AP (Advanced Placement) is the college-level course program of the College Board. Each course leads to a national exam in May, scored on a scale with a maximum of 5. In its Class of 2027 Profile, Pacifica Christian High School lists 14 AP courses, along with 12 honors dual credit courses. The UC A-G list for 2026-27 records 16 AP courses for the school, all of them UC-approved honors courses that receive extra weight in UC applications. This page lists the grade levels and prerequisites for each course, explains the exam results the school publishes and which common AP courses the school does not offer, and recommends course combinations by intended major.
Grade Levels and Prerequisites for Each AP Course
Grade levels in the table come from the school’s 4-Year Planning Guide, updated in January 2026, and prerequisites come from the 2025-26 student handbook. For courses without prerequisites in the handbook, the school’s current-year information applies.
| AP course | Grade levels and prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | Grades 10 to 12; completion of Algebra II recommended. The school schedule lists it as AP Computer Science, the 4-Year Planning Guide notes that it does not satisfy the school's lab science requirement, and the UC list places it in category d |
| AP Calculus AB | Grades 10 to 12; A- or higher in both semesters of Honors Precalculus |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Grade 11; A- in both semesters of World Literature, or B+ or higher in both semesters of Honors World Literature |
| AP Biology | Grades 11 to 12; A- in both semesters of Chemistry and Biology, or B or higher in both semesters of Honors Chemistry and Honors Biology, plus Algebra II completed or taken concurrently; concurrent Precalculus recommended |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 11 to 12; A- in both semesters of Chemistry, or B+ or higher in both semesters of Honors Chemistry, plus Algebra II completed or taken concurrently; concurrent Precalculus recommended |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 11 to 12; no prerequisites listed in the student handbook. Included on the school's 2026-27 list but not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11 to 12; completion of Precalculus, or A- or higher in Algebra II, or B+ or higher in Honors Algebra II |
| AP Calculus BC | Grades 11 to 12; A- or higher in AP Calculus AB and a teacher recommendation. The 2025-26 student handbook lists the course as AP Calculus BC and Linear Algebra |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | Grades 11 to 12; teacher recommendation, or an A in Spanish 3 |
| AP Drawing | Grades 11 to 12; B or higher in Drawing and Painting 1, or a waiver after presenting work to the visual arts director |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | Grades 11 to 12; C or higher in Digital Art 2 or 3 |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | Grades 11 to 12; no prerequisites listed in the student handbook |
| AP English Language and Composition | Grade 12; A- in both semesters of British Literature, or B+ or higher in both semesters of AP English Literature |
| AP Latin | Grade 12; no prerequisites listed in the student handbook. The 4-Year Planning Guide lists it in grade 12 alongside Honors Latin IV (dual credit) |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | Grade 12; no prerequisites listed in the student handbook. Listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog but not among the 14 courses in the Class of 2027 Profile |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Listed on the UC 2026-27 list and the school's graduation requirements page, but not in the 2026-27 course catalog or the Profile; the 2025-26 student handbook requires AP Calculus AB completed or taken concurrently. Confirm with the school whether a section will run |
| AP United States History | Recorded on the UC 2026-27 list but not on the school's 2026-27 list; the advanced option for grade 12 U.S. history is the honors dual credit section |
The school states that taking AP courses before grade 11 is uncommon, and taking more than 3 AP courses in the same school year requires administrative approval. In the 4-Year Planning Guide, the only AP courses available in grade 10 are AP Computer Science Principles and AP Calculus AB (for math-accelerated students); AP courses in English, science, art, and world languages open in grade 11. The school states that students enrolled in an AP course must take the corresponding AP exam; students who do not must instead take a separate exam worth 20% of the semester grade. Enrolling in an AP course requires signing an AP contract in MyPacifica. Students in AP and honors courses must maintain a C- (70%) or higher in every grading period; students below C- at the end of the first semester must withdraw from the course. AP courses may be dropped within the first three weeks and added within the first week.
AP Exam Results Published by the School
Pacifica Christian High School reports AP exam results by number of exams in its school profile. The school requires all students enrolled in AP courses to take the exam, so the table covers every enrolled student.
| Year | Students tested, exams taken and share scoring 3 or higher |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 134 students, 233 exams, 93% scoring 3 or higher (Class of 2027 Profile) |
| 2025 | 123 students, 199 exams, 83% scoring 3 or higher (Class of 2026 Profile) |
Comparing the two years, the number of exams rose from 199 to 233, and the share scoring 3 or higher rose from 83% to 93%. Based on the 2026 figures, each tested student took about 1.7 exams on average, consistent with the school’s rule that taking AP courses before grade 11 is uncommon and that more than 3 per year requires approval. The school does not publish results by subject, the share of 5s, or the number of AP Scholars. To assess teaching outcomes in a specific AP course, families should ask the course teacher directly about past score distributions.
AP Courses the School Does Not Offer
The following AP courses are common in UC applications but are not offered by Pacifica Christian High School in 2026-27.
- AP Precalculus
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Physics 2
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism: listed in the 2023-24 course catalog but no longer on the 2026-27 list
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Psychology
- AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics
- AP United States Government and Politics
- AP World History, AP European History, and AP Human Geography
- AP United States History: still listed on the UC 2026-27 list, but not on the school's 2026-27 list
- AP Chinese Language and Culture: the school offers only Spanish and Latin as world languages
Three gaps have the greatest impact. The first is physics and computer science: the school has only one physics AP, listed for 2026-27 as AP Physics 1, which is not on the UC list, and the school does not offer AP Computer Science A. Students planning to apply in engineering, physics or computer science need to complete AP Physics C and AP Computer Science A outside school. The second is social science: the school has no social science AP courses, and advanced history and economics courses are honors dual credit courses. These courses also receive extra weight under UC rules, but when students apply to colleges outside UC, admission officers see school-designed honors courses and partner-university credit rather than national AP exam scores. The third is psychology and economics: the school offers neither AP Psychology nor AP Microeconomics, which students interested in business or psychology commonly take.
AP Course List
The table is based on a course-by-course comparison of the UC 2026-27 A-G list and the school course catalog. The notes column gives the transcript abbreviation on the UC list and any differences from the school’s list.
History & Theology
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP United States History | AP | — | —Listed on the UC 2026-27 list; not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog or the Class of 2027 Profile, where the advanced option for grade 12 U.S. history is the honors dual credit course; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP US HIST | a |
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Language and Composition | AP | 12 | A- in both semesters of British Literature, or B+ or higher in both semesters of AP English LiteratureMay AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP LANG & COMP | b |
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 11 | A- in both semesters of World Literature, or B+ or higher in both semesters of Honors World LiteratureMay AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP LIT & COMP | b |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 10-12 | A- or higher in both semesters of Precalculus (H)The 4-Year Planning Guide lists this course in grades 10 through 12; May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Calc AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | A- or higher in AP Calculus AB, plus a teacher recommendationTitled AP Calculus BC and Linear Algebra in the 2025-26 Student Handbook (includes linear algebra); May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP CALC BC | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Precalculus, or A- or higher in Algebra II, or B+ or higher in Algebra II (H)May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Statistics | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | A- in both semesters of Chemistry and Biology, or B or higher in both semesters of Chemistry (H) and Biology (H), plus Algebra II completed or taken concurrently; Precalculus taken concurrently is recommendedMay AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP BIO | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | A- in both semesters of Chemistry, or B+ or higher in both semesters of Chemistry (H), plus Algebra II completed or taken concurrently; Precalculus taken concurrently is recommendedMay AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Chemistry | d |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra II recommendedListed in the school schedule as AP Computer Science; the 4-Year Planning Guide notes that this course does not satisfy the school's laboratory science requirement, while the UC list classifies it as a "d" course; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP CSP | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP | 11-12 | AP Calculus AB taken concurrently or completedThe school's Graduation Requirements page still lists this course, but the 2026-27 course catalog and the Class of 2027 Profile list AP Physics 1 instead; confirm with the school whether it is offered; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Phys. C M | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 11-12 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookListed in the Class of 2027 Profile, on the College Counseling page, and in the 2026-27 course catalog; +1.0 at the school; not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list; confirm with the school how UC treats it | — |
World Languages
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Latin | AP | 12 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookThe 4-Year Planning Guide lists this course in grade 12; May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Latin 4 | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | Teacher recommendation, or an A in Spanish 3May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP SPAN IV | e |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | AP | 12 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookTitled AP Spanish Literature & Composition in the 2026-27 course catalog; May AP exam required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Spanish V | e |
Visual & Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | C or higher in Digital Arts 2 or 3Portfolio course; AP portfolio assessment required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP 2-D ART/DESIGN | f |
| AP 3D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookPortfolio course; AP portfolio assessment required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP 3D Art | f |
| AP Drawing | AP | 11-12 | B or higher in Drawing & Painting 1, or a waiver granted after presenting work to the Director of Visual ArtsPortfolio course; AP portfolio assessment required; UC-approved AP course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: AP Studio Art: Drawing | f |
Recommended Combinations by Intended Major
The following combinations use only courses listed in the school’s 2026-27 course catalog and 4-Year Planning Guide, arranged by each course’s grade level and prerequisites.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AP courses does Pacifica Christian High School offer to Irvine students?
There are two counts. Pacifica Christian High School lists 14 AP courses in its Class of 2027 Profile and on the College Counseling page of its website. The UC A-G list for 2026-27 records 16 AP courses for the school, and two of them, AP U.S. History and AP Physics C: Mechanics, are not on the school's 2026-27 AP list; conversely, AP Physics 1 is on the school's list but not on the UC list. The school also offers 12 honors dual credit courses, and advanced history courses follow the dual credit track.
For Irvine families: what is the AP pass rate at Pacifica Christian High School?
According to the Pacifica Christian High School Class of 2027 Profile, 134 students took 233 AP exams in 2026, and 93% of those exams earned a 3 or higher. The previous Class of 2026 Profile reported 123 students and 199 exams for 2025, with 83% scoring 3 or higher. The school requires every student enrolled in an AP course to take the exam, so the rate covers all enrolled students. The school does not publish results by subject.
Can grade 9 students at Pacifica Christian High School take AP courses?
Generally not. Pacifica Christian High School states that it is uncommon for students to take AP courses before grade 11, and taking 3 or more AP courses in the same year requires administrative approval. In the school's 4-Year Planning Guide, grade 9 has no AP courses, and grade 10 has only AP Computer Science Principles and, for accelerated math students, AP Calculus AB. AP courses in English, science, the arts and world languages open in grade 11.
Which AP courses does Pacifica Christian High School not offer, a point Irvine families should note?
According to the school's 2026-27 AP list, Pacifica Christian High School does not offer AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science A, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Environmental Science, AP Psychology, AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. Government, AP World History, AP European History, or AP Chinese. The school uses honors dual credit courses for history instead, and Honors European History and Honors U.S. History are both UC-approved honors courses.
Do students in AP courses at Pacifica Christian High School have to take the exam, and what can Irvine students do about AP subjects the school does not offer?
Yes, the exam is required. The Pacifica Christian High School student handbook states that students enrolled in AP courses must take the corresponding AP exam; those who do not must take a separate exam worth 20% of the semester grade. Enrolling in an AP course also requires signing an AP contract in MyPacifica. For courses the school does not offer, students may take one course per semester at an approved university, college or online school, with prior school approval, and outside grades are not included in the school GPA. Students who want to take an AP exam in a subject the school does not offer should first confirm testing arrangements with the director of college counseling.
