Course information for La Quinta High School comes from two sources: the Courses Offered table on the school website lists the courses the school actually offers, and the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) 2026-27 Course Catalog gives the grades offered, prerequisites, UC A-G category, and weighting of each course. This page combines the two into a list of 125 courses. Unlike Irvine high schools, this school has no honors level in math, science, or social science; AP comes directly after the regular level. This page explains the course selection rules and graduation requirements first and then presents the complete course map.
Course Selection Rules
| Daily schedule | District rules set a schedule of 6 periods per day, and some schools offer a 7-period option; grade 12 students who also take adult education courses in the second semester must keep 4 day-school courses at their high school |
|---|---|
| Extra courses and zero period | Each semester, students may earn a combined maximum of 45 credits across day school, career technical education (CTE), adult education, continuation education, and other programs; exceeding this limit requires the principal's prior written approval. The school bell schedule includes a zero period (period 0), which meets from 7:16 to 8:25 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; Wednesday is a teacher collaboration day with no zero period |
| Career technical education pathways | The school offers five career technical education pathways (CTE pathways): Biotechnology, Business Management, Software and Systems Development (Computer Science), Cybersecurity, and Design, Visual, and Media Arts. Each pathway consists of two course levels, and a student who completes both levels is a pathway completer |
| Placement and recommendations | English 1 Honors and English 2 Honors placement is based on multiple objective district measures; placement at each level of math is determined by the District Placement Matrix; AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing require a recommendation from a visual arts teacher. The school math department's principle is to place each student in the highest level of math the student can handle, based on prior grades, state test results, and teacher recommendations |
| Credit calculation | Each semester course earns 5 credits when passed, and graduation requires 220 credits |
| Schedule changes after school starts | District rules treat course selection as a commitment; after school starts, schedule changes are accepted only in five cases: a scheduling error (for example, placement in a course already completed), an incomplete prerequisite, a missing graduation or college requirement course, a special program (athletics, orchestra, band, art, choir, or CTE), or a course already completed in summer school |
| Outside courses | Students who take community college courses must complete the district Non-GGUSD Course Enrollment Request Form 9802.110; dual enrollment courses require a college application and a special admit form signed by a parent. A maximum of 15 credits per semester may be earned in approved outside programs |
| Repeating a course | Courses with a D may be repeated, but credit is not granted twice; the higher grade counts in the GPA, and the original grade remains on the transcript |
| Number of science courses | Neither the school nor the district limits the number of science courses a student may take each year; the practical limit comes from the schedule capacity of 6 periods per day plus zero period |
Graduation Requirements (220 Credits)
| Subject | Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 40 |
| History / Social Science | 30 |
| Mathematics | 30 |
| Science | 20 |
| Fine Arts / Applied Arts (including CTE) | 10 |
| Physical Education | 20 |
| Health | 2.5 |
| Electives | 67.5 |
Graduation requirements and college admission requirements are two separate standards. The district requires only 2 years of science and 3 years of math, world language is not required, and CTE courses can satisfy the arts requirement. The A-G requirements of UC and CSU, by contrast, call for 2 years of the same world language (3 years recommended by UC), 1 year of visual and performing arts, 3 years of math (4 years recommended by UC), and 2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended by UC), with a C or higher in every course. One course also deserves attention: Physical Science counts only as an A-G category g elective, and the district course catalog notes that it does not satisfy the UC category d laboratory science requirement. Course selection should follow the A-G standard, not the graduation standard.
Course Levels by Subject
In the pathways below, CP refers to College Prep, the regular level; Honors refers to honors courses; and AP refers to Advanced Placement courses. Among academic subjects, the school offers an honors level only in English 1, English 2, and Vietnamese 4.
English
- Grade 9: English 1 or English 1 Honors (unweighted)
- Grade 10: English 2 or English 2 Honors (unweighted)
- Grade 11: English 3 or AP English Language and Composition
- Grade 12: English 4 / Expository Reading and Writing (CSU ERWC) or AP English Literature and Composition
Social Science
- Grade 9: AP Human Geography or an elective; beginning with the Class of 2028, students must take one semester of Ethnic Studies within four years
- Grade 10: World History or AP World History: Modern
- Grade 11: US History or AP US History; AP Psychology is available in grades 11 to 12
- Grade 12: one semester each of Civics and Economics, or AP US Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics
Science (Standard Sequence)
- Grade 9: Biology or Biology & Community Health
- Grade 10: Chemistry (requires completion of Algebra 1) or Physical Science (counts only as UC A-G category g)
- Grade 11: Physics (requires concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 or higher), Applied Chemistry, or Human Body Systems
- Grade 12: a science elective or an AP science course
Science (Most Rigorous Sequence)
- Grade 9: Biology; the school does not offer honors science courses
- Grade 10: Chemistry; students taking Algebra 2 & Trigonometry at the same time may take AP Physics 1 in grade 10
- Grade 11: AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, or AP Environmental Science
- Grade 12: AP Biology, AP Physics 2, or AP Physics C: Mechanics (requires concurrent enrollment in calculus)
Grades offered and requirements for advanced science courses (one course per row):
| Course | Grades offered and notes |
|---|---|
| AP Biology | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of Biology and Chemistry. In 2026, 132 exams were taken, with 64.4% earning a 3 or higher and an average score of 2.93 |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 11 to 12; requires completion of Chemistry and Algebra 2. In 2026, 80 exams were taken, with 60.0% earning a 3 or higher and an average score of 2.91 |
| AP Environmental Science | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of Algebra 1 and two years of laboratory science. In 2026, 61 exams were taken, with 54.1% earning a 3 or higher |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 10 to 12; requires concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra 2 & Trigonometry. In 2026, 97 exams were taken, with 91.8% earning a 3 or higher |
| AP Physics 2 | Grades 10 to 12; requires completion of AP Physics 1. In 2026, 22 exams were taken, and all earned a 3 or higher |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Grades 10 to 12; requires concurrent enrollment in or completion of calculus. In 2026, 6 exams were taken |
| Biotechnology pathway (Human Body Systems → Biomedical Innovation) | Both courses count as UC A-G category d laboratory science; the second course is limited to grades 11 to 12 |
Math courses are covered on a separate page: Math Pathways.
World Languages
- Spanish 1-3 + AP Spanish Language and Culture + AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1-2
- French 1-3 + AP French Language and Culture
- Vietnamese 1-3 + Vietnamese 4 Honors (weighted)
- The school does not offer Chinese, Korean, or Japanese
All three languages are offered through the third year, followed by AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP French Language and Culture, and Vietnamese 4 Honors, respectively. The UC A-G requirements call for two years of the same language, with three recommended, so students who start at level 1 in grade 9 must continue at least through grade 10. In the Class of 2026, 186 students earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, and the school course list marks AP Spanish Language and Culture and Vietnamese 4 Honors as related courses.
Career Technical Education Pathways (CTE Pathways)
The school offers five pathways, each with two course levels. The School Profile lists the courses as follows:
| Pathway | First level → second level |
|---|---|
| Biotechnology | Human Body Systems → Biomedical Innovation; both count as UC A-G category d laboratory science |
| Business Management | Fundamentals of Business → Accounting with QuickBooks Honors (weighted) or Marketing and Society |
| Software and Systems Development (Computer Science) | Exploring Computer Science → AP Computer Science Principles |
| Cybersecurity | Cybersecurity I Honors → Cybersecurity II Honors; both are weighted |
| Design, Visual, and Media Arts | Digital Media and Design Honors → Advanced Multimedia Design Honors; both are weighted and count as UC A-G category f arts |
Of the 511 graduates in the Class of 2026, 227 completed at least one pathway, or 44%. For students who need to raise their weighted GPA, the Cybersecurity and Design and Media pathways deserve attention: all four of their courses are weighted honors courses, and students can begin them in grade 9 or 10.
Complete Course Map
Organized by subject. Each course shows its level, grades offered, prerequisites, and UC A-G category. Dark tags mark AP courses, and light tags mark honors courses. Course names follow the school course list, while grades offered, prerequisites, and A-G categories come from the district 2026-27 course catalog; where the two differ, the difference is noted in the notes column.
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 |
| English 1 Honors | Honors | 9 | Placement based on multiple objective district measuresUnweighted, as stated in both the School Profile and the district course catalog | b |
| English 2 Honors | Honors | 10 | Placement based on multiple objective district measuresUnweighted, as stated in both the School Profile and the district course catalog | b |
| English 1 | CP | 9 | — | b |
| English 2 | CP | 10 | — | b |
| English 3 | CP | 11 | — | b |
| English 4 / Expository Reading and Writing (CSU ERWC) | CP | 12 | —California State University Expository Reading and Writing Course | b |
| Creative Writing I (Poetry & Story / Narrative & Plays) | CP | 10-12 | Completion of English 1, or a teacher or counselor recommendationTwo semester courses: Poetry & Story, and Narrative & Plays | g |
| Advanced Creative Writing & Performance | CP | 10-12 | — | f |
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 |
| Algebra 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Required for graduation by the state and the district | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-12 | Grade 9: Algebra 1 completed in middle school, as determined by the District Placement Matrix; grades 10 to 12: completion of Algebra 1 | c |
| Algebra 2 | CP | 9-12 | Grade 9: Geometry completed in middle school, as determined by the District Placement Matrix; grades 10 to 12: completion of Geometry | c |
| Algebra 2 & Trigonometry | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Geometry, as determined by the District Placement MatrixAccelerated course that compresses a year and a half of content into one year; the school math department states that it is for students with strong grades in Algebra 1 and Geometry | c |
| Business Algebra 2 | CP | 9-12 | —Meets the Algebra 2 standard with business applications; may serve as a Business Management pathway course | c |
| Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra 2, as determined by the District Placement MatrixOffered for students in grades 11 to 12 who continue in math and prepare for Precalculus | c |
| Trigonometry / Probability & Statistics | CP | 10-12 | As determined by the District Placement MatrixOne semester each of trigonometry and of probability and statistics; the school math department describes it as the bridge course after Algebra 2 that leads to Precalculus or AP Statistics | c |
| Algebra 1A / 1B (SE) | Other | 9-12 | Placement per the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)Special education course; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Geometry (SE) | Other | 9-12 | Placement per the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)Special education course; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
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 |
| Biology | CP | 9-12 | — | d |
| Biology & Community Health | CP | 9-12 | —Listed in the district course catalog as Biology Health; a biology course with a health care focus, offered only at schools with a Biotechnology pathway | d |
| Physical Science | CP | 9-12 | —Physical science built around earth science themes; the district course catalog notes that it does not satisfy the UC category d requirement | g |
| Chemistry | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 1 | d |
| Applied Chemistry | CP | 10-12 | —Listed in the district course catalog as Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology; offered only at schools with a Biotechnology pathway | d |
| Physics | CP | 10-12 | Concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2, Algebra 2 & Trigonometry, or a higher math course | d |
| Human Body Systems | CTE | 9-12 | —First-level course in the Biotechnology pathway | d |
| Biomedical Innovation | CTE | 11-12 | Completion of Human Body SystemsSecond-level (capstone) course in the Biotechnology pathway | d |
| Biology (SE) | Other | 9-12 | Placement per the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)Special education course; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Health Education | Other | 9-12 | —One semester; 2.5 credits required for graduation | — |
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 History | CP | 10-12 | —The district recommends taking it in grade 10 | a |
| US History | CP | 11-12 | —The district recommends taking it in grade 11 | a |
| Civics | CP | 12 | —One semester; together with Economics, fulfills the grade 12 graduation requirement | a |
| Economics | CP | 12 | —One semester; the school also offers an online section | g |
English Language Development
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELD C | CP | 9-12 | —One year can satisfy the UC A-G category b English requirement | b |
| ELD Basics + Content / Vocabulary | Other | 9-12 | —Placement by ELPAC English proficiency test results | — |
| ELD A + Content / Vocabulary | Other | 9-12 | — | — |
| ELD B | Other | 9-12 | — | — |
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 |
| Vietnamese 4 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | Completion of Vietnamese 3Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; the school course list marks it as related to the State Seal of Biliteracy | e |
| French 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | e |
| French 2 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of French 1 | e |
| French 3 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of French 2 | e |
| Spanish 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | e |
| Spanish 2 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Spanish 1 | e |
| Spanish 3 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Spanish 2 | e |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 | CP | 9-12 | —For students who speak Spanish at home | e |
| Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Spanish for Heritage Speakers 1 | e |
| Vietnamese 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | e |
| Vietnamese 2 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Vietnamese 1 | e |
| Vietnamese 3 | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Vietnamese 2 | 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 |
| Photography 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Photography 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Photography 1 | f |
| Photography 3 | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Photography 2 | f |
| Computer Graphics 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Computer Graphics 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Computer Graphics 1 | f |
| Computer Graphics 3 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Computer Graphics 2 | f |
| Painting & Drawing 1 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Exploring Art A and B, or teacher approval | f |
| Painting & Drawing 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Painting & Drawing 1 | f |
| Painting & Drawing 3 | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Painting & Drawing 2 | f |
| Ceramics 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Ceramics 2 | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Ceramics 1 | f |
| Ceramics 3 | CP | — | Completion of Ceramics 2Listed on the school course list but not included in the district 2026-27 course catalog; confirm grades offered and A-G category with a counselor | — |
| Art Project | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Drama 1 | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Drama 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Drama 1, or teacher recommendation | f |
| Drama 3 | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Drama 2, or teacher recommendation | f |
| Stage Productions | CP | 10-12 | — | f |
| Advanced Dance Choreography and Production | CP | 9-12 | Completion of Intermediate Dance Choreography, or teacher recommendationListed as Dance Ch/P Advanced on the school course list | f |
| Concert Choir | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Varsity Choir | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Vocal Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Beginning Piano | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Beginning String Orchestra | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| String Orchestra (Advanced) | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Concert Band | CP | 9-12 | — | f |
| Symphonic / Marching Band | CP | 9-12 | — | 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 |
| Accounting with QuickBooks Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Completion of Fundamentals of BusinessMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; one of the second-level courses in the Business Management pathway | g |
| Digital Media and Design Honors | Honors | 9-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; first-level course in the Design, Visual, and Media Arts pathway | f |
| Advanced Multimedia Design Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Completion of one of the following: Digital Media Honors, Graphic Design, or Digital PhotographyMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; second-level course in the Design, Visual, and Media Arts pathway | f |
| Cybersecurity I Honors | Honors | 9-12 | —Marked as weighted in the district course catalog; first-level course in the Cybersecurity pathway | g |
| Cybersecurity II Honors (Ethical Hacking) | Honors | 10-12 | Completion of Cybersecurity I HonorsMarked as weighted in the district course catalog; second-level course in the Cybersecurity pathway | g |
| Fundamentals of Business | CTE | 9-12 | —First-level course in the Business Management pathway | g |
| Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Fundamentals of Business | g |
| Marketing and Society | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Fundamentals of BusinessOne of the second-level courses in the Business Management pathway | g |
| Exploring Computer Science | CTE | 9-12 | —First-level course in the Software and Systems Development (Computer Science) pathway | g |
| Video Production & Broadcasting III | Other | — | —Listed in the honors column of the school course list but not listed separately in the district 2026-27 course catalog; confirm grades offered and weighting with a counselor | — |
Physical Education
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Education 9 | Other | 9 | — | — |
| Physical Education 10-12 | Other | 10-12 | — | — |
| PE Band (Marching Band) | Other | 9-12 | —Marching band that earns physical education credit | — |
| Dance (Beginning / Intermediate) | Other | 9-12 | —Intermediate level requires completion of the beginning level or teacher recommendation | — |
| Co-Ed Weight Training | Other | 9-12 | — | — |
| Badminton | Other | — | —Listed on the school course list but not listed separately in the district course catalog | — |
| Cheerleading | Other | — | —Listed on the school course list but not listed separately in the district course catalog | — |
| Athletics (0 / 6 Period Sports) | Other | 9-12 | —School teams meet during zero period or sixth period | — |
Other Electives
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVID 9 | CP | 9 | —Application required; study groups led by college student tutors every Tuesday and Thursday | g |
| AVID 10 | CP | 10 | — | g |
| AVID 11 | CP | 11 | — | g |
| AVID 12 | CP | 12 | — | g |
| ASB (Leadership) | Other | — | —Associated Student Body leadership course | — |
| Library Science | Other | — | — | — |
| Campus Service (Office or Teacher Assistant) | Other | — | —Office or teacher assistant | — |
Course Selection Timeline
Grade 8
- January-FebruaryIn-district Parental Choice Transfer lottery applications (January 12 to February 13 for the 2026-27 school year); intra-district and inter-district transfers for designated reasons are accepted from January 12
- SpringHigh school counselors visit the middle schools for preregistration and course selection presentations; the math starting point is set by the District Placement Matrix
- Second semesterAll in-district grade 8 students visit their assigned attendance-area high school
- SpringStudents interested in AVID 9 submit applications
Grade 9
- Full yearEnglish 1 or English 1 Honors; AP Human Geography is an option
- Full yearStudents may begin with the first-level course of a CTE pathway, such as Exploring Computer Science, Cybersecurity I Honors, or Fundamentals of Business
- SpringAnnual Registration; update the four-year plan on CaliforniaColleges.edu
Grade 10
- Full yearWorld History or AP World History; students who are ahead in math take AP Precalculus
- SpringAnnual Registration, which determines the grade 11 AP combination and the second-level CTE course
Grade 11
- Full yearUS History or AP US History, and AP English Language
- SummerSummer internship opportunities in CTE pathways (listed in the School Profile as a grade 11 program)
- SpringAnnual Registration, which sets grade 12 AP Calculus, AP English Literature, and AP Government / Macroeconomics
Grade 12
- SeptemberReview graduation and A-G progress with a counselor
- October-DecemberUC and CSU application season; application workshops are held in English classes, and counselors help launch applications through CCGI
- From DecemberFAFSA / CADAA financial aid applications open, with the deadline in early March
- May 1Confirm the college choice and submit the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR); take AP exams in May
Frequently Asked Questions
How many periods a day do La Quinta High School students take, and can they take more?
Garden Grove Unified School District rules set a schedule of 6 periods per day. The La Quinta High School bell schedule also includes a zero period (period 0), which meets from 7:16 to 8:25 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; Wednesday is a teacher collaboration day with no zero period. District rules allow a combined maximum of 45 credits per semester across all types of courses; exceeding this limit requires the principal's prior written approval.
Can a student still change the schedule at La Quinta High School after school starts?
Only in five cases. Under the district course catalog, course selection is treated as a commitment by the student, and after school starts only five types of requests are accepted: a scheduling error, an incomplete prerequisite, a missing graduation or college requirement course, a special program (athletics, orchestra, art, choir, or CTE), or a course already completed in summer school. Dropping a course or being removed from a course after the first three weeks of school results in a semester grade of W/F.
Irvine families should note: are the La Quinta High School rules for repeating a course the same as in Irvine?
The rules are similar, but the details differ. The Garden Grove Unified School District allows students to repeat a course in which they earned a D, but credit is not granted twice; after the repeat, the higher grade counts in the GPA, and the original course remains on the transcript. La Quinta High School also offers after-school APEX online courses during the semester specifically for making up courses with a D, so that they meet the UC and CSU requirement of a C or higher. Irvine families should ask a counselor to check how the original transcript will be handled before transferring.
How many credits does La Quinta High School require for graduation?
220 credits. For the Class of 2027, the requirements are 40 credits of English, 30 of history and social science, 30 of mathematics, 20 of science, 10 of fine arts or applied arts, 20 of physical education, 2.5 of health, and 67.5 of electives, and students must pass Algebra 1 within mathematics. Beginning with the Class of 2028, a 5-credit Ethnic Studies requirement is added and electives are reduced to 62.5 credits, with the total unchanged. The school does not require community service hours.
How does a La Quinta High School student take community college courses?
There are two cases. For the dual enrollment courses the school offers in partnership with Coastline College and Golden West College, the student submits a college application and a special admit form signed by a parent. To take community college courses independently, the student must first complete the district Non-GGUSD Course Enrollment Request Form (Form 9802.110). District rules allow a maximum of 15 credits per semester in approved outside programs; the district course catalog does not state whether these grades count in the high school GPA, so students should confirm with a counselor before enrolling.
