Pacifica Christian High School uses the traditional Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II sequence and also offers Algebra II + Trigonometry (H). This differs from the Integrated Math I, II and III sequence of the Irvine Unified School District, and grade-level equivalents between the two systems cannot be converted directly. The school’s 4-Year Planning Guide lists the math courses available in each grade by starting point. This page organizes them into three pathways and explains the grade thresholds at each step, the rules for outside acceleration, and the highest course a student can reach.
Three Math Pathways
Standard pathway (starting with Algebra I in grade 9)
- Grade 9: Algebra I
- Grade 10: Geometry or Geometry (H)
- Grade 11: Algebra II or Algebra II (H)
- Grade 12: Precalculus, Precalculus (H), or Finite Math
One year ahead (Algebra I completed in middle school)
- Grade 9: Geometry or Geometry (H)
- Grade 10: Algebra II, Algebra II (H), or Algebra II + Trigonometry (H)
- Grade 11: Precalculus or Precalculus (H)
- Grade 12: AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, or Calculus (H/DC)
Two years ahead (Algebra I and Geometry completed in middle school)
- Grade 9: Algebra II, Algebra II (H), or Algebra II + Trigonometry (H)
- Grade 10: Precalculus or Precalculus (H)
- Grade 11: AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics
- Grade 12: AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, or Calculus (H/DC)
The pathways differ in their starting point, which is determined by grade 8 coursework, grades and the ISEE. The standard pathway reaches Precalculus or Finite Math in grade 12 without entering calculus; the pathway one year ahead reaches AP Calculus AB or the dual credit Honors Calculus in grade 12; and only the pathway two years ahead reaches AP Calculus BC in grade 12. The school’s 4-Year Planning Guide also lists AP Calculus AB in grade 10 and AP Calculus BC in grade 11, indicating that individual students can move faster; the specific sequencing should be confirmed with the math department.
Thresholds at Each Step
The table below is compiled course by course from the 2025-26 student handbook. The handbook does not list prerequisites for Honors Calculus (dual credit) or Algebra II + Trigonometry (H), both new for 2026-27.
| Course (grade levels) | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Geometry (H) (grades 9-10) | Incoming ninth graders: A- or higher in middle school Algebra I, a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5, and an ISEE Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement score of 4 or higher; grade 10: A- in Algebra I |
| Algebra II (grades 9-11) | Passing grades in Geometry and Algebra I |
| Algebra II (H) (grades 9-11) | A- or higher in Geometry or B+ or higher in Geometry (H); incoming ninth graders also need a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5 |
| Algebra II + Trigonometry (H) (grades 9-11) | No threshold listed in the 2025-26 Student Handbook; confirm with the math department |
| Precalculus (grades 10-12) | A- or higher in Algebra II to take it in grade 10 |
| Precalculus (H) (grades 10-12) | A in both semesters of Algebra II, or A- or higher in both semesters of Algebra II (H) |
| Finite Math (grades 10-12) | Completion of Algebra II |
| AP Calculus AB (grades 10-12) | A- or higher in both semesters of Precalculus (H) |
| AP Calculus BC (grades 11-12) | A- or higher in AP Calculus AB, plus a teacher recommendation |
| AP Statistics (grades 11-12) | Completion of Precalculus, or A- or higher in Algebra II, or B+ or higher in Algebra II (H) |
| Calculus (H/DC) (grade 12) | New in 2026-27; no threshold listed in the Student Handbook |
The thresholds follow two patterns. First, moving from a regular class to honors generally requires an A- in the previous course, and continuing between honors courses generally requires a B+. Second, the gateway to calculus is concentrated in Honors Precalculus: AP Calculus AB accepts only students with an A- or higher in both semesters of Honors Precalculus, and the handbook provides no direct route into AP Calculus AB for students in regular Precalculus.
Summer Acceleration and Outside Courses
The school does not regularly offer summer remediation or acceleration courses. A grade of F in a core academic course required for graduation must be repeated at an approved summer school; a grade of D may also be repeated.
The school’s rule on outside courses is as follows: Courses offered by the school must be taken at the school. Students who wish to accelerate must arrange outside courses with the academic and college counseling team and the department chair and submit a formal request to the Registrar; credit is granted only after approval. Grades from outside courses appear on the transcript but are not included in the school's GPA. For courses the school does not offer, students may take one outside course per semester at an approved university, college, or online school. For this reason, the safest time for a student who wants to enter calculus one year early is before enrollment: complete Algebra I and Geometry before grade 8 ends and enter Algebra II directly in grade 9. To enter Honors Algebra II, a student also needs an A- in Geometry or a B+ in Honors Geometry, along with a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5. Skipping ahead after enrollment requires approval from the department chair and the registrar, and outside grades are not included in the school GPA.
The Highest Course Available
The endpoints of the math sequence at Pacifica Christian High School are AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics. The 2025-26 student handbook lists the grade 12 BC course as AP Calculus BC and Linear Algebra, indicating that the course includes linear algebra content. For 2026-27, the school also lists Calculus (H/DC) as a dual credit course, and the Class of 2027 Profile states that math dual credit is offered in partnership with Colorado Christian University. The school’s course catalog includes no multivariable calculus, differential equations or AP Precalculus. Finite Math requires completion of Algebra II and is an alternative follow-on math course to Precalculus.
The only computer science course is AP Computer Science Principles, which is housed in the science department; the student handbook recommends completing Algebra II first. The school does not offer AP Computer Science A.
Math Course List
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 |
| Algebra I (H) | Honors | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog (Course Offerings); confirm with the school whether it is offered; school-designated honors course, not weighted in the UC GPA; transcript abbreviation: H ALG I | c |
| Algebra II (H) | Honors | 9-11 | Incoming ninth graders: B+ or higher in Geometry (H) or A- or higher in Geometry, and a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5; current students: A- or higher in Geometry or B+ or higher in Geometry (H)+0.5 at the school; a separate course from the UC-approved Algebra II + Trigonometry (H); school-designated honors course, not weighted in the UC GPA; transcript abbreviation: H ALG II | c |
| Geometry (H) | Honors | 9-10 | Incoming ninth graders: A- or higher in middle school Algebra I, a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5, and an ISEE Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement score of 4 or higher; grade 10: A- in Algebra I+0.5 at the school; school-designated honors course, not weighted in the UC GPA; transcript abbreviation: H GEOM | c |
| Honors Algebra II + Trig | Honors | 9-11 | No threshold listed in the Student Handbook; confirm with the math departmentTitled Algebra II + Trigonometry (H) in the 2026-27 course catalog; +0.5 at the school; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviations: H. Alg 2 + Trig, Honors Algebra II + Trigonometry | c |
| Honors Calculus | Honors | 12 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookTitled Calculus (H/DC) in the 2026-27 course catalog; listed in the Class of 2027 Profile as a new Dual Credit course for 2026-27; weighted +1.0 by the school, the same as AP; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: HC | c |
| Honors Trigonometry | Honors | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog (Course Offerings); confirm with the school whether it is offered; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: Honors Trigonometry | c |
| Precalculus (H) | Honors | 10-12 | A in both semesters of Algebra II, or A- or higher in both semesters of Algebra II (H)+0.5 at the school; UC-approved honors course, weighted in UC applications; transcript abbreviation: H PRECALC | c |
| Algebra I | CP | 9 | —Transcript abbreviation: ALG I | c |
| Algebra II | CP | 9-11 | Passing grades in Geometry and Algebra ITranscript abbreviation: ALG II | c |
| Algebra III / Trigonometry | CP | — | —Not listed in the school's 2026-27 course catalog (Course Offerings); confirm with the school whether it is offered; transcript abbreviation: Alg III/Trig | c |
| Finite Math | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra IICan serve as a fourth year of mathematics after Algebra II; transcript abbreviation: Finite Math | c |
| Geometry | CP | 9-10 | No threshold listed in the Student HandbookTranscript abbreviation: GEOM | c |
| Precalculus | CP | 10-12 | A- or higher in Algebra II to take it in grade 10Transcript abbreviation: PRECALC | c |
Frequently Asked Questions
For Irvine families: does Pacifica Christian High School use integrated math or traditional algebra and geometry?
The traditional sequence. The math courses at Pacifica Christian High School run from Algebra I to Geometry, Algebra II and Precalculus, followed by AP Calculus or AP Statistics; the school does not use the integrated Math I, Math II and Math III sequence of the Irvine Unified School District. The school also offers Algebra II + Trigonometry (H). Families moving from an Irvine middle school should first confirm with the school's math department which course the student's middle school math course corresponds to.
Can an Irvine student who completed Algebra I in grade 8 take Honors Geometry in grade 9 at Pacifica Christian High School?
Yes, but three conditions must all be met. The Pacifica Christian High School 2025-26 student handbook states that incoming grade 9 students taking Honors Geometry need an A- or higher in middle school Algebra I, a cumulative grade 8 GPA of 3.5 or higher, and ISEE Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement scores of 4 or higher. The handbook lists no prerequisites for regular Geometry. Note that Honors Geometry adds 0.5 at the school but is not a UC-approved honors course.
For Irvine families: what is the highest math course available at Pacifica Christian High School?
The highest courses are AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics, and for 2026-27 the school also offers Honors Calculus as a dual credit course. The Pacifica Christian High School 2025-26 student handbook lists the grade 12 course as AP Calculus BC and Linear Algebra and requires an A- or higher in AP Calculus AB plus a teacher recommendation. To reach BC in grade 12, a student must take AP Calculus AB in grade 11, which means starting grade 9 in Algebra II or Algebra II + Trigonometry (H). The school offers neither multivariable calculus nor AP Precalculus.
Can students at Pacifica Christian High School take math courses early over the summer, and what should Irvine families keep in mind?
The school does not regularly offer summer acceleration courses. Pacifica Christian High School requires that courses the school offers be taken at the school. Students who want to accelerate must agree on a suitable outside course with the academic and college counseling team and the math department chair, and submit a formal request to the registrar; the course counts toward graduation credit only after approval. Grades for outside courses appear on the transcript but are not included in the school GPA. Families should obtain written approval from the school before enrolling in any outside math course.
For Irvine families: do honors math courses at Pacifica Christian High School receive extra weight from UC?
Some do. According to the UC A-G list for 2026-27, Algebra II + Trigonometry (H), Honors Precalculus, Honors Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics at Pacifica Christian High School are UC-approved honors courses. Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra II are not; they add 0.5 at the school and count as regular courses for UC applications. This distinction affects the UC GPA when choosing a math course in grade 10.
