mathematics) |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of AP Spanish Language and Culture |
| AP US History | Grades 11 to 12; the district recommends taking it in grade 11 |
| AP English Language and Composition | Grades 11 to 12; the school course list places it in the English 3 year |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Grades 11 to 12; the school course list places it in the English 4 year |
| AP Psychology | Grades 11 to 12 |
| AP Biology | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of Biology and Chemistry |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of Chemistry and Algebra 2 |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of Algebra 2 or higher |
| AP Calculus BC | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of AP Calculus AB |
| AP French Language and Culture | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of the preceding level |
| AP 2-D Art and Design / AP 3-D Art and Design / AP Drawing | Grades 11 to 12; requires a recommendation from a visual arts teacher, and scored by portfolio |
| AP US Government and Politics | Grade 12, one semester |
| AP Macroeconomics | Grade 12, one semester |
AP Courses the School Does Not Offer
- AP Chinese Language and Culture: the school does not offer Chinese
- AP European History
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Comparative Government
- AP Art History
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism: no exams taken in 2026
- AP Seminar / AP Research: the district course catalog includes these two courses, but they do not appear on the school course list or in the School Profile
- AP Japanese and AP Latin
The 2026 subject results in the School Profile contain no records for these courses. Students who want to take these exams need to complete the coursework outside school and register on their own, contacting a test site themselves and confirming that the exam does not conflict with other AP exams at the school. The school AP exam page links only to the College Board exam schedule and does not publish the school’s registration deadlines or fees, so students should confirm with a counselor before registering.
AP Course List
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 11-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the school course list places it in the English 3 year | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 11-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the school course list places it in the English 4 year | b |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Precalculus | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, or of Algebra 2 plus TrigonometryMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; listed as Pre-Calculus on the school course list | c |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 10-12 | Completion of PrecalculusMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | Completion of AP Calculus ABMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; both the district and the school math department require BC to follow AB | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra 2 or a higher courseMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Biology and ChemistryMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Chemistry, and of Algebra 2 or a higher math courseMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 1 and of two years of laboratory science (one year each of life science and physical science)Marked as weighted in the district course catalog | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 10-12 | Concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra 2 & TrigonometryMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | d |
| AP Physics 2 | AP | 10-12 | Completion of AP Physics 1Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; not listed separately on the school course list, but exams were taken in 2026 | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP | 10-12 | Concurrent enrollment in or completion of calculusMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; listed as Physics C Mech/EM on the school course list, and only Mechanics exams were taken in 2026 | d |
History & Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Human Geography | AP | 9, 12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the district course catalog opens it only to grades 9 and 12 | a |
| AP World History: Modern | AP | 10-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog | a |
| AP US History | AP | 11-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog | a |
| AP US Government & Politics | AP | 12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; one semester | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; one semester | g |
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog | g |
World Language
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP French Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | Completion of the preceding levelMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 9-12 | Completion of the preceding level (if applicable)Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the school course list marks it as related to the State Seal of Biliteracy | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 10-12 | Completion of AP Spanish Language and CultureMarked as weighted in the district course catalog | e |
Visual & Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2-D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | Visual arts teacher recommendationMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; scored by portfolio, and listed as Art Folio 2D on the school course list | f |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | Visual arts teacher recommendationMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; scored by portfolio, and listed as Art Folio 3D on the school course list | f |
| AP Drawing | AP | 11-12 | Visual arts teacher recommendationMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; scored by portfolio, and listed as Art Folio on the school course list | f |
| AP Music Theory | AP | 9-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog | f |
Business & Career Technical Education
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 9-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; second-level course in the Computer Science pathway; the math section of the district course catalog lists grades 9 to 12, while the CTE section lists grades 10 to 12 | d |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 1Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the math section of the district course catalog lists grades 10 to 12, while the CTE section lists grades 11 to 12 | c |
Recommended Combinations by Intended Major
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AP courses does La Quinta High School offer, and how do the exam results look?
According to the 2026-27 School Profile, La Quinta High School offers 27 AP courses. In May 2026, 985 students took 2,302 AP exams, and 86.5% of test takers (by number of students) earned a 3 or higher on at least one exam. Calculated from the 2,296 exams totaled in the subject table, 83.1% of exams earned a 3 or higher. The school has no IB or Cambridge courses.
Which AP courses at La Quinta High School have lower pass rates?
In 2026, among subjects with 50 or more exams, the lowest shares earning a 3 or higher were AP Statistics at 53.4%, AP Environmental Science at 54.1%, AP Chemistry at 60.0%, AP Biology at 64.4%, and AP Psychology at 71.4%. The highest were AP Calculus BC at 98.8%, AP Precalculus at 97.9%, and AP Human Geography at 96.4%, while AP US Government and AP Macroeconomics were both at 95.5%.
Irvine families should note: is the range of AP courses at La Quinta High School the same as at Irvine high schools?
No. This school belongs to the Garden Grove Unified School District. The La Quinta High School School Profile does not include AP Chinese, AP European History, AP Microeconomics, AP Comparative Government, AP Art History, or AP Seminar and AP Research; of the AP Physics C courses, only Mechanics had exams taken in 2026. On the other hand, the district course catalog opens AP Human Geography to grade 9, which is generally not possible at Irvine high schools.
At La Quinta High School, how do AP courses add weight?
The School Profile states that all AP courses are weighted, with 1 additional grade point for each grade; the school math department page states that the weighting applies only to a C or higher. An A in a regular course earns 4 points, and an A in an AP course earns 5 points. English 1 Honors and English 2 Honors are unweighted, so at La Quinta High School, AP courses are the main way to raise the weighted GPA.
What should a La Quinta High School student who wants to take AP Chinese do?
The student can only prepare outside school and register independently. La Quinta High School offers only Spanish, French, and Vietnamese as world languages, has no Chinese course, and had no AP Chinese exams taken in 2026. The student needs to take a course outside school, contact a test site that offers the AP Chinese exam to register, and confirm that the exam time does not conflict with other AP exams at the school.
