Crean Lutheran High School Math:
Algebra I to Linear Algebra

Crean Lutheran High School uses the traditional sequence of algebra, geometry, and Algebra II, with trigonometry folded into Algebra II under the course title Algebra II/Trigonometry. This differs from the Integrated Math I, II, and III used by the Irvine Unified School District, and grade-level equivalents between the two systems cannot be converted directly. The school’s academic handbook includes two sample schedules. Based on these and the course catalog, this page outlines three pathways and explains the placement test rules, the prerequisites at each step, how summer acceleration works, and the highest course available.

Three Mathematics Pathways

The difference between the pathways is the starting point, which is determined by the placement test after admission. The standard pathway reaches Precalculus or Statistics in grade 12 without entering calculus. The honors pathway takes AP Precalculus in grade 11 and can move directly to AP Calculus BC in grade 12. The fastest pathway relies on Honors Precalculus in the summer after grade 9 and enters AP Calculus AB in grade 10.

Prerequisites at Each Step

The table below is compiled course by course from the course catalog and the summer school handbook.

The prerequisites follow three patterns. First, moving from a CP course to honors or AP requires an A- or higher in the preceding CP mathematics course, while students already in the honors sequence need only a B or higher to continue. Second, the prerequisite for AP Calculus BC is AP Precalculus rather than AP Calculus AB, so students can choose either AB or BC. Third, after enrollment, the main acceleration route described in the school’s public materials is the summer acceleration courses.

Summer Acceleration and Outside Courses

Summer school is open to all high school-age students and offers two types of courses: Remediation and Advancement. In 2026, summer school cost $600 per course per semester; the first session ran from June 8 or 15 to July 2, and the second from July 6 to July 24 or 31. Late registration costs an additional $50 per course, and each course change costs $25. Math advancement courses include Algebra I (on campus, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) as well as Geometry, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry, and Honors Precalculus (all online). Honors Geometry requires an A- or higher in both semesters of Algebra I; ninth graders taking Geometry in summer need strong placement results or prior school grades plus a teacher recommendation. The school notes that each session lasts only three to four weeks, that students need 3 to 4 hours of homework each day in addition to 3 hours of class, and that missing a single day may result in being dropped with a failing grade.

The rules for outside courses are stricter. To take a course elsewhere and have it recorded on the school transcript, students must submit the Approved Academic Institution Course Request form and receive approval in advance. College courses must meet three conditions: demonstrated need, unavailability during the school year or in summer school at the school, and prior written approval from the counselor; high school courses require prior written approval from the principal or designee. The school lists institutions it has worked with (such as Orange Lutheran Online, BYU Independent Study High School, APEX Learning, and community colleges). Outside courses never receive honors weighting. For this reason, students who want to reach calculus a year early usually go through the school’s summer session: Honors Precalculus in the summer after grade 9, or Geometry or Honors Geometry in the summer before enrollment.

The Highest Course Available

The final mathematics course at Crean Lutheran High School is Honors Linear Algebra, offered only to grade 12 and requiring a B or higher in AP Calculus AB or BC. It covers vector spaces, linear transformations, matrix rank, and some ordinary differential equations. Offered alongside it are AP Statistics and Honors Calculus. The course catalog states that Honors Calculus is primarily project-based. On the 2026 AP exams, 121 students took AP Precalculus with 99% scoring 3 or higher, and 89 students took AP Calculus BC with 89% scoring 3 or higher; the school does not list AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics results separately.

Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry are marked as school-designated honors courses (CLHS Honors Course) in the course catalog; they are weighted in the school GPA but treated as regular courses in the UC GPA. The UC-approved honors math courses are AP Precalculus, Honors Precalculus, Honors Calculus, AP Calculus AB and BC, Honors Statistics (not listed in the 2026-27 course catalog), AP Statistics, and Honors Linear Algebra.

Computer science courses are spread across the science department and electives: AP Computer Science Principles is available from grade 9, AP Cybersecurity from grade 11, and the honors versions of Computer Programming I and II only in summer school. The school does not offer AP Computer Science A, which UC classifies as category c mathematics.

Mathematics Course List

Data verified on 2026-09-23. Course catalogs are updated each spring; prerequisites follow the school's current Course of Study.