AP (Advanced Placement) is the College Board program of college-level courses; each course leads to a national exam in May, scored on a scale with a maximum of 5. In its School Profile 2025-2026, Sage Hill School reports offering 20 AP and 3 Post-AP courses. The UC A-G list for 2026-27 records 21 AP courses for the school, all UC-approved honors courses that are weighted in UC applications and also earn 1.0 additional grade point at school. This page lists each course’s grade levels and prerequisites, explains which exam results the school publishes and which common AP courses it does not offer, and recommends course combinations by intended major.
Grade Levels and Prerequisites for Each AP Course
The table below follows the school’s 2026-27 course catalog course by course. For most AP courses, the school sets no letter-grade requirement and relies instead on teacher recommendations and prerequisite courses; items marked “recommended” are the school’s suggested preparation, not firm requirements.
| AP course | Grade levels and prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP World History | Grade 10; completion of Patterns of Civilization in grade 9 |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 10 to 12; completion of one year of chemistry and Algebra II or higher; a B+ average or higher in Chemistry or Honors Chemistry recommended |
| AP Physics 1 | Grades 10 to 12; completion of one year of chemistry and Algebra II, with one year of biology completed or in progress |
| AP Calculus AB | Depends on math progress; from Precalculus, an A in both semesters plus placement; from Honors Precalculus or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry, a B in both semesters |
| AP Calculus BC | Depends on math progress; an A- or higher in both semesters of Honors Precalculus or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry plus placement; students who have taken AP Calculus AB may not enroll |
| AP Computer Science (Java) | Depends on math progress; completion of Algebra II or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry, with an A in both semesters of the most recent regular math course or a B in both semesters of an honors or AP math course; counts as a math elective |
| AP Music Theory | Grades 10 to 12; approval after a meeting with the instrumental music teacher or arts department chair; one year in a school ensemble recommended first |
| AP Art and Design | Completion of a level-two or higher visual arts course and a passing portfolio review; students may submit a 2D, Drawing, or 3D portfolio, though the UC list records only 2D |
| AP Biology | Completion of one year of chemistry and one year of biology, with Algebra II completed or in progress; a B+ average or higher in biology recommended |
| AP United States History | Grade 11; completion of Patterns of Civilization and of Modern World History or AP World History |
| AP Physics 2 | Grades 11 to 12; completion of one year of mechanics-based physics and Algebra II |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Grades 11 to 12; completion of calculus or higher and one year of mechanics-based physics |
| AP Environmental Science | Grades 11 to 12; completion of one year of chemistry and one year of biology |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11 to 12; completion of Algebra II or higher; a year-long research project in APA format |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | Grades 11 to 12; completion of Honors Spanish III or Spanish IV, with a world languages department recommendation |
| AP US Government (school course title: AP American Government) | Grades 11 to 12; United States history completed or taken concurrently at the school; priority to grade 12 |
| AP Psychology | Grades 11 to 12; United States history completed or taken concurrently at the school; priority to grade 12 |
| AP Economics (school course title; covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics) | Grades 11 to 12; United States history and Algebra II completed or taken concurrently at the school; priority to grade 12 |
| AP Art History | Grades 11 to 12; United States history completed or taken concurrently at the school; priority to grade 12; housed in the history and social studies department |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Grade 12; English department recommendation, with an A- writing average or higher in English 11 or a B+ writing average or higher in Honors English 11 |
AP World History, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics 1 are open from grade 10; AP United States History is taken in grade 11; AP Psychology, AP United States Government, AP Economics, and AP Art History require prior or concurrent United States History, with priority to grade 12; AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, and AP Spanish Language are open only to grades 11 and 12; AP English Literature is open only to grade 12; AP Calculus AB and BC depend on math sequence, and students on the honors accelerated track may take them in grade 10. Students enrolled in an AP course must take the corresponding AP exam; exam fees are paid by the family and are non-refundable once the exam is ordered. Students who miss the exam must take a final exam of equivalent length and scope, which may count toward the semester grade. Students not enrolled in an AP course may also register for AP exams. The school strongly recommends that students take no more than 3 honors and AP courses combined each year. When a course request exceeds 3, the student and parents must sign a Balanced Schedule Acknowledgement Letter or revise the request; otherwise no schedule is issued.
The school also offers Calculus C, which follows AP Calculus AB and covers the second half of the BC content; the school states that students in this course may take the AP Calculus BC exam. It does not carry the AP name, but it is weighted as an honors course both at school and by UC.
AP Exam Results Published by the School
Sage Hill School does not publish the total number of AP exams taken, the share of scores of 3 or higher, or results by subject; the School Profile 2025-2026 reports only the number of courses offered and course selection guidance. The “share of scores of 3 or higher” used on public high school pages on this site is calculated per exam, and this school has no comparable figure.
The academic results the school does publish are standardized test scores and National Merit recognition: for the classes of 2024 through 2026, as of July 2025, the middle 50% SAT range was 1380 to 1530 and the ACT range was 30 to 35, and the class of 2025 had 22 National Merit Semifinalists and 42 Commended Students. Across the ten graduating classes from 2016 to 2025: 82 National Merit Finalists, 87 Semifinalists, and 258 Commended Students (School Profile 2025-2026). To gauge how well a particular AP course is taught at the school, families should ask the course teacher or college counselor directly about score distributions in past years.
AP Courses the School Does Not Offer
The following AP courses are common in UC applications but are not offered at Sage Hill School in 2026-27.
- AP English Language and Composition: the only AP option in grade 12 English is AP English Literature
- AP Precalculus: the school offers Honors Precalculus
- AP Physics C: Mechanics: the school offers AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism but not Mechanics
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Human Geography
- AP European History
- AP Comparative Government
- AP Chinese, AP French, AP Latin: the highest level in these three languages is Honors IV
- AP Spanish Literature and Culture
- AP Seminar / Research
The two with the greatest impact are AP English Language and AP Physics C: Mechanics. In English, the only AP course is AP English Literature in grade 12, and the advanced option in grade 11 is Honors English 11. In physics, the school offers AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism but not AP Physics C: Mechanics, which usually precedes it, so students planning to major in engineering or physics need to cover calculus-based mechanics outside school. In world languages, the highest level in Chinese, French, and Latin is Honors IV, which UC also recognizes as an honors course, but there is no corresponding AP exam score to submit.
AP Course List
The table below 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 course title in the school catalog and the transcript title on the UC list.
History and Social Studies
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Government and Politics United States | AP | 11-12 | Prior or concurrent United States History or AP United States History (taken at the school); priority to grade 12UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; school catalog title: AP American Government; transcript title on the UC list: AP American Government | a |
| AP United States History | AP | 11 | Completion of Patterns of Civilization and Modern World History or AP World HistoryUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP United States History, AP US History | a |
| AP World History | AP | 10 | Completion of Patterns of CivilizationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP World History | a |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | Prior or concurrent United States History or AP United States History (taken at the school); priority to grade 12UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; listed under the History and Social Studies Department in the school catalog; transcript title on the UC list: AP Art History | f |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 11-12 | Prior or concurrent United States History or AP United States History (taken at the school); priority to grade 12; prior or concurrent Algebra IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; the school catalog offers a single full-year AP Economics course covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics; transcript title on the UC list: AP Economics | g |
| AP Microeconomics | AP | 11-12 | Prior or concurrent United States History or AP United States History (taken at the school); priority to grade 12; prior or concurrent Algebra IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; the school catalog offers a single full-year AP Economics course covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics; transcript title on the UC list: AP Economics | g |
| AP Psychology | AP | 11-12 | Prior or concurrent United States History or AP United States History (taken at the school); priority to grade 12UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Psychology | g |
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | English Department recommendation, plus an A- or higher writing average in English 11 or a B+ or higher writing average in Honors English 11UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; school catalog title: English 12: AP English Literature and Composition; transcript title on the UC list: AP English Literature and Composition | b |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 9-12 | Mathematics Department recommendation; from Precalculus, an A in both semesters and passing placement; from Honors Precalculus or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry, a B in both semesters with no additional testUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Calculus AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 9-12 | Mathematics Department recommendation; A- or higher in both semesters of Honors Precalculus or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry, and passing placementUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; students who have taken AP Calculus AB may not enroll; transcript title on the UC list: AP Calculus BC | c |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 9-12 | Mathematics Department recommendation; completion of Algebra II or Honors Algebra II and Trigonometry, with an A in both semesters of the most recent non-honors math course or a B in both semesters of an honors or AP math courseUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; school catalog title: AP Computer Science (Java); counts as a math elective, and the school recommends taking a core math course alongside it; transcript title on the UC list: AP Computer Science, AP Java, AP Java A | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra II or higherUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; year-long research project in APA format; transcript title on the UC list: AP Statistics | c |
Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | AP | 10-12 | Completion of one year of chemistry and one year of biology, with prior or current Algebra II or higher; a B+ or higher average in biology is recommendedUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Biology | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 10-12 | Completion of one year of chemistry and Algebra II or higher; a B+ or higher average in Chemistry or Honors Chemistry is recommendedUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Chemistry | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | Completion of one year of chemistry and one year of biologyUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Environmental Science | d |
| AP Physics 1 | AP | 10-12 | Completion of one year of chemistry and Algebra II, with prior or current one year of biologyUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Physics 1 | d |
| AP Physics 2 | AP | 11-12 | Completion of one year of physics (mechanics) and Algebra IIUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Physics 2 | d |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Calculus or higher and one year of physics (mechanics)UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; the school does not offer AP Physics C: Mechanics; transcript title on the UC list: AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | d |
World Languages
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Honors Spanish III or Spanish IV, with World Languages Department recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Spanish Lang., AP Spanish Language & Culture, Spanish IV: Language (AP) | e |
Visual and Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2D Art and Design | AP | 10-12 | Completion of a level II or higher visual arts course and passing portfolio reviewUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; school catalog title: AP Art and Design; students may submit a 2D, Drawing, or 3D portfolio; transcript title on the UC list: AP Art and Design, AP Studio Art | f |
| AP Music Theory | AP | 10-12 | Approval after a meeting with the instrumental music teacher or Arts Department chair; one year in a school ensemble is recommended firstUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Music Theory | f |
Course Combinations by Intended Major
The combinations below use only courses listed in the school’s 2026-27 course catalog and follow the school’s recommendation of no more than 3 honors and AP courses combined each year, listing no more than 3 weighted courses per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine families often ask: how many AP courses does Sage Hill School offer?
In its School Profile 2025-2026, Sage Hill School states that it offers 20 AP and 3 Post-AP courses. The UC A-G list for 2026-27 records 21 AP courses for the school; the difference is that the school's AP Economics is a single full-year course covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics, which the UC list records as two courses, AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. The 3 Post-AP courses are Multivariable Calculus, Advanced Topics in Mathematics, and Advanced Topics in Computer Science, all of which are UC-approved honors courses.
Irvine families want to know: what is the AP pass rate at Sage Hill School?
The school does not publish it. Neither the Sage Hill School School Profile 2025-2026 nor the school website reports the number of AP exams taken, the share of scores of 3 or higher, or results by subject, so no comparison is possible with public high school pass rates calculated per exam. The related results the school does publish are standardized test scores: for the classes of 2024 through 2026, as of July 2025, the middle 50% SAT range was 1380 to 1530 and the ACT range was 30 to 35, and the class of 2025 had 22 National Merit Semifinalists.
Can grade 9 students take AP courses at Sage Hill School?
The school's course roadmap includes no AP courses in grade 9, and most AP courses begin in grade 10, when students may take AP World History, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics 1. Mathematics is the exception: the Sage Hill School math placement page states that new students who pass the Algebra II and Precalculus placement tests, plus a supplemental AP Calculus test, may start in AP Calculus AB or BC. Honors and AP world language courses are not open to grade 9 students.
A note for Irvine families: which AP courses does Sage Hill School not offer?
According to the UC A-G list for 2026-27 and the school course catalog, Sage Hill School does not offer AP English Language and Composition, AP Precalculus, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Human Geography, AP European History, or AP Comparative Government and Politics. It also does not offer AP Chinese, AP French, AP Latin, or AP Spanish Literature; the highest level in these four languages is Honors IV or AP Spanish Language. The school does not offer AP Seminar or AP Research.
Must students take the AP exam for AP courses at Sage Hill School, and how many can an Irvine student take each year?
Yes, the exam is required. The Sage Hill School handbook states that students in AP courses must take the corresponding AP exam, that families pay the exam fee, and that fees are not refunded after registration; a student who misses the exam must take a final exam of equal length, and the result may count toward the semester grade. The school strongly recommends no more than 3 honors and AP courses combined each year; when a course request exceeds 3, the student and parents must sign a Balanced Schedule Acknowledgement Letter, or the student will not receive a schedule.
Sage Hill School does not offer AP Physics C: Mechanics. What can an Irvine student who plans to study engineering do?
The Sage Hill School physics sequence is AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism requires completion of calculus and one year of mechanics-based physics. The school does not offer AP Physics C: Mechanics. A student who uses AP Physics 1 as the mechanics foundation and completes Electricity and Magnetism can consider studying Physics C: Mechanics outside school and registering for that exam independently; the school handbook states that students not enrolled in an AP course may also register for AP exams, following the required registration process. Outside courses do not appear on the school transcript.
