Fullerton Joint Union High School District · Public high school · College planning guide
Sunny Hills High School: Course Selection Rules and Course Map
Sunny Hills High School courses for 2026-27, organized by subject, with course load rules, add and drop deadlines, and graduation credit requirements.
Course information for Sunny Hills High School is spread across three official documents: the school’s 2026-2027 Course Offerings list gives every course, its grade restrictions, and its University of California A-G category; the Honors / AP / IB Course Expectations give the prerequisites and homework-time expectations for every honors, AP, and IB course; and the district’s General Information and Graduation Requirements give the rules on course load, adding and dropping, and credits. This page explains the rules first and then presents the complete course map. The rules are where parents most often make mistakes.
Course Selection Rules
Course load
Students in grades 9 to 11 must take 6 courses each semester; seniors on track with graduation credits may take 5, one of which may be an ROP or community college course
Schedule structure
The regular schedule runs from Period 1 through Period 6; the school also offers 28 zero-period (Period 0) courses and 4 seventh-period courses for students who need additional courses
Credit cap
A maximum of 40 credits per semester count toward graduation; a maximum of 15 credits per summer
Schedule changes
Schedule changes are accepted only during the first three weeks of school and only in six situations: a missing graduation requirement, a missing college requirement, a failed prerequisite, a special program (varsity athletics, orchestra, band, ROP, and similar), a course already completed in summer, or a scheduling error
Dropping a course
The deadline to drop a course without an F is the end of the third week of each semester; a course dropped after the third week is recorded as an F on the transcript unless the principal or designee decides otherwise because of special circumstances
Changing levels
A level change within the same course (for example, English 1 Honors to English 1) or a move to a related course (for example, Algebra 2 to Algebra 1, or Spanish 2 to Spanish 1) must be completed by the end of the sixth week of the semester; changes may also be made at the end of the semester. A level change is not considered a drop
Full-year commitment
Enrolling in an Honors, AP, or IB course is a full-year commitment; moving to a lower level depends on available space in the master schedule
Credit/No Credit grading
The deadline to switch to Credit/No Credit is the last day of the first and third quarters, and the choice cannot be reversed to a letter grade; the University of California and California State University do not accept A-G courses graded Credit/No Credit
Outside courses
Each outside educational experience must be approved in advance; up to 40 credits over four years may count toward graduation, and the grades do not count toward the GPA; ROP courses do not count against these 40 credits
Repeating a course
When a course already passed is repeated, the credits count only as elective credits and no longer satisfy the minimum subject-area credit requirement
Graduation Requirements (217.5 Credits)
Subject
Credits
English (4 years: English 1, 2, and 3 plus 10 credits of English electives)
40
Social Science (3 years: World History, US History, Government and Economics)
30
Mathematics (3 years, including at least 1 year of Algebra 1 or higher)
30
Science (2 years: 10 credits of life science and 10 credits of physical science, both laboratory courses)
20
World Language / VPA / CTE (1 year of world language, visual and performing arts, or career technical education)
10
Health Education
2.5
Physical Education (2 years, grades 9 and 10)
20
Electives
65
Graduation also requires eight semesters of attendance, with at least 5 courses and at least 40 credits in each of the final two semesters. Students who completed Algebra 1 in middle school are exempt from Algebra 1, but the 30-credit math requirement still applies. Students who need to deviate from graduation requirements must submit an alternative plan request, reviewed jointly by the parent and counselor and approved by the principal.
Graduation requirements and college admission requirements are two separate standards. Graduation requires only passing grades, while the A-G requirements of the University of California and the California State University require a C or higher. Graduation requires only two years of science, while A-G requires two years of laboratory science and recommends a third. For graduation, one course chosen from world language, arts, or career technical education is sufficient, while A-G requires two years of the same world language plus a separate year of visual or performing arts. The University of California also requires at least 15 A-G courses, 11 of them completed before grade 12, with an A-G GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Course Levels by Subject
In the pathways below, CP refers to College Prep, the regular course level that is neither honors, AP, nor IB.
English
Grade 9: English 1 or English 1 Honors; the honors course requires passing the Honors/Pre-IB placement exam and an A or B in grade 8 Honors English or an A in grade 8 English
Grade 10: English 2 or English 2 Honors; the honors course requires an A or B in English 1 Honors or an A in English 1, plus a writing sample
Grade 11: English 3, AP English Language, or English IB HL 1
Grade 12: AP English Literature, English IB HL 2, CSU Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC), or a combination of two grade 12 English semester courses (British Literature, California Literature, World Literature, The Novel, Modern Drama, Myth and Fantasy Literature, Literature of the Bible)
Social Science
Grade 9: World History or AP Human Geography; AP Human Geography in grade 9 requires passing the honors placement exam
Grade 10: World History or AP European History; AP Psychology is also available from grade 10
Grade 11: US History, AP US History, or Economics IB HL 1. For IB diploma candidates, History of the Americas HL Year 1 is the AP US History course
Grade 12: the semester courses American Government and Economics, or AP American Government with AP Macroeconomics, or Economics IB HL 2 with History of the Americas IB HL 2. History of the Americas IB HL 2 satisfies the 5-credit government graduation requirement
Science (Standard Sequence)
Grade 9: Biology or Agricultural Biology
Grade 10: Chemistry, Agricultural Chemistry, or Geophysical Science
Grade 11: Physics, Human Anatomy/Physiology, or Veterinary Science
Grade 12: Science electives, or AP and IB science courses
Science (Most Rigorous Sequence)
Grade 9: Biology Honors, through the Honors/Pre-IB placement exam
Grade 10: Chemistry Honors, which requires an A in Biology or an A or B in Biology Honors, plus concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2 or higher
Grade 11: AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, or AP Environmental Science
Grade 12: AP Physics 2, IB Physics HL Year 2, or IB Biology SL
Entry requirements for AP and IB science courses, one course per row:
Course
Entry requirements
AP Biology
A or B in both Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors; A or B in Geometry, Geometry Honors, Algebra 2, or Algebra 2 Honors; science teacher recommendation
AP Chemistry
A or B in Chemistry Honors, and A or B in Algebra 2
AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2
A or B in Chemistry Honors, or A in Physics CP; and A or B in Algebra 2
AP Environmental Science
A or B in Chemistry (CP or Honors), and A or B in Algebra 2
IB Biology SL
IB diploma candidate who has completed the corresponding biology and chemistry content
Math courses are covered on a separate page: Math Pathways.
World Languages: Four Languages and Two Acceleration Routes
The world languages department at Sunny Hills High School has 12 teachers and offers four languages.
Chinese 1-3 + AP Chinese Language + IB Chinese SL
German 1-3 + German 3 Honors + AP German Language + IB German SL / HL 1 / HL 2
Korean 1-3 + Korean 3 Honors + IB Korean SL / HL 1 / HL 2 (College Board offers no AP Korean exam)
Spanish 1-4 + Spanish 3 Honors + AP Spanish Language + AP Spanish Literature + IB Spanish SL / HL 1 / HL 2
Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1-2, followed by Spanish 3 Honors or Spanish 3
Rule
Details
Rule 1
Advancing to the next level requires a C- or better in the second semester of the previous course
Rule 2
Students who completed Spanish 1 in middle school are strongly encouraged to take the placement test before enrolling in Spanish 2 in grade 9
Rule 3
Students who wish to skip a level may take the Challenge Exam in each language; a separate assessment can also be scheduled for Chinese
Rule 4
Incoming 9th graders may take the Korean entrance exam to enter Korean 2 directly; 10th graders with an A in Korean 2 may take the Korean Challenge Exam with teacher recommendation and, if they pass, skip Korean 3 and enter IB Korean SL / HL 1
Rule 5
A B+ or better in Spanish 2 is recommended for Spanish 3 Honors; an A or B in German 2 and teacher recommendation are recommended for German 3 Honors
Rule 6
A B or better in Chinese 3 is recommended for AP or IB Chinese
Rule 7
IB language courses are open only to IB diploma candidates
The Korean program deserves a separate note. The College Board has no AP exam in Korean, so the highest level of Korean at Sunny Hills High School is Korean IB HL rather than AP. The school provides two acceleration routes for Korean: incoming grade 9 students may take a placement exam to enter Korean 2 directly, and grade 10 students who earn an A in Korean 2 may, with a teacher recommendation, take a challenge exam; those who pass skip Korean 3 and move directly into IB Korean SL. In the class of 2025, 39 students earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy in Korean, the most of the four languages after Spanish.
Course Structure of the IB Diploma Programme
IB courses are open only to diploma candidates and cannot be chosen one at a time as AP courses can.
Diploma candidates take 3 Higher Level (HL) and 3 Standard Level (SL) courses in grades 11 and 12
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is taken in the spring semester of grade 11 and the fall semester of grade 12
Candidates complete an Extended Essay of up to 4,000 words, written from the spring of grade 11 through the fall of grade 12
Candidates complete the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirement
IB courses are open only to diploma candidates; students not pursuing the diploma take exams as individual Course candidates
History of the Americas IB HL Year 1 and AP US History are the same class, which prepares students for both exams
Exams are scored from 1 to 7, with 4 as a passing score; the maximum is 45 points, including up to 42 from the six subjects and 3 from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay
Complete Course Map
Organized by subject. Each course shows its level, grades offered, prerequisites, and University of California A-G category. Dark tags mark AP courses, yellow tags mark honors courses, and IB courses are labeled separately. The six Agri-Science Academy courses appear under both science and agriculture in the official school list, and this page keeps that arrangement.
Mathematics 17 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Analysis & Application IB SL
IB
11-12
Pre-Calculus; IB diploma candidate with teacher recommendationIB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, Standard Level
c
AP Statistics
AP
11-12
B or better in Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Honors, and C or better in Pre-Calculus or higherGrade 11 students must take another math course concurrently; grade 12 students may take it alone; AP exam required
c
AP Calculus AB
AP
10-12
C+ or better in Pre-Calculus Honors, or A in Pre-Calculus with outstanding work habitsAP exam required
c
AP Calculus BC
AP
11-12
A in Pre-Calculus Honors, or A in Math IB SL, or B or better in AP Calculus ABAP exam required
c
Geometry Honors
Honors
9-12
Qualify through the honors/Pre-IB placement exam; final grade of A in Algebra 1 with outstanding work habitsAbout 1 hour of homework per night; the first chapters of Algebra 2 are previewed at the end of the year
c
Algebra 2 Honors
Honors
9-12
C+ or better in Geometry Honors, or A in both Geometry and Algebra 1A/1B with outstanding work habitsAbout 1 hour of homework per night
c
Pre-Calculus Honors
Honors
10-12
C+ or better in Algebra 2 Honors, or A in Algebra 2 with outstanding work habits1 to 1.5 hours of homework per night
c
Algebra Foundations 1A/1B
CP
9-12
—First year of two-year Algebra 1
c
Algebra Foundations 2A/2B
CP
10-12
Algebra Foundations 1A/1BSecond year of two-year Algebra 1
c
Algebra I
CP
9-12
By placement score and 8th grade class and gradeStudents who completed Algebra 1 in middle school enter Geometry directly in 9th grade
c
Geometry
CP
9-12
Algebra ISummer Geometry is recommended only for students with an A in both semesters of Algebra 1; a parent-signed acknowledgment is required
c
Algebra 2
CP
9-12
Geometry
c
Pre-Calculus
CP
10-12
Algebra 2
c
Math Analysis
CP
11-12
Pre-CalculusListed after Pre-Calculus in the course sequence chart
—
Probability and Statistics
CP
11-12
Algebra 2
c
Business Finance
CP
11-12
Algebra 2 or Algebra Foundations 2
g
Math Essentials
Other
9-12
—Not UC A-G approved
—
Laboratory Science 19 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Biology IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; completion of biology and chemistry contentTwo major internal assessments; 1 to 1.5 hours per night
d
Physics IB SL / HL 1
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; Chemistry Honors or Physics
d
Physics IB HL 2
IB
12
Physics IB SL / HL 1
d
AP Biology
AP
11-12
A or B in Biology Honors and Chemistry Honors; A or B in Geometry/Geometry Honors/Algebra 2/Algebra 2 Honors; science teacher recommendation1 to 1.5 hours of homework per night; AP exam required
d
AP Chemistry
AP
11-12
A or B in Chemistry Honors; A or B in Algebra 2Summer assignment; AP exam required
d
AP Environmental Science
AP
11-12
A or B in Chemistry (CP or Honors); A or B in Algebra 2Shares a course description with IB Environmental Systems & Societies
d
AP Physics 1
AP
11-12
A or B in Chemistry Honors, or A in Physics CP; A or B in Algebra 21 to 1.5 hours of homework per night; 1 to 2 projects per semester
d
AP Physics 2
AP
12
AP Physics 1
d
Biology Honors
Honors
9-12
Qualify through the honors/Pre-IB placement exam1 to 1.5 hours of reading and review per night
d
Chemistry Honors
Honors
10-12
A in Biology or A/B in Biology Honors; concurrent enrollment in or completion of Algebra 2 or higherUp to 1 hour of homework per night, plus lab reports and reading projects
d
Biology
CP
9-12
—
d
Agricultural Biology
CP
9-12
—Grade 9 entry course of the Agriculture Science Academy; meets the life science graduation requirement
d
Geophysical Science
CP
9-12
—Meets the physical science graduation requirement
d
Chemistry
CP
10-12
Biology
d
Agricultural Chemistry
CP
10-12
Agricultural Biology or Biology
d
Physics
CP
11-12
Chemistry and Algebra 2
d
Human Anatomy/Physiology
CP
11-12
Biology and Chemistry
d
Veterinary Science
CP
10-12
Agricultural Biology or BiologyAgriculture Science Academy course
d
Advanced Animal Science
CP
11-12
Veterinary ScienceAgriculture Science Academy course
d
English 18 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
English IB HL 1
IB
11
A or B in English 2 Honors; IB diploma candidateIncludes world literature in translation; prepares for the IB internal assessment and oral presentation
b
English IB HL 2
IB
12
IB diploma candidate; English IB HL 1
b
AP English Language & Composition
AP
11-12
A or B in English 2 Honors, or A in English 2, or A or B in English 3; teacher recommendation and writing sample1 to 2 hours per night, 3 to 5 hours per week; AP exam required
b
AP English Literature & Composition
AP
12
A or B in AP English Language & Composition3 to 5 hours per week; AP exam required
b
English 1 Honors
Honors
9
Qualify for honors/Pre-IB through the placement exam; A or B in Grade 8 Honors English or A in Grade 8 EnglishMore than 1 hour of reading and writing per night
b
English 2 Honors
Honors
10
A or B in English 1 Honors or A in English 1; former English teacher recommendation; writing sample2 to 3 chapters of novel reading per night, plus 2 to 3 projects
b
English 1
CP
9
—
b
English 2
CP
10
English 1
b
English 3
CP
11
English 2
b
CSU Expository Reading & Writing (ERWC)
CP
12
English 3Full year; 14 modules in rhetoric and expository writing
b
Bible as Literature
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
British Literature
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
California Literature
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
Modern Drama
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
Mythology, Fantasy & Imagination in Literature
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
Novel
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
World Literature
CP
12
English 3Semester course
b
Academic Intervention
Other
9-12
Counselor recommendation
—
Social Studies 17 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
History of the Americas IB HL 2
IB
12
IB diploma candidate with teacher recommendationSatisfies the 5-credit government graduation requirement; includes a civics test and a local government project
a
Economics IB HL 1
IB
11
IB diploma candidate; recommended concurrent CalculusFall semester course; includes one internal assessment
g
Economics IB HL 2
IB
12
Economics IB HL 1Full year; includes two internal assessments
g
AP Human Geography
AP
9-12
9th grade: qualify through the honors placement exam. 10-12: A or B in World History and A or B in English 1 Honors or A in English 1Passing the course satisfies the World History graduation requirement; AP exam required
a
AP European History
AP
10-12
B or better in World HistoryAP exam required
a
AP United States History
AP
11
B or better in AP Human Geography or A in World History; B or higher in English 2 Honors or A in English 2For IB diploma candidates, this course is History of the Americas HL Year 1; about 1.5 hours per night
a
AP American Government
AP
12
A or B in AP United States History and signature of the AP US History teacherSemester course; 1 to 1.5 hours per night; 5 in-class essays
a
AP Macro Economics
AP
12
Recommended concurrent enrollment in a Calculus courseSemester course; 1 project or 1 term paper
g
AP Psychology
AP
10-12
A or B in World History; A or B in English 1 Honors or A in English 1Requires a report replicating a psychology experiment; AP exam required
g
World History
CP
9-10
—
a
US History
CP
11-12
World History
a
American Government
CP
12
US HistorySemester course
a
Economics
CP
12
US HistorySemester course
g
Psychology
CP
10-12
—Semester course
g
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
CP
9-12
—Semester course
g
Sociology
CP
10-12
—Semester course
g
Personal Finance
CP
11-12
—Semester course
g
World Languages 32 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Mandarin IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; B or better in Chinese 3Students who skipped Chinese 1 may take this course after AP Chinese
e
German IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; A or B in German 3 Honors and teacher recommendation
e
German IB HL 1
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate
e
German IB HL 2
IB
12
German IB HL 1
e
Korean IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; Korean 3 or Korean 3 Honors, or pass the Korean Challenge Exam
e
Korean IB HL 1
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate
e
Korean IB HL 2
IB
12
Korean IB SL / HL 1
e
Spanish IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; Spanish 3 Honors
e
Spanish IB HL 1
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate
e
Spanish IB HL 2
IB
12
Spanish IB HL 1
e
AP Chinese Language
AP
11-12
B or better in Chinese 3, language proficiency assessment and teacher recommendation
e
AP German Language
AP
11-12
B or better in German 3 or German 3 Honors, language proficiency assessment and teacher recommendation
e
AP Spanish Language
AP
11-12
B or better in Spanish 3 or Spanish 3 Honors, or B or better in Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2; language proficiency assessment and teacher recommendationTaught entirely in Spanish
e
AP Spanish Literature
AP
12
B or better in Spanish 4 or AP Spanish Language; teacher recommendationMore than 6 absences per semester is considered excessive
e
German 3 Honors
Honors
10-12
A or B in German 2 and teacher recommendation
e
Korean 3 Honors
Honors
10-12
B or better in Korean 2 and teacher recommendationUC A-G approval pending
e
Spanish 3 Honors
Honors
10-12
B+ or better in Spanish 2 and teacher recommendation
e
Chinese 1
CP
9-12
—
e
Chinese 2
CP
9-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Chinese 1
e
Chinese 3
CP
10-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Chinese 2
e
German 1
CP
9-12
—
e
German 2
CP
9-12
C- or better in semester 2 of German 1
e
German 3
CP
10-12
C- or better in semester 2 of German 2
e
Korean 1
CP
9-12
—Incoming 9th graders may take an entrance exam to enter Korean 2 directly
e
Korean 2
CP
9-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Korean 1, or entrance exam
e
Korean 3
CP
10-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Korean 210th graders with an A in Korean 2 may take the Challenge Exam with teacher recommendation and skip this course
e
Spanish 1
CP
9-12
—Students who completed Spanish 1 in middle school are advised to take the placement test first
e
Spanish 1 for Spanish Speakers
CP
9-12
Teacher recommendation and placement
e
Spanish 2
CP
9-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Spanish 1
e
Spanish 2 for Spanish Speakers
CP
9-12
Spanish 1 for Spanish Speakers; teacher recommendation
e
Spanish 3
CP
10-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Spanish 2
e
Spanish 4
CP
11-12
C- or better in semester 2 of Spanish 3
e
Business, Computer Science & Game Design 8 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
AP Computer Science Principles
AP
9-12
B or better in Algebra 1 or higherMay also count toward category g; AP exam required
d
AP Computer Science A
AP
10-12
B or better in Geometry Honors or A in GeometryMay also count toward category g; AP exam required
c
AP Business with Personal Finance
AP
11-12
—
g
Introduction to Computer Science
CP
9-12
—Corresponds to the Computer Science Discoveries curriculum
d
Computer Science AB
CP
10-12
Introduction to Computer Science
g
Coding & Gaming 1
CTE
9-12
—Interactive projects in JavaScript
g
Coding & Gaming 2
CTE
10-12
Coding & Gaming 12D and 3D game development in Unity and C#
g
Business AND Finance
CTE
9-12
—
—
EPIC Engineering 4 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Engineering Design & Development Honors
Honors
11-12
Principles of EngineeringMay also count toward category g; UC A-G honors designation pending
d
Intro to Engineering Design
CTE
9-12
—Course shared by the EPIC engineering program and ROP
g
Principles of Engineering
CTE
10-12
Intro to Engineering Design
g
Engineering Design & Development
CTE
11-12
Principles of EngineeringMay also count toward category g; leads to the IB Design Technology exam
d
Agri-Science Academy 6 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Agricultural Biology
CP
9-12
—Also called Biology and Sustainable Agriculture
d
Agricultural Chemistry
CP
10-12
Agricultural Biology or Biology
d
Veterinary Science
CP
10-12
Agricultural Biology or Biology
d
Advanced Animal Science
CP
11-12
Veterinary Science
d
The Art and History of Floral Design
CP
9-12
—Satisfies the visual and performing arts requirement
f
Advanced Floriculture
CP
10-12
The Art and History of Floral Design
f
Visual & Performing Arts 26 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Visual Art IB SL
IB
11-12
IB diploma candidate; special studies course and teacher recommendation
f
Visual Art IB HL 1
IB
11
IB diploma candidate; special studies course and teacher recommendationFall semester course
f
Visual Art IB HL 2
IB
12
Visual Art IB HL 1Full year; includes an internal assessment and an exhibition
f
Theatre Art IB HL 1
IB
11
IB diploma candidate; teacher recommendation
f
Theatre Art IB HL 2
IB
12
Theatre Art IB HL 1
f
AP Drawing & Painting
AP
11-12
Special Studies Drawing & Painting and teacher recommendation2 to 3 hours of outside creative work per week
f
AP 3-D Design
AP
11-12
Special Studies 3-D Design and teacher recommendation
f
Drawing & Painting
CP
9-12
—
f
Special Studies Drawing & Painting
CP
10-12
Drawing & Painting; teacher recommendation
f
3-D Design
CP
9-12
—
f
Special Studies 3-D Design
CP
10-12
3-D Design; teacher recommendation
f
Digital Art
CP
9-12
—
f
Theatre 1
CP
9-12
—
f
Theatre 2
CP
10-12
Theatre 1
f
Theatre 3
CP
11-12
Theatre 2
f
Technical Theatre
CP
9-12
—
f
Technical Theatre 2
CP
10-12
Technical Theatre
f
Orchestra (Strings)
CP
9-12
—
f
Symphonic Band
CP
9-12
Concert Band or audition
f
Concert Band
CP
9-12
—
f
Percussion Ensemble
CP
9-12
—Full year
f
Jazz Ensemble
CP
9-12
AuditionPeriod 7, spring; UC A-G approval pending
—
Concert Choir
CP
9-12
—
f
Vocal Ensemble
CP
9-12
Audition
f
Guitar
CP
9-12
—
f
Music Listening & Literature
CP
9-12
—
f
ROP & Career Technical 9 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
ROP Video Production Honors
Honors
11-12
ROP Video Production
f
ROP Intro to Auto Technology (Level 1)
CTE
9-12
—
g
ROP Auto Technology (Level 2)
CTE
10-12
ROP Intro to Auto Technology
g
ROP Advanced Auto Technology (Level 3)
CTE
11-12
ROP Auto Technology
g
ROP Art of Video Production (Level 1)
CTE
9-12
—
f
ROP Video Production (Level 2)
CTE
10-12
ROP Art of Video Production
f
ROP Medical Careers 1
CTE
10-12
—
g
ROP Sports Medicine
CTE
11-12
ROP Medical Careers 1
g
ROP Off Campus
CTE
10-12
Pre-registration with the ROP counselor; attendance at the first sessionAfter-school classes are free and open only to students from the five North Orange County ROP member districts
g
Physical Education & Dance 14 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
Dance IB SL / HL 1
IB
11
IB diploma candidate; recommended for students in Dance 3 or Dance Production
f
Dance IB HL 2
IB
12
Dance IB SL / HL 1
f
Dance 1
CP
9-12
—
f
Dance 2
CP
9-12
Audition
f
Dance 3
CP
10-12
Audition
f
Dance Production
CP
10-12
AuditionCentered on student choreography and stage performance
f
P.E.
Other
9-12
—Not UC A-G approved
—
Advanced P.E.
Other
10-12
P.E.Not UC A-G approved
—
Aerobics
Other
10-12
—Not UC A-G approved
—
Weight Training
Other
11-12
—Not UC A-G approved
—
PE Marching Band
Other
9-12
Concurrent instrumental music course recommendedPeriod 7, fall; satisfies the physical education requirement
f
PE Marching Percussion (Drum Line)
Other
9-12
Concurrent instrumental music course recommendedPeriod 7, spring; participation in drum line competitions required
f
PE Color Guard
Other
9-12
AuditionPeriod 7
f
Sports (Men / Women)
Other
9-12
Try-outVarsity team; satisfies the physical education requirement
—
Electives & Leadership 11 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
AVID 3 / TOK Honors
Honors
11
AVID 2; IB diploma candidates take Theory of Knowledge in this period
g
Advanced Journalism Honors
Honors
11-12
Advanced Journalism; application
g
Honors Yearbook: Advanced Design Publishing
Honors
10-12
Yearbook Publications; application
g
Journalism
CP
9-12
—
g
Advanced Journalism
CP
10-12
Journalism; application
g
Yearbook Publications
CP
9-12
Application
g
AVID 1
Other
9
Application; GPA 2.5 or higher
g
AVID 2
Other
10
AVID 1
g
AVID 4
Other
12
AVID 3
g
ASB Leadership
Other
9-12
Elected office
d
Link Crew Leadership
Other
11-12
Application
g
ELD Support 4 courses
Course
Level
Grades
Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes
UC A-G
ELD 1
Other
9-12
ELPAC Level One placementPlaced by ELPAC level; students advance at the start of each school year based on spring ELPAC results
—
ELD 2
Other
9-12
ELPAC Level Two placementMay count toward English graduation credits
—
ELD 3
Other
9-12
ELPAC Level Three placementAccepted by UC and CSU as college-preparatory English credit
b
ELD 4
Other
9-12
ELPAC Level Four placementCounts as elective credit
—
Course Selection Timeline
Grade 8
JanuaryHonors/Pre-IB placement exam (online); the placement application opens the same month
1/12-1/30District open enrollment application window (2026-27 school year)
MarchCounselors present course selection at middle schools; students submit course selection materials and attend registration on campus
SummerFreshman Bridge transition program
Grade 9
OctoberFirst-quarter grade check
NovemberAeries four-year academic plan built in class; online parent information session
FebruaryClassroom presentations and materials collection for grade 10 course selection
MarchThird-quarter grade check
Grade 10
Registration dayAll students complete a career interest assessment and may review results with a counselor or Guidance Technician
FebruaryHonors students meet with the IB Coordinator to build a two-year IB plan
FebruaryGrade 11 course selection
MayAP and IB exams
Grade 11
OctoberPSAT/NMSQT, which determines eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program
FebruaryGrade 12 course selection
AprilCollege application process email and optional one-on-one meetings; SBAC state testing
MayAP and IB exams
SummerStudents applying to private universities complete the counselor student profile packet
Grade 12
SeptemberGraduation credit status meetings and extended individual college planning meetings; college admission representatives visit campus
NovemberCollege application workshops in the library
DecemberFAFSA classroom presentations and evening parent workshop
JanuaryCounselors submit mid-year reports to private universities
MayAP and IB exams, final exams, and commencement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum number of courses a student can take per semester at Sunny Hills High School?
The regular bell schedule at Sunny Hills High School runs from period 1 to period 6. Students in grades 9 to 11 must take a full load of 6 courses each semester; students in grade 12 who are on track with graduation credits may take only 5, and 1 of them may be an ROP course or a community college course. The school also offers 28 period 0 courses (starting at 7:27) and 4 period 7 courses, and students who want one additional course schedule it in these two periods. The district counts a maximum of 40 credits per semester toward graduation requirements.
At Sunny Hills High School, if a student cannot keep up in an honors or AP course, when can the student move to the regular level?
Sunny Hills High School treats dropping a course and changing levels as two separate matters. The deadline to drop a course without an F is the end of the third week of each semester; a course dropped after the third week is recorded as an F on the transcript. Changing levels within the same course, such as from English 1 Honors to English 1, or moving to a related course, such as from Algebra 2 to Algebra 1, must be completed by the end of the sixth week of the semester, and adjustments may also be made at the end of the semester. Note that enrolling in an honors, AP, or IB course is a full-year commitment, and whether a student can move to a lower level also depends on whether space is available in the master schedule.
Can courses taken outside school or at a community college appear on the Sunny Hills High School transcript?
It depends on the route. Each outside educational experience must be approved in advance, and a cumulative maximum of 40 credits over four years of high school may count toward Sunny Hills High School graduation requirements, but these grades do not count in the GPA; ROP courses do not count against the 40 credits. Community college courses taken through Special Admit do not appear on the high school transcript. Eligible students may also take Early College courses during regular school hours; those courses count both as high school graduation credit and as college credit transferable to the University of California and the California State University.
When Irvine families compare Sunny Hills High School with the high schools in their own district, are the graduation credit requirements the same?
No. This school is not part of the Irvine Unified School District; it belongs to the Fullerton Joint Union High School District (FJUHSD). District rules require 217.5 credits to graduate, only 2 years of science, and 1 year chosen from world language, arts, or career technical education. The University of California A-G requirements are higher: 2 years of laboratory science with a third year recommended, 2 years of the same world language with 3 or more years recommended, a separate 1-year visual and performing arts requirement, a C or higher in every course, and an A-G GPA of 3.0 or higher. Course selection should follow the A-G standard, not the graduation credit standard. EDUBUS advisors are based in Irvine and can help compare the graduation requirements of both districts and the gaps relative to A-G.
How do students enter honors courses at Sunny Hills High School? Does one exam decide everything?
No. Each January, Sunny Hills High School holds an online Honors and Pre-IB placement exam for incoming grade 9 students. The results are used for placement into English 1 Honors, Geometry Honors, Biology Honors, and AP Human Geography; students who miss the window may still discuss honors placement with a counselor at registration. After enrollment, each honors course has its own grade requirement. For example, Algebra 2 Honors requires a C+ or higher in Geometry Honors, or an A in both regular Geometry and Algebra 1. Students can enter or leave the honors sequence in any year based on their grades.
Data verified on 2026-09-21. Course catalogs are updated each spring; prerequisites follow the school's current Course of Study.
A four-year plan for a Sunny Hills High School student
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Attending Sunny Hills High School? EDUBUS advisors build a four-year plan around this school's rulesCourse sequence, math acceleration, AP mix, competitions and UC positioning: one assessment, one plan
