The Laguna Beach High School 2026-27 Course Catalog (February 26, 2026 edition) lists, for each course, the credits, grades offered, recommended preparation, whether there is summer work, the weekly homework load, and the UC A-G category, and the summary table includes a column showing whether the course is weighted. This page explains the course selection rules and graduation requirements first and then presents a complete course map organized by subject, covering 125 courses in total, including on-campus courses in the catalog, career technical courses offered after school at this school, and the district’s dual enrollment courses. The rules are where parents most often make mistakes.
Course Selection Rules
| Number of courses | Under California Education Code Section 46145, every student must take at least 5 courses. For students who take 5 courses and participate in athletics or after-school programs, the school decides which period is left open and does not accept requests for a specific period or a specific teacher |
|---|---|
| Schedule structure | An 8-period daily schedule: Monday through Thursday follow an alternating 80-minute block schedule, and all 8 periods meet on Friday. Athletics counts as periods 7 and 8. The course catalog does not set a maximum number of courses per semester |
| Open periods | The course selection sheet includes an open-period option (Open AM / PM, single or double period) for students who participate in athletics or after-school programs |
| Recommended preparation and placement | For each course, the course catalog lists the Recommended Preparation, the weekly homework load, and whether there is summer work. The school states that any student who completes the recommended preparation and understands the course requirements may take honors and AP courses; placement in grade 9 core courses is determined by the school based on grades, assessments, and teacher recommendations |
| Credit calculation | Each course earns 5 credits per semester, and the passing grade is D; graduation requires a total of 230 credits |
| Leaving an honors or AP course | After enrolling in an honors or AP course, students are expected to complete the full year; a student who wants to leave must submit a Request for Schedule Change Form before the drop deadline, and the current grade transfers unchanged to the new class. Dropping after the deadline may result in a W/F, which counts as a failing grade in the GPA |
| Outside courses | Under district policy BP 6146.11, courses taken outside school (for acceleration or enrichment) require prior approval from a counselor and administration and a signed Off-Site Enrollment Contract; courses taken for placement purposes are not recorded on this school's transcript. The 10-credit world language graduation requirement may be completed at an approved accredited institution |
| Repeating a course | A D or F may be replaced by repeating the course: the original grade remains with a repeat notation but no longer counts in the GPA |
| Number of science courses | The course catalog does not cap the number of science courses per year; AP science courses in grades 11 to 12 generally require Integrated Science 2 Honors as a prerequisite |
Graduation Requirements (230 Credits)
| Subject | Credits |
|---|---|
| English | 40 |
| Social Science | 35 |
| Mathematics | 30 |
| Science | 20 |
| World Language | 10 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 10 |
| Physical Education | 20 |
| Health | 5 |
| Electives | 60 |
Graduation requirements and college admission requirements are two separate standards. The school’s own comparison chart states that the UC and CSU A-G requirements are 2 years of history, 4 years of English, 3 years of math (4 recommended), 2 years of laboratory science (3 recommended), 2 years of the same world language (3 recommended), 1 year of visual and performing arts (two consecutive semesters of the same course), and 1 year of a college-preparatory elective, with grades of C or higher; a D must be repeated. Two grade 9 social science courses deserve particular attention: Multicultural Studies and Human Ecology / Health do not count toward UC A-G, and taking AP Human Geography can replace Multicultural Studies and count toward A-G category a.
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. Whether a course is weighted follows the course catalog; see the weighting rules above and on the overview page.
English
- Grade 9: English 9 or English 9 Honors (requires an A in grade 8 English and a teacher recommendation; not weighted)
- Grade 10: English 10 or English 10 Honors (weighted)
- Grade 11: English 11 (American literature) or AP English Literature and Composition, which requires an A or B in English 10 Honors
- Grade 12: English 12 or AP English Language and Composition
Social Science
- Grade 9: one semester each of Multicultural Studies and Human Ecology / Health, neither of which counts toward UC A-G; students may instead take AP Human Geography
- Grade 10: World History or AP European History, which requires an A in Multicultural Studies and a teacher recommendation
- Grade 11: United States History or AP US History, which requires completion of AP European History, an A in World History and English, and a teacher recommendation
- Grade 12: one semester each of American Government and Economics, or one semester each of AP Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics
Science (Standard Sequence)
- Grade 9: Integrated Science 1 (chemistry and physics focus), the common starting point for all grade 9 students
- Grade 10: Integrated Science 2 (biochemistry and energy focus)
- Grade 11: Integrated Science 3 (biophysics and space focus)
- Grade 12: Marine Ecology or Anatomy and Physiology, both of which require a C or higher in Integrated Science 3
Science (Most Rigorous Sequence)
- Grade 9: Integrated Science 1 (grade 9 science at this school has a single level)
- Grade 10: Integrated Science 2 Honors, which requires an A in Integrated Science 1; it is the only science honors course at this school and the main prerequisite for grade 11 AP science courses
- Grade 11: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, or AP Environmental Science (all four are open to grades 11 to 12)
- Grade 12: AP Physics 2, or another AP science course not taken in grade 11
Science at Laguna Beach High School follows a three-year Integrated Science sequence: chemistry and physics in grade 9, biochemistry and energy in grade 10, and biophysics and space in grade 11; the school no longer offers separate regular biology, chemistry, and physics courses. Nearly all AP science courses in grades 11 to 12 require Integrated Science 2 Honors, making it the most important choice during course selection in grade 10. Grades offered and requirements for advanced science courses are as follows.
| Course | Grades offered and notes |
|---|---|
| AP Biology | Grades 11 to 12; an A or B in Integrated Science 2 Honors; 3 to 4 hours of summer review work. In 2025, 44 exams were taken, with a school-reported pass rate of 95% |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 11 to 12; requires Integrated Science 2 Honors and Algebra 2 Honors; summer work required. In 2025, 27 exams were taken, with a 100% pass rate |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 11 to 12; requires Integrated Science 2 Honors and concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 Honors or a higher math course. In 2025, 36 exams were taken, with a 94% pass rate |
| AP Physics 2 | Listed for grade 12 in the course catalog summary table; a B or higher in AP Physics 1. This subject does not appear in the 2025 AP results table of the School Profile |
| AP Environmental Science | Grade 11 students must have completed Integrated Science 1 and Integrated Science 2 Honors, and grade 12 students must have completed Integrated Science 1, 2, and 3. This subject does not appear in the 2025 results table of the School Profile |
| Marine Ecology | Grade 12; a C or higher in Integrated Science 3; UC A-G category d life science |
Math courses are covered on a separate page: Math Pathways.
A Feature of English: AP English Literature Comes in Grade 11
Unlike most schools, Laguna Beach High School places AP English Literature and Composition in grade 11 and AP English Language and Composition in grade 12. The recommended preparation for AP English Literature is an A or B in English 10 Honors, and English 10 Honors in turn requires an A in English 9 or an A or B in English 9 Honors. The school’s grade 9 placement guidance states that students who plan to take AP English in grades 11 and 12 should start with English 9 Honors. English 9 Honors itself is not weighted; its role is to provide entry into this sequence.
Career Technical Education Pathways and After-School Courses
- Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways: The school lists 9 pathways, each made up of a concentrator course and a capstone course; the School Profile shows that 27% of students completed a pathway.
- Systems Programming: AP Computer Science Principles → AP Computer Science A or Introduction to App Development
- Engineering Design: Engineering Design & Analysis → Engineering Manufacturing and Technology Honors
- Patient Care: Medical Core Honors → Hospital Careers Honors (after-school classes at this school, including an internship)
- Emergency Response: Fire Science → Emergency Medical Technician Honors (both are after-school courses)
- Five arts pathways: Professional Theatre, Dance Choreography, Design, Visual, and Media Arts (yearbook and newspaper), Visual and Commercial Art, and Graphic Design
- College & Career Advantage (CCA) After-School Courses: Career technical courses offered jointly by the Capistrano Unified School District and the Laguna Beach Unified School District, held after school at several South Orange County high schools or online, including robotics, dental assisting, veterinary technology, aviation, and fashion design. The district does not provide transportation; seats for students at this school are limited, and students who registered before March 26, 2026, received priority. Courses marked with an asterisk on the course list can earn community college credit with a grade of B or higher
- CCAP Dual Enrollment (Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College): College and Career Access Pathways dual enrollment courses are offered exclusively for students in this district, tuition-free, and are held online, at this school, or at the community college; grades are recorded on both the community college transcript and this school's transcript. The school-year courses for 2026-27 are Introduction to Business (MGT1) in the fall and Social Media Marketing (ENTR117) in the spring, both registered through Irvine Valley College; summer 2026 also offered courses such as History of Rock Music, Introduction to Psychology, and American Sign Language, each earning 10 credits at this school. The School Profile shows that 36% of students have taken a dual enrollment course
World Languages
- Spanish 1 to 3 + Spanish 2, 3, and 4 Honors + Spanish Literature and Culture Honors + AP Spanish Language and Culture + AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- French 1 to 5 + French 3 Honors + AP French Language
- Mandarin Chinese 1 to 3 + Mandarin Chinese 4 Honors + AP Chinese Language and Culture
All three languages extend to the AP level. Spanish has the most complete honors sequence, but Spanish 2 Honors and 3 Honors are not weighted, and weighting begins only with Spanish 4 Honors; Mandarin Chinese is weighted starting with Mandarin Chinese 4 Honors in the fourth year, and AP Chinese requires an A in Mandarin Chinese 4 Honors. The UC A-G requirements call for two years of the same language, with three recommended; with prior written approval from a counselor, the school allows the 10-credit world language graduation requirement to be completed at an accredited institution outside school.
Complete Course Map
Organized by subject. Each course shows its level, grades offered, prerequisites, and UC A-G category; the notes column gives the course number, whether the course is weighted, and the career technical pathway it belongs to, for easy line-by-line comparison with the school’s course selection sheet.
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 11 | An A or B in English 10 Honors, and/or a teacher recommendationCourse number EN310Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); placed in grade 11 at this school | b |
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 12 | An A or B in English 11 or AP English Literature, and/or a teacher recommendationCourse number EN410Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); placed in grade 12 at this school; summer work required | b |
| English 9 Honors | Honors | 9 | An A in grade 8 English and a teacher recommendationCourse number EN101Y; honors course but not weighted; about 2.5 hours of homework per week | b |
| English 10 Honors | Honors | 10 | An A in English 9, or an A/B in English 9 HonorsCourse number EN210Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | b |
| English 9 | CP | 9 | —Course number EN100Y | b |
| English 10 | CP | 10 | English 9Course number EN200Y | b |
| English 11 | CP | 11 | English 10Course number EN300Y; American literature | b |
| English 12 | CP | 12 | English 11Course number EN400Y | b |
| English Language Development (ELD) | Other | 9-11 | Level A on the IPT II testCourse number EN500Y; course for English learners | b |
Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP European History | AP | 10 | An A in Multicultural Studies and a teacher recommendationCourse number SS210Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required; about 5 hours of homework per week | a |
| AP US History | AP | 11 | Completion of AP European History, an A in World History and English, and a teacher recommendationCourse number SS310Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | a |
| AP Government and Politics US | AP | 12 | A B or higher in AP US History, a passing score on the AP US History exam, or an A in United States HistoryCourse number SS410Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); one semester, 5 credits | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | An A or B in an advanced math course and a passing score on the AP US History examCourse number SS411Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); one semester, 5 credits | a |
| Multicultural Studies | CP | 9 | —Course number SS100Y; one semester, 5 credits; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Human Ecology / Health | CP | 9 | —Course number SS101Y; one semester, 5 credits; satisfies the health graduation requirement; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| World History | CP | 10 | Multicultural StudiesCourse number SS200Y | a |
| United States History | CP | 11 | World HistoryCourse number SS300Y | a |
| American Government | CP | 12 | —Course number SS400Y; one semester, 5 credits | a |
| Economics | CP | 12 | —Course number SS401Y; one semester, 5 credits | a |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Pre-Calculus | AP | 11-12 | A B or higher in both semesters of Algebra 2Course number MA311Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); next courses: AP Calculus AB and/or AP Statistics | c |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | A B or higher in both semesters of Algebra 2 HonorsCourse number MA410Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required; next course: AP Calculus BC | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | Completion of AP Calculus ABCourse number MA500Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); at this school, a second-year course taken after completing AB | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Algebra 2 HonorsCourse number MA411Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | c |
| Algebra 2 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | A B or higher in both semesters of Geometry and an A in both semesters of Algebra 1Course number MA310Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); next courses: AP Calculus AB and/or AP Statistics | c |
| Geometry Accelerated | Enhanced | 9-12 | An A in both semesters of Algebra 1Course number MA201Y; not weighted; next course: Algebra 2 Honors | c |
| Algebra 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number MA100Y | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-12 | Algebra 1 (grade 9 students need a B or higher)Course number MA200Y; next course: Algebra 2 | c |
| Algebra 2 | CP | 9-12 | Algebra 1 and GeometryCourse number MA300Y; next courses: Calculus and/or Statistics | c |
| Calculus | CP | 11-12 | A B or higher in Algebra 2Course number MA400Y; a non-AP introductory calculus course | c |
| Data Science | CP | 11-12 | Algebra 2Course number MA401Y; not approved by the NCAA | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | Grade 11 students must have completed Integrated Science 1 and Integrated Science 2 Honors; grade 12 students must have completed Integrated Science 1, 2, and 3Course number SC340Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | d |
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | An A or B in Integrated Science 2 HonorsCourse number SC310Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); 3 to 4 hours of summer review work | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | Integrated Science 2 Honors and Algebra 2 HonorsCourse number SC320Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 11-12 | Integrated Science 2 Honors and concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 Honors or a higher math courseCourse number SC330Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | d |
| AP Physics 2 | AP | 12 | A B or higher in AP Physics 1 and concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 Honors or a higher math courseCourse number SC420Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); the course catalog summary table lists grade 12, while the course description lists grades 11 to 12 | d |
| Integrated Science 2 Honors (Biochemistry and Energy Focus) | Honors | 10 | An A in Integrated Science 1Course number SC210Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); life science | d |
| Integrated Science 1 (Chemistry and Physics Focus) | CP | 9 | —Course number SC100Y; physical science; the starting science course for all grade 9 students | d |
| Integrated Science 2 (Biochemistry and Energy Focus) | CP | 10 | Integrated Science 1Course number SC200Y; life science | d |
| Integrated Science 3 (Biophysics and Space Focus) | CP | 11-12 | Integrated Science 2Course number SC300Y; physical science | d |
| Marine Ecology | CP | 12 | A C or higher in Integrated Science 3Course number SC410Y; life science | d |
| Anatomy and Physiology | CP | 12 | A C or higher in Integrated Science 3Course number SC400Y; life science | d |
Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP European History | AP | 10 | An A in Multicultural Studies and a teacher recommendationCourse number SS210Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required; about 5 hours of homework per week | a |
| AP US History | AP | 11 | Completion of AP European History, an A in World History and English, and a teacher recommendationCourse number SS310Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | a |
| AP Government and Politics US | AP | 12 | A B or higher in AP US History, a passing score on the AP US History exam, or an A in United States HistoryCourse number SS410Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); one semester, 5 credits | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 12 | An A or B in an advanced math course and a passing score on the AP US History examCourse number SS411Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); one semester, 5 credits | a |
| Multicultural Studies | CP | 9 | —Course number SS100Y; one semester, 5 credits; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Human Ecology / Health | CP | 9 | —Course number SS101Y; one semester, 5 credits; satisfies the health graduation requirement; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| World History | CP | 10 | Multicultural StudiesCourse number SS200Y | a |
| United States History | CP | 11 | World HistoryCourse number SS300Y | a |
| American Government | CP | 12 | —Course number SS400Y; one semester, 5 credits | a |
| Economics | CP | 12 | —Course number SS401Y; one semester, 5 credits | a |
World Language
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 10-12 | Spanish 4 Honors (an A recommended), or a B or higher in Spanish Literature and Culture HonorsCourse number WL520Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 11-12 | AP Spanish Language and CultureCourse number WL530Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | e |
| AP French Language | AP | 10-12 | A B or higher in French 3 Honors, or an A in French 4Course number WL521Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | e |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | An A in Mandarin Chinese 4 HonorsCourse number WL522Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | e |
| Spanish 2 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | An A in Spanish 1 and a recommendation from the world language departmentCourse number WL213Y; honors course but not weighted; summer work required | e |
| Spanish 3 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | An A in Spanish 2 or a teacher recommendationCourse number WL313Y; honors course but not weighted | e |
| Spanish 4 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | An A in Spanish 3 and a teacher recommendation, or a C or higher in Spanish 3 HonorsCourse number WL410Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); the course description notes that UC approval is pending | e |
| Spanish Literature and Culture Honors | Honors | 10-12 | A C or higher in Spanish 4 HonorsCourse number WL510Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); not approved by the NCAA | e |
| French 3 Honors | Honors | 10-12 | An A in French 2Course number WL312Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | e |
| Mandarin Chinese 4 Honors | Honors | 10-12 | An A in Mandarin Chinese 3Course number WL412Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); summer work required | e |
| Spanish 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number WL100Y | e |
| Spanish 2 | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in Spanish 1Course number WL200Y | e |
| Spanish 3 | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in Spanish 2Course number WL300Y | e |
| French 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number WL101Y | e |
| French 2 | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in French 1Course number WL201Y | e |
| French 3 | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in French 2Course number WL301Y | e |
| French 4 | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in French 3Course number WL401Y | e |
| French 5 | CP | 9-12 | An A in French 4 and a B or higher in AP FrenchCourse number WL501Y; the course catalog summary table lists French 4 under the same course number, WL501Y | e |
| Mandarin Chinese 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number WL102Y | e |
| Mandarin Chinese 2 | CP | 9-12 | Mandarin Chinese 1Course number WL202Y | e |
| Mandarin Chinese 3 | CP | 9-12 | Mandarin Chinese 1 and 2Course number WL302Y | e |
Visual and Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Drawing | AP | 10-12 | A GPA of 3.5 or higher in Art Production 1 and 2Course number VP201Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); capstone course of the Visual and Commercial Art pathway | f |
| AP 2D Art and Design | AP | 10-12 | A GPA of 3.5 or higher in Art Production 1 and 2 and/or Digital PhotographyCourse number VP301Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | World History or AP European HistoryCourse number VP530Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| AP 3D Art and Design | AP | 10-12 | A B or higher in Ceramics 2Course number VP302Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); the course description lists grades 11 to 12 | f |
| AP Music Theory | AP | 10-12 | Teacher recommendationCourse number VP540Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| Yearbook 1 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | A C or higher in English and yearbook experience in middle schoolCourse number VP180Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); concentrator course of the Design, Visual, and Media Arts pathway | f |
| Yearbook 2 Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Yearbook 1 Honors or approval of the advisorCourse number VP280Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); capstone course of this pathway | f |
| Newspaper 1 Honors | Honors | 9-12 | A C or higher in EnglishCourse number VP181Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| Newspaper 2 Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Newspaper 1 Honors or approval of the advisorCourse number VP281Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| Multimedia Design Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Multimedia Production or a teacher recommendationCourse number VP250Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); capstone course of the Graphic Design pathway | f |
| Graphic Production Technologies Honors | Honors | 11-12 | Multimedia Design HonorsCourse number VP350Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); extension course after completing the Graphic Design pathway | f |
| Dance Company Honors | Honors | 9-12 | Audition required; a 2.0 GPA and completed athletic eligibility clearance before the auditionCourse number VP421Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School) | f |
| Art Production 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number VP100Y | f |
| Ceramics 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number VP110Y | f |
| Ceramics 2 | CP | 10-12 | A B or higher in Ceramics 1Course number VP210Y | f |
| Digital Photography | CP | 9-12 | A GPA of 3.5 or higher in previous art courses and completion of two years of concentrated art studyCourse number VP130Y | f |
| Digital Photography 2 | CP | 10-12 | Digital PhotographyCourse number VP230Y | f |
| Video Production 1 | CP | 9-12 | —Course number VP170Y | f |
| Video Production Advanced | CP | 10-12 | —Course number VP270Y | f |
| Wind Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | Audition or teacher recommendationCourse number VP500Y | f |
| String Ensemble | CP | 10-12 | Audition or teacher recommendationCourse number VP510Y | f |
| Jazz Ensemble | CP | 9-12 | Audition and concurrent enrollment in Marching Band or Wind EnsembleCourse number VP520Y | f |
| Introduction to Guitar/Ukulele | CP | 9-12 | —Course number VP140Y | f |
| Intermediate Guitar/Ukulele | CP | 9-12 | Introduction to Guitar/Ukulele or equivalent levelCourse number VP240Y | f |
| Advanced Guitar/Ukulele | CP | 9-12 | Intermediate Guitar/Ukulele or equivalent levelCourse number VP340Y | f |
| Theatre Performance | CP | 9-12 | Audition requiredCourse number VP360Y; 5 credits | f |
| Production Management | CP | 9-12 | —Course number VP361Y; UC A-G approval pending | — |
| Dance 4 | CP | 10-12 | A B or higher in both semesters of Dance 3 and approval of the instructorCourse number VP420Y; leadership-based course | f |
| Art Production 2 | CTE | 10-12 | Art Production 1Course number VP200Y; concentrator course of the Visual and Commercial Art pathway (CTE) | f |
| Art Entrepreneurship | CTE | 11-12 | Art Production 1 and Art Production 2Course number VP300Y; capstone course of the Visual and Commercial Art pathway | f |
| Multimedia Production | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number VP150Y; concentrator course of the Graphic Design pathway | f |
| Theatre/Vocal Arts 1 | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number VP160Y; concentrator course of the Professional Theatre pathway | f |
| Theatre 2 | CTE | 10-12 | Theatre 1Course number VP260Y; capstone course of the Professional Theatre pathway | f |
| Vocal Arts 2 | CTE | 10-12 | Theatre/Vocal Arts 1 or auditionCourse number VP261Y; UC A-G approval pending | — |
| Dance 2 | CTE | 9-12 | A C or higher in both semesters of Dance 1 with no U citizenship mark, or a passing placement test and approvalCourse number VP220Y; concentrator course of the Dance Choreography pathway | f |
| Dance 3 | CTE | 10-12 | A B or higher in both semesters of Dance 2 with no U citizenship mark, or a passing placement test and approvalCourse number VP320Y; capstone course of the Dance Choreography pathway | f |
Electives
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 9-12 | Concurrent enrollment in Algebra 1Course number ID110Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); concentrator course of the Systems Programming pathway | d |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 10-12 | Completion of AP Computer Science Principles and/or App Development or another computer science courseCourse number ID210Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); capstone course of the Systems Programming pathway | c |
| AP Human Geography | AP | 9-12 | —Course number SS110Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); open to grade 9 students | a |
| Engineering Manufacturing and Technology Honors | Honors | 9-12 | Engineering Design & AnalysisCourse number CE401Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); capstone course of the Engineering Design pathway; the course description lists grades 11 to 12 | g |
| Medical Core Honors | Honors | 10-12 | English and Integrated Science 1Course number CE504Y; weighted (the course catalog marks it as weighted for both UC and Laguna Beach High School); concentrator course of the Patient Care pathway | g |
| Leadership (ASB) | CP | 9-12 | Elected or appointed as a student government officerCourse number ID102Y; students must attend the Orange County student leadership camp in early August | g |
| Journalism | CP | 9-12 | A C or higher in English the previous yearCourse number ID101Y | g |
| Financial Literacy | CP | 11-12 | —Course number ID301Y | g |
| International Relations/Model United Nations (MUN) | CP | 9-12 | None; grade 9 students without MUN experience must complete accompanying training in the first semesterCourse number ID100Y; meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30, with off-campus conferences | g |
| Authentic Exploratory Research (AER) | CP | 11-12 | —Course number ID300Y; independent research course with an outside mentor; a paper is published at the end of the year | g |
| Introduction to App Development | CTE | 10-12 | AP Computer Science PrinciplesCourse number CE603Y; developing Apple apps in Swift; capstone course of the Systems Programming pathway | g |
| Engineering Design & Analysis | CTE | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra 1Course number ID200Y; concentrator course of the Engineering Design pathway | d |
| Mock Trial | Other | 9-12 | —Course number SS500Y; fall semester only, 5 credits; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| ELD Elective | Other | 9-12 | —Course number EN530Y; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Work Experience | Other | 10-12 | A paid or unpaid job or internship approved by the teacherCourse number ID201Y; does not count toward UC A-G | — |
| Credit Recovery | Other | 11-12 | —Course number ID600Y; credit recovery course; see the grade 11 and 12 course selection sheets | — |
Physical Education
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness/Wellness | Other | 9-12 | —Course number PE100Y; physical education credit | — |
| Dance 1 | Other | 9-12 | None; no audition requiredCourse number PE510Y; physical education credit; starting point for dance | — |
| Yoga Core Fitness | Other | 10-12 | —Course number PE520Y; physical education credit | — |
| Marching Band | Other | 9-12 | Teacher recommendationCourse number PE530F; fall semester, 5 credits; concurrent enrollment in Wind Ensemble required | — |
| Drumline | Other | 9-12 | Teacher recommendationCourse number PE540S; spring semester, 5 credits | — |
| Athletics | Other | 9-12 | Tryouts required for all athletic teamsCourse number PHA100; counts as periods 7 and 8; satisfies physical education credit | — |
CCA / CTE (After-Bell)
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical/Hospital Careers Honors | Honors | 10-12 | Must be 16 or 17 years old before the spring semester (the two documents state this differently); an internship is requiredCourse number CE505Y; after-school class at this school; capstone course of the Patient Care pathway; UC honors weighting | g |
| Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Honors | Honors | 12 | Must be 18 years old by the end of the course; an internship is requiredCourse number CE754Y; after-school class at Capistrano Valley High School; capstone course of the Emergency Response pathway | d |
| Fire Science | CTE | 9-12 | —Course number CE752Y; after-school class at Capistrano Valley High School; concentrator course of the Emergency Response pathway | g |
Dual Enrollment (CCAP)
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGT1 - Introduction to Business | Dual Enrollment | 9-12 | School approval and registration through Irvine Valley College requiredCourse number DE207C; Irvine Valley College dual enrollment course, fall semester | — |
| ENTR117 - Social Media Marketing | Dual Enrollment | 9-12 | School approval and registration through Irvine Valley College requiredCourse number DE211C; Irvine Valley College dual enrollment course, spring semester | — |
Course Selection Timeline
Grade 8
- FebruaryDistrict registration for new students opens in the Aeries system (February 11 in 2026); upload proof of residency
- March8th Grade Family Night (March 11, 2026; scheduled for March 10 in 2027)
- AprilAssociated Student Body (ASB) applications for grade 9: released April 6, 2026, and due April 30; Dance Company Honors auditions in May
- Mid-May or early AugustNew students from middle schools outside the district schedule a course selection meeting with a counselor
Grade 9
- AugustFreshman orientation (August 14, 2026); school begins August 20
- September 2First-semester add/drop deadline; dropping afterward may result in a W/F
- OctoberFLOW Week (October 19 to 23)
- Full yearOption to take AP Human Geography or AP Computer Science Principles; choose either physical education or a school athletic team
- SpringSelect grade 10 courses: whether to enter English 10 Honors, Integrated Science 2 Honors, and AP European History
Grade 10
- Full yearIntegrated Science 2 Honors is the common prerequisite for grade 11 AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics 1
- SpringSelect grade 11 courses: AP US History, AP English Literature, and AP Calculus AB or AP Pre-Calculus; students who register for CCA after-school courses before late March receive priority
Grade 11
- October 17PSAT/NMSQT, for grade 11 students, voluntary
- Full yearOption to take Authentic Exploratory Research (AER); state assessments CAASPP and the California Science Test (CAST)
- SpringSelect grade 12 courses: AP English Language, AP Government and Politics with AP Macroeconomics, and AP Calculus BC
Grade 12
- SeptemberUC application workshops and college visit season (college fair on September 30, 2026)
- FallStudents using the Common App must first order transcripts in Parchment before a counselor can submit the school report; UC and CSU applications do not go through Parchment
- May 3 to 14AP exams (2027)
- Before graduationComplete 40 hours of community service; graduation honors are calculated from the academic weighted GPA at the end of the first semester of grade 12
Frequently Asked Questions
At Laguna Beach High School, what is the minimum number of courses per semester?
At least 5. Under California Education Code Section 46145, the Laguna Beach High School Student Handbook requires every student to take at least 5 courses. The school runs an 8-period daily schedule: Monday through Thursday follow an alternating 80-minute block schedule, and all 8 periods meet on Friday; athletics counts as periods 7 and 8. For students who take only 5 courses and participate in athletics or after-school programs, the school decides which period is left open and does not accept requests for a specific period or a specific teacher.
Can a student still change the schedule at Laguna Beach High School after school starts?
Yes, but there are deadlines. To change or drop a course, the student must submit a Request for Schedule Change Form before the deadline and keep at least 5 courses. For the 2026-27 school year at Laguna Beach High School, the add/drop deadline is September 2 for the first semester and January 19, 2027, for the second semester. Dropping a course after the deadline may result in a W/F, which counts as a failing grade in the GPA. When a student leaves an honors or AP course, the current grade transfers unchanged to the new class.
Irvine families should note: how do Laguna Beach High School graduation requirements differ from those of the Irvine Unified School District?
Laguna Beach High School requires 230 credits: 40 in English, 35 in social science, 30 in mathematics, 20 in science, 10 in world language, 10 in visual and performing arts, 20 in physical education, 5 in health, and 60 in electives, plus 40 hours of community service, 5 hours per semester, completed at nonprofit organizations. World language and the arts are listed separately and cannot substitute for each other; Algebra 1 completed in middle school satisfies the Algebra 1 requirement but does not count toward the 30 high school math credits.
Can courses taken outside school or at a community college appear on the Laguna Beach High School transcript?
There are three cases. The district's CCAP dual enrollment courses (registered through Irvine Valley College) are tuition-free and, once approved, are recorded on both the community college transcript and the Laguna Beach High School transcript. Community college courses that parents enroll in on their own are recorded only on the community college transcript. Courses taken outside school for acceleration or placement require prior approval from a counselor and administration and are not recorded on the Laguna Beach High School transcript.
What are the rules for repeating a course at Laguna Beach High School?
A course with an original grade of D or F may be repeated to replace the grade. The Laguna Beach High School Student Handbook states that after the repeat, the new grade and credit are recorded on the transcript, and the original grade remains with a repeat notation but no longer counts in the GPA. A course may be repeated in the school's summer school or the following school year, through online credit recovery at school, or, with prior counselor approval, at another accredited institution at the family's expense. The district's high school summer school is used only for credit recovery and does not offer courses for acceleration.
Which courses in the Laguna Beach High School course catalog are weighted?
Check the "AP/Honors (Weighted)" column of the course catalog summary table and the asterisks on the course selection sheet. For the 2026-27 school year at Laguna Beach High School, all 27 AP courses are weighted; among honors courses, English 10 Honors, Algebra 2 Honors, Integrated Science 2 Honors, Spanish 4 Honors, French 3 Honors, and Mandarin Chinese 4 Honors are weighted, as are honors courses such as Yearbook, Newspaper, Multimedia Design, Dance Company, Engineering Manufacturing, and Medical Core. English 9 Honors, Spanish 2 Honors, and Spanish 3 Honors are not weighted, and neither is Geometry Accelerated.
