The main math sequence at Rosary Academy runs from Algebra I to Algebra II and Geometry, then to Pre-Calculus: Geometry comes after Algebra II, with a prerequisite of a C or higher in Algebra II. This differs from the Integrated Math I, II and III sequence of the Irvine Unified School District and from the order at most schools, where Geometry comes before Algebra II, and grade-level equivalents between the systems cannot be converted directly. The school does not publish model pathways, so this page organizes four pathways based on the grade levels and prerequisites in the 2026-27 course catalog and explains the thresholds at each step, the rules for summer Honors Geometry, and the highest course a student can reach.
Four Math Pathways
Foundational pathway (Algebra I AB in grade 9)
- Grade 9: Algebra I AB, a slower-paced Algebra I
- Grade 10: Intermediate Algebra II
- Grade 11: Intermediate Geometry
- Grade 12: Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications
Standard pathway (Algebra I in grade 9)
- Grade 9: Algebra I or Honors Algebra I
- Grade 10: Algebra II or Honors Algebra II
- Grade 11: Geometry or Honors Geometry
- Grade 12: Pre-Calculus, Statistics, or AP Statistics
Honors pathway (Honors Algebra II in grade 9)
- Grade 9: Honors Algebra II (placement test required)
- Grade 10: Honors Geometry
- Grade 11: Honors Pre-Calculus
- Grade 12: AP Calculus AB, Calculus, Honors Calculus, or AP Statistics
Accelerated pathway (Honors Algebra II plus summer Honors Geometry)
- Grade 9: Honors Algebra II, with a B or higher
- Summer after grade 9: Honors Geometry in Rosary summer school (both sessions, with teacher and counselor approval)
- Grade 10: Honors Pre-Calculus; grade 11: AP Calculus AB
- Grade 12: AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics
Rosary Academy uses an Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry sequence: students take Algebra II before Geometry, and the Geometry prerequisite is C or higher in Algebra II. This differs from the Integrated Math sequence of the Irvine Unified School District and from the Geometry-before-Algebra II order used at most schools. The school has not published sample pathways; the four below are compiled from the grade levels and prerequisites in the 2026-27 course catalog.
The pathways differ in their starting point, which is determined by grade 8 coursework and the placement tests at entry. The foundational pathway focuses on fundamentals and reaches Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications in grade 12; the standard pathway reaches Pre-Calculus or Statistics in grade 12 without entering calculus; the honors pathway reaches AP Calculus AB in grade 12; and only students who start grade 9 in Honors Algebra II and complete Honors Geometry in summer school reach AP Calculus BC in grade 12 by the standard route.
Thresholds at Each Step
The table below is compiled course by course from the course catalog. Where a course states that students must pass a placement test, this applies to students who have not taken the school’s preceding honors course.
| Course (grade levels) | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Honors Algebra I (grade 9) | Based on HSPT scores and the school math placement test |
| Honors Algebra II (grades 9 to 10) | B or higher in Honors Algebra I, or A in Algebra I; non-honors students must pass the placement test |
| Geometry (grades 10 to 12) | C or higher in Algebra II |
| Honors Geometry (grades 10 to 11, also offered in summer school) | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II; non-honors students must pass the placement test. The summer version requires B or higher in Honors Algebra II plus teacher and counselor approval |
| Pre-Calculus (grades 11 to 12) | C or higher in both Algebra II and Geometry |
| Honors Pre-Calculus (grades 10 to 12) | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II; non-honors students must pass the placement test |
| Calculus (grades 11 to 12) | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-Calculus, plus a passing placement test; the school notes that the course does not prepare students for the AP exam |
| Honors Calculus (grades 11 to 12) | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-Calculus; non-honors students must pass the placement test; the course does not prepare students for the AP exam and is not on the UC list |
| AP Calculus AB (grades 11 to 12) | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-Calculus |
| AP Calculus BC (grades 11 to 12) | C or higher in AP Calculus AB; a second-year calculus course |
| AP Statistics (grades 11 to 12) | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II, plus B or higher in Honors English or A in English |
| Statistics (grades 11 to 12) | C or higher in Algebra II |
The thresholds follow three patterns. First, moving between honors levels requires only a B, while moving from a regular class to honors requires an A and a passing placement test. Second, Honors Pre-Calculus requires only Honors Algebra II and not Geometry, whereas regular Pre-Calculus requires a C in both Algebra II and Geometry. Third, the school offers two calculus courses that do not target the AP exam, regular Calculus and Honors Calculus, and neither is a UC-approved honors course.
Summer Acceleration and Outside Courses
Summer school in 2026 runs in two sessions, June 8 to 25 and July 6 to 23, Monday through Thursday. Advancement courses (taken for credit ahead of the regular sequence) require teacher and counselor approval; the only math advancement course is Honors Geometry, which requires both sessions, meets daily from 8 to 11 a.m., costs $800 in total, and requires B or higher in Honors Algebra II. Summer school grades are not included in the 7-semester GPA used to determine the valedictorian and salutatorian. Remediation courses cost $450 per one-semester course. Freshman prep courses (Pre-Algebra, Language Arts, Learning Strategies) are offered only in the second session: $375 for one course, $550 for two, and $700 for three.
Because Honors Geometry is offered in summer school, students on the honors pathway can move Geometry from grade 10 to the summer and take Honors Pre-Calculus directly in grade 10. Note that four career pathways, computer science, engineering, medicine and sports medicine, require honors or AP math in all four years, and the school states that summer Honors Geometry does not count as one of those years.
The rules for outside courses have not been published in detail. The catalog states that once enrolled, students must complete all graduation requirements at Rosary Academy. The website does not publish a process for taking outside courses to advance. Families who want to use outside courses to move ahead a year should confirm with the counselor before spring course selection whether the school will recognize them.
The Highest Course Available
The endpoints of the math sequence at Rosary Academy are AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics. AP Statistics is open to grades 11 to 12 and requires a B or higher in Honors Algebra II or an A in Algebra II, plus a B or higher in Honors English or an A in English; the course appears in the course catalog and the 2025-2026 Academic Profile but not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list. The school’s course catalog includes no multivariable calculus, linear algebra or differential equations, and no AP Precalculus or dual credit math courses.
In computer science, AP Computer Science Principles is housed in the math department and is available in grades 10 to 12, requiring a B or higher in Honors Algebra I or Honors Algebra II, or an A in Algebra I or Algebra II; under UC rules it is a category d laboratory science. 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 | 11-12 | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-CalculusCourse number 6400P; transcript abbreviations: AP CALCULUS, AP Calculus AB, APCALCULUS AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | C or higher in AP Calculus ABCourse number 6410P; transcript abbreviations: AP CALC BC, AP Calculus BC | c |
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | B or higher in Honors Algebra I or Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra I or Algebra IICourse number 2100P; the catalog places it in the Mathematics Department, while the UC list classifies it as "d"; transcript abbreviation: AP Comp Science | d |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II, plus B or higher in Honors English or A in EnglishCourse number 6500P; listed in both the school catalog and the 2025-2026 Academic Profile but not on the UC 2026-27 A-G list; confirm with the school whether it has been submitted to UC | — |
| Algebra I (H) | Honors | 9 | Based on the HSPT and the school math placement testSchool-designated honors course; not weighted in the UC GPA; course number 6110H; catalog title: Honors Algebra I; transcript abbreviations: Hnrs Algebra I, Honor Algebra I | c |
| Algebra II (H) | Honors | 9-10 | B or higher in Honors Algebra I, or A in Algebra I; non-honors students must pass the placement testSchool-designated honors course; not weighted in the UC GPA; course number 6120H; catalog title: Honors Algebra II; transcript abbreviation: Hnrs Algebra II | c |
| Geometry (H) | Honors | 10-11; may be taken early in summer school | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II; non-honors students must pass the placement test; the summer version requires B or higher in Honors Algebra II plus teacher and counselor approvalSchool-designated honors course; not weighted in the UC GPA; course number 6200H; catalog title: Honors Geometry; transcript abbreviations: HONORS GEOMETRY, SS HONORS GEOMETRY | c |
| Geometry Honors | Honors | — | Online course on the UC list, offered through FlexPoint Virtual School; not listed in the school catalogSchool-designated honors course; not weighted in the UC GPA; online course; transcript abbreviation: HNRS Geometry | c |
| Pre-Calculus (H) | Honors | 10-12 | B or higher in Honors Algebra II, or A in Algebra II; non-honors students must pass the placement testUC-approved honors course; weighted in the UC GPA; course number 6300H; catalog title: Honors Pre-Calculus; transcript abbreviations: HNRS PRE CALCUL, HNRS PRE-CALCUL | c |
| Honors Calculus | Honors | 11-12 | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-Calculus; non-honors students must pass the placement testSchool-designated honors course; not weighted in the UC GPA; course number 6400H; the school notes that the course does not prepare students for the AP exam; not on the UC A-G list | — |
| Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra II or Intermediate Algebra IICourse number 6510A; transcript abbreviations: Fin Algebra, Financial Algebra | c |
| Algebra 1 AB | CP | 9 | —Course number 6100A; catalog title: Algebra I AB, a slower-paced Algebra I; transcript abbreviations: Alg 1AB, Algebra I AB | c |
| Algebra I | CP | 9-10 | —Course number 6110A; transcript abbreviations: ALG I RV CR., ALGEBRA I | c |
| Algebra I A/B | CP | 9 | —One of two UC list entries, together with Algebra 1 AB, for course number 6100A; transcript abbreviation: Algebra IA/B | c |
| Algebra II | CP | 9-12 | C or higher in Algebra I; students with an F in Algebra I must first make up the courseCourse number 6120A; transcript abbreviation: Algebra II | c |
| Calculus | CP | 11-12 | B or higher in Honors Pre-Calculus, or A in Pre-Calculus, plus a passing placement testCourse number 6400A; the school notes that the course does not prepare students for the AP exam; transcript abbreviations: Calc, Calculus | c |
| Geometry | CP | 10-12 | C or higher in Algebra IICourse number 6200A; the school sequences Algebra II before Geometry; transcript abbreviations: Geometry, SS GEOMETRY | c |
| Intermediate Algebra 2 | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra I AB or Algebra ICourse number 6130A; a slower-paced Algebra II focused on fundamentals; transcript abbreviation: Inter Alg 2 | c |
| Intermediate Geometry | CP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra I AB and Intermediate Algebra IICourse number 6210A; focused on fundamentals; transcript abbreviation: Inter Geom | c |
| Pre-Calculus | CP | 11-12 | C or higher in both Algebra II and GeometryCourse number 6300A; transcript abbreviations: PRE - CALCULUS, Pre-Calculus | c |
| Statistics | CP | 11-12 | C or higher in Algebra IICourse number 6500A; transcript abbreviation: STATISTICS | c |
Frequently Asked Questions
For Irvine families: why does Rosary Academy teach Algebra II before Geometry?
This is the sequence set by the Rosary Academy course catalog: the prerequisite for Geometry is a C or higher in Algebra II, and the prerequisite for Honors Geometry is a B or higher in Honors Algebra II or an A in Algebra II. The school's main sequence is therefore Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry, followed by Pre-Calculus. This differs from the integrated math sequence of the Irvine Unified School District and from the order at most schools, where Geometry comes before Algebra II. Families moving from an Irvine middle school should first confirm which course the student's middle school math course corresponds to on the placement test.
Can an Irvine student who completed Algebra I in grade 8 take Honors Algebra II in grade 9 at Rosary Academy?
The student can work toward it. Honors Algebra II at Rosary Academy is open to grades 9 and 10, and the prerequisite is a B or higher in Honors Algebra I or an A in Algebra I; students who have not taken the school's honors course must pass a placement test. The school states that incoming students are placed into honors or regular Algebra I or Algebra II based on its own math placement test; in 2026, the placement test was held in the afternoons of April 28 and 30 and May 4 and 6, and the school provides review materials and answers for the algebra placement test.
For Irvine families: what is the highest math course available at Rosary Academy?
The highest course is AP Calculus BC, which requires a C or higher in AP Calculus AB and is offered in grades 11 to 12. Based on the grade levels and prerequisites in the course catalog, the standard route to BC in grade 12 is Honors Algebra II in grade 9, Honors Geometry in summer school, Honors Pre-Calculus in grade 10 and AP Calculus AB in grade 11. The Rosary Academy course catalog includes no multivariable calculus, linear algebra or AP Precalculus.
Can students at Rosary Academy take math courses early over the summer, and what should Irvine families keep in mind?
Yes, but only Honors Geometry. Among the 2026 Rosary Academy summer school courses for advance credit, the only math course is Honors Geometry: students must attend both sessions (June 8 to 25 and July 6 to 23), Monday through Thursday from 8 to 11 a.m., for a total of $800. The prerequisite is a B or higher in Honors Algebra II, and approval from the teacher and counselor is required. Summer school grades are not included in the 7-semester GPA used to select the valedictorian and salutatorian.
For Irvine families: do honors math courses at Rosary Academy receive extra weight from UC?
Most do not. According to the UC A-G list for 2026-27, Honors Algebra I, Honors Algebra II and Honors Geometry at Rosary Academy are not UC-approved honors courses, and Honors Calculus is not on the UC list. The only math courses UC weights are Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. AP Statistics appears in the course catalog and the Academic Profile but not on the UC 2026-27 list, so families should confirm with the school.
