Santa Margarita Catholic High School is located in Rancho Santa Margarita in south Orange County. It is a coeducational college-preparatory high school opened by the Diocese of Orange in 1987. According to the 2026-2027 School Profile, the school enrolled 1,763 students that year from 99 middle schools, with an average class size of 22. Its most distinctive feature is that it offers the IB Diploma Programme alongside AP: it has been an IB World School since 1997 and is the only Catholic high school in Orange County offering the IB Diploma Programme. The University of California (UC) A-G list for 2026-27 registers 341 courses at the school, 54 of which are IB courses. This page does not rate the school; it answers two questions: how to gain admission, and how to plan the four years after enrolling.
UC A-G refers to the seven course categories (a through g) that the University of California and California State University require of high school students; only courses on a school’s A-G list are recognized by UC. AP (Advanced Placement) is the college-level course program of the College Board. The IB Diploma Programme (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) is a two-year high school curriculum of the International Baccalaureate, in which students take 6 subjects in grades 11 to 12 and complete three core requirements.
College Preparation at Santa Margarita Catholic High School
The data published by the school point to four features.
First, the AP and IB advanced tracks run in parallel, but they are almost entirely closed in grades 9 to 10. The school offers 24 AP courses and the full IB Diploma Programme, and the School Profile cites 100 advanced courses. Ninth graders may not take any AP or IB course; tenth graders may take only four AP courses: AP World History, AP European History, AP Art History and AP Music Theory. All IB courses begin in 11th grade. The rigor of a student’s schedule at this school is therefore concentrated in grades 11 to 12.
Second, few students pursue the full IB Diploma, while individual IB courses are common. In 2026 there were 17 full Diploma candidates, only 3% of the Class of 2026; 85% of them earned the diploma, with an average score of 30 (out of 45). In the same period, 276 students in the Classes of 2026 and 2027 took IB courses as course candidates, sitting 575 IB exams in total. Many students take both AP and IB courses and sit both sets of exams.
Third, AP testing volume is large, but the pass rate published by the school needs careful reading. In 2026 students sat 1,615 AP exams. According to the score distribution in the School Profile, 1,360 exams earned a 3 or higher, or 84.2%; the same document and the school’s AP page state 91%. The share of scores of 3 or higher in AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics was only 57% and 51%, respectively. The Class of 2026 averaged 1240 on the SAT (310 test takers) and 28 on the ACT (95 test takers).
Fourth, theology and service are firm graduation requirements. Graduation requires 270 credits, including 40 in theology, tied with English for the highest requirement. Each grade level also has a service project completed through the theology course, and students in grades 11 to 12 must complete 40 hours of direct service. None of the required theology courses in grades 9 to 11 is on the UC A-G list. Full IB Diploma candidates may substitute Philosophy IB HL for theology in 11th and 12th grade, and IB Philosophy is a UC-approved honors course.
How to Apply
The main point of entry to Santa Margarita Catholic High School is 9th grade. The steps below follow the official calendar for 2027-28 entry (Class of 2031).
Steps for 9th-grade admission
- Submit the online application starting at 9 a.m. on September 1, 2026 (application fee $80); tuition assistance applications and Shadow Day registration open the same day
- Attend fall events: the IB and ASP information session on September 23, Rally Day on October 8 and the Open House on October 19; parents may tour the campus on the morning of their student's Shadow Day
- Complete the application by November 15, 2026 for priority admission; the first round of tuition assistance closes the same day
- Priority applicants receive admission packets and assistance notices on December 1, 2026; rolling admission begins December 2 and continues until the class is full
- Take the HSPT in January 2027 on one of three dates: January 16, 20 or 30; the school also offers 5 one-day review sessions in January at $95 each
- Attend the new student welcome event on February 23, 2027 and the freshman course selection night in March
| Entrance exam | The HSPT (High School Placement Test) is required only of incoming grade 9 students; registration is included in the online application, where applicants choose one test date. Calculators are not permitted. Scores are used for admission, for grade 9 placement in English, math, science, and world languages, and to determine eligibility for the HSPT Scholarship |
|---|---|
| Exam schedule | Admission for 2027-28 (Class of 2031): the online application, tuition assistance application, and Shadow Day registration open at 9:00 a.m. on September 1, 2026; November 15 is the priority admission and first-round tuition assistance deadline; admission packets and assistance notifications are sent on December 1; rolling admission begins December 2 and continues until spaces are filled. Applicants choose one of three HSPT dates: January 16, 2027 (Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), January 20 (Wednesday afternoon), or January 30 (Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) |
| School review sessions | The school offers a one-day HSPT review course for $95 per session, covering the English and math sections and test-taking strategies; five sessions are available in January 2027: January 9, 10, 17, 23, and 24 |
| Application materials | Online application (one of three: general application, international student application, or Auxiliary Studies Program (ASP) application); Application fee: $80 for general and ASP applications, $350 for international student applications, all nonrefundable; HSPT entrance exam (incoming grade 9 students only; registration is completed with the online application); Auxiliary Studies Program (ASP) applicants also submit a psychoeducational evaluation completed within the past three years |
| Interview | The school's grade 9 application page does not list an interview; international students are scheduled for an interview and English proficiency assessment once their files are complete |
| Tuition and fees (2026-27) | Tuition is $23,600 per year; Catholic families registered at a local parish in the Diocese of Orange receive a $1,600 reduction, which must be requested and verified at registration. Additional fees include a $700 annual registration fee, an $875 annual technology fee (mandatory and nonrefundable), a $475 grade 12 graduation fee, a $25 to $55 annual FACTS payment account fee, and an $80 application fee for new students. Families purchase textbooks and uniforms separately, and extracurricular and athletic activities may carry additional fees |
| Discounts | $500 off for the second child, $750 off for each additional child, and $750 off for payment in full by May 31. Families receiving tuition assistance may receive only the Catholic family reduction; other discounts do not apply |
| Payment options | Paid through FACTS: annual payment is due in full by May 31; semiannual payments are due July 5 and November 5; ten-month payments are due on the 5th of each month from July through April |
| Other program fees | Auxiliary Studies Program (ASP) tuition is $3,800 per year, and a psychoeducational evaluation is $2,200; the IB full Diploma candidate program fee is $525, and IB course fees for individual courses are $175 per course, $50 for each additional course, up to $275, with IB exam fees billed separately; AP exams are $110 per subject (2026-27 Course Description Book) |
| Tuition assistance | Tuition assistance is awarded based on family financial need, applied for through FACTS (processing fee $45), and reviewed by the school's tuition assistance committee. The school's web page states that about one quarter of students receive tuition assistance, with an average award of $7,500, and that assistance combined with private aid or merit scholarships may cover up to 50% of tuition; the 2026-2027 School Profile states that 40% of students receive tuition assistance or scholarships. Applications for 2027-28 open September 1, 2026; the first-round deadline is November 15, with notification on December 1; after that, families who complete their files by the 15th of a month are notified on the 1st of the following month. Funds are limited and are awarded in order of application |
| Documents for assistance | 2025 tax return, 2025 W-2 or 1099, most recent pay stub, and most recent mortgage or rent statement, all submitted to FACTS rather than to the school |
| Conditions for receiving assistance | Students must be admitted or currently enrolled, not on probation, and maintain a 2.0 GPA; current students must reapply each year |
| Religious requirements | Theology is required for all four years, totaling 40 credits, tied with English for the highest credit requirement of any subject. Each grade also has a Christian service project completed through the theology course, all required for graduation: the Caritas Christi project in grade 9, a service project at the Second Harvest Food Bank in grade 10, and the Lumen Christi project in grades 11-12, which requires 40 hours of direct service over two years, counted from the summer before grade 11. Full IB Diploma students take IB Philosophy (Philosophy IB HL1 and HL2), which may replace Theology 3 and Theology 4 |
| Transfer students | Transfer students use the general application and do not take the HSPT; applications for 2027-28 open September 1, and applicants whose materials are complete by November 15 receive decisions on December 1 |
| International students | The following students apply as international students: holders of non-U.S. visas, holders of U.S. green cards (permanent residents), and U.S. citizens who have not attended school in the United States for the previous two consecutive school years. Students admitted as international students are billed as international students for their entire enrollment. Families seeking to apply as domestic students for fall 2027 must obtain citizenship by November 15, 2026. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL iBT scores, and the school lists a minimum of 4; exemptions apply in cases such as two full years at a U.S. school with C or higher in English. The school does not offer English as a second language courses (ELL or ELD). Materials include original transcripts for the past three years with English translations, recommendations from English and math teachers and from the principal or counselor, immigration documents, proof of funds, and immunization records; an interview and English assessment are scheduled once the file is complete. The school issues I-20s and also accepts I-20 transfers from a student's current school, which take about two weeks. For 2026-27, international student tuition is $41,000, with a $350 application fee, a $1,500 registration fee, and an $875 technology fee; incoming students whom the admissions committee determines need English support also take a $3,000 international student support course. Full-year tuition and fees must be paid in one payment by May 1 before the school year begins. International students are not eligible for tuition assistance or any discount |
The school scholarships for the Class of 2031 are listed below; all amounts are distributed over four years.
| Program | Amount and conditions |
|---|---|
| HSPT Scholarship (98th to 100th percentile) | For incoming freshmen scoring in the 98th to 100th national percentile on the HSPT: $4,000, or $1,000 per year for four years; no application required, but the HSPT must be taken at the school; a 3.5 GPA must be maintained |
| HSPT Scholarship (95th to 97th percentile) | For incoming freshmen scoring in the 95th to 97th national percentile on the HSPT: $2,000, or $500 per year for four years; no application required, but the HSPT must be taken at the school; a 3.5 GPA must be maintained |
| Academic Decathlon Scholarship | For Class of 2031 incoming freshmen who competed on their school's Academic Decathlon team in 2025-26: $4,000, or $1,000 per year for four years; requires an application form and a principal's verification of participation and GPA, due February 1, 2027; a 3.5 GPA must be maintained |
| Eagle Foundation Scholarship | Tuition and college scholarships funded by the school's foundation, awarded based on financial need, academics, leadership, service, and special talents; applications are accepted each year from December 6 to January 7, and families who have already submitted a FACTS tuition assistance application do not need to submit FACTS again |
Irvine families should note two points in particular. First, the school classifies students holding a U.S. green card as international students; their tuition is $41,000, they may not apply for tuition assistance, and they are billed under that status for all four years. Second, the school runs a bus service whose North route stops in Irvine at Irvine Blvd and Culver Drive, departing at 7:10 a.m., with a full-year round-trip pass at $3,500. However, bus registration for 2026-27 has closed and new families can only join the waitlist; the school also helps parents organize carpools through the GoKid platform.
The 2027-28 application dates published on the school website appear below, followed by the EDUBUS advisors’ commentary on applying to this school.
Application TimelinePublished on the school website
- Online applications, tuition assistance applications and Shadow Day sign-ups open at 9:00 a.m. (2027-28 school year, Class of 2031)Opens
- ASP learning support and IB information night
- Rally Day visit
- Open House, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
- Priority admission and first-round tuition assistance deadline; files must be completeDeadline
- Admission packets and tuition assistance decisions go to priority applicants
- Rolling admission begins and continues until the class is full
- HSPT, first sitting (Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.); applicants choose a sitting when they apply
- HSPT, second sitting (Wednesday afternoon)
- HSPT, third sitting (Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
- Academic Decathlon Scholarship application deadlineDeadline
UC Application Data by Year: Applicants, Admit Rates and GPA
The following data come from UC Infocenter, published by the University of California Office of the President by source high school, with the school type set to California private high school, and updated annually. They answer two questions: how many Santa Margarita Catholic High School students apply to and are admitted by UC each year, and what GPA admitted students hold. GPA is the UC weighted, capped GPA, counting only courses from grades 10 to 11. UC does not publish categories with fewer than 5 applicants or fewer than 3 admits or enrollees; these appear as “—” in the tables.
The ten lines are hard to tell apart where they overlap. Hover over any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; click to keep it highlighted, and click again to clear it.Tap any campus name below to highlight that campus’s trend; tap again to clear it.
Official UC data · By high school of origin · 2014–2025
Year-by-year data for the top six UC campuses
Parents focus most on six campuses: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine and Davis. The table lists, by year, the number of Santa Margarita Catholic High School applicants, admits and enrollees at each campus and the average GPA; use the buttons to switch metrics. Cells shown as “—” are data UC did not publish because the counts were too small.
From 2014 to 2025, the admit rate for Santa Margarita Catholic High School applicants to UC Los Angeles held steady (11% to 11%), and to UC Berkeley rose from 9% to 20%; the rate at UC Irvine held steady (31% to 31%).
This table has five data views. Use the buttons below to view admits, applicants, enrollees, admit GPA, and applicant GPA; the button for the current view is highlighted in yellow.
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 20 (20%) | 16 (11%) | 26 (19%) | 29 (20%) | 35 (31%) | 30 (36%) |
| 2024 | 25 (21%) | 22 (14%) | 48 (31%) | 43 (28%) | 53 (40%) | 40 (40%) |
| 2023 | 12 (11%) | 19 (12%) | 30 (21%) | 31 (23%) | 40 (37%) | 36 (46%) |
| 2022 | 21 (18%) | 20 (13%) | 23 (17%) | 25 (17%) | 48 (42%) | 38 (42%) |
| 2021 | 16 (16%) | 14 (9%) | 25 (19%) | 25 (16%) | 43 (43%) | 32 (43%) |
| 2020 | 23 (26%) | 18 (16%) | 35 (32%) | 33 (30%) | 28 (34%) | 30 (41%) |
| 2019 | 11 (12%) | 16 (11%) | 24 (21%) | 19 (15%) | 16 (18%) | 17 (31%) |
| 2018 | 15 (19%) | 26 (20%) | 29 (26%) | 32 (27%) | 26 (33%) | 32 (43%) |
| 2017 | 11 (14%) | 17 (13%) | 36 (38%) | 36 (32%) | 26 (33%) | 40 (60%) |
| 2016 | 17 (18%) | 22 (16%) | 37 (35%) | 43 (39%) | 43 (46%) | 33 (42%) |
| 2015 | 15 (22%) | 12 (12%) | 15 (22%) | 10 (13%) | 6 (10%) | 6 (15%) |
| 2014 | 8 (9%) | 14 (11%) | 25 (25%) | 31 (27%) | 21 (31%) | 22 (34%) |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 9% → 20% | ▼ 11% → 11% | ▼ 25% → 19% | ▼ 27% → 20% | ▲ 31% → 31% | ▲ 34% → 36% |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 98 | 148 | 138 | 143 | 113 | 83 |
| 2024 | 119 | 154 | 157 | 156 | 134 | 101 |
| 2023 | 108 | 153 | 145 | 133 | 109 | 79 |
| 2022 | 115 | 159 | 132 | 146 | 115 | 90 |
| 2021 | 103 | 153 | 131 | 152 | 100 | 75 |
| 2020 | 87 | 115 | 110 | 110 | 82 | 74 |
| 2019 | 94 | 140 | 114 | 123 | 91 | 55 |
| 2018 | 81 | 128 | 112 | 120 | 80 | 74 |
| 2017 | 79 | 130 | 94 | 111 | 80 | 67 |
| 2016 | 94 | 139 | 105 | 110 | 94 | 78 |
| 2015 | 68 | 102 | 69 | 75 | 60 | 39 |
| 2014 | 89 | 124 | 99 | 113 | 68 | 64 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 89 → 98 | ▲ 124 → 148 | ▲ 99 → 138 | ▲ 113 → 143 | ▲ 68 → 113 | ▲ 64 → 83 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 8 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2024 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 7 |
| 2022 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 6 |
| 2021 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 4 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 12 | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | — |
| 2018 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3 → 8 | ▲ 8 → 11 | ▼ 8 → 5 | 3 → 3 | ▼ 6 → 5 | ▼ 5 → 4 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 4.14 | 4.11 | 4.18 | 4.21 | 4.11 | 4.06 |
| 2024 | 4.16 | 4.22 | 4.19 | 4.20 | 4.14 | 4.14 |
| 2023 | 4.12 | 4.18 | 4.21 | 4.13 | 4.10 | 4.12 |
| 2022 | 4.21 | 4.19 | 4.20 | 4.22 | 4.16 | 4.17 |
| 2021 | 4.10 | 4.23 | 4.22 | 4.14 | 4.14 | 4.05 |
| 2020 | 4.10 | 4.22 | 4.16 | 4.07 | 3.90 | 4.06 |
| 2019 | 4.15 | 4.22 | 4.20 | 4.13 | 4.16 | 4.12 |
| 2018 | 4.19 | 4.15 | 4.13 | 4.15 | 4.03 | 4.05 |
| 2017 | 4.11 | 4.22 | 4.08 | 4.06 | 3.99 | 4.02 |
| 2016 | 4.14 | 4.18 | 4.11 | 4.02 | 4.05 | 4.01 |
| 2015 | 4.16 | 4.16 | 4.17 | 4.19 | 4.13 | 3.94 |
| 2014 | 3.92 | 3.99 | 4.03 | 3.91 | 3.92 | 4.00 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3.92 → 4.14 | ▲ 3.99 → 4.11 | ▲ 4.03 → 4.18 | ▲ 3.91 → 4.21 | ▲ 3.92 → 4.11 | ▲ 4.00 → 4.06 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 3.94 | 3.93 | 3.90 | 3.91 | 3.86 | 3.89 |
| 2024 | 4.00 | 3.95 | 3.93 | 3.91 | 3.90 | 3.92 |
| 2023 | 4.01 | 3.96 | 3.93 | 3.90 | 3.88 | 3.86 |
| 2022 | 4.09 | 4.03 | 3.97 | 3.97 | 3.97 | 3.96 |
| 2021 | 3.90 | 3.89 | 3.84 | 3.82 | 3.84 | 3.77 |
| 2020 | 3.93 | 3.94 | 3.83 | 3.83 | 3.81 | 3.83 |
| 2019 | 3.93 | 3.89 | 3.85 | 3.79 | 3.76 | 3.80 |
| 2018 | 4.01 | 3.95 | 3.87 | 3.84 | 3.81 | 3.79 |
| 2017 | 3.96 | 3.89 | 3.84 | 3.80 | 3.77 | 3.86 |
| 2016 | 3.88 | 3.82 | 3.81 | 3.78 | 3.77 | 3.76 |
| 2015 | 3.81 | 3.75 | 3.71 | 3.59 | 3.60 | 3.62 |
| 2014 | 3.82 | 3.77 | 3.73 | 3.66 | 3.60 | 3.64 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▲ 3.82 → 3.94 | ▲ 3.77 → 3.93 | ▲ 3.73 → 3.90 | ▲ 3.66 → 3.91 | ▲ 3.60 → 3.86 | ▲ 3.64 → 3.89 |
Applications and Admissions by Campus, Most Recent Year
| UC campus (fall 2025) | Applicants | Admits | Admit rate | Enrollees | Admit GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 98 | 20 | 20% | 8 | 4.14 |
| UC Los Angeles | 148 | 16 | 11% | 11 | 4.11 |
| UC San Diego | 138 | 26 | 19% | 5 | 4.18 |
| UC Davis | 83 | 30 | 36% | 4 | 4.06 |
| UC Irvine | 113 | 35 | 31% | 5 | 4.11 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 143 | 29 | 20% | 3 | 4.21 |
| UC Merced | 28 | 28 | 100% | — | 3.67 |
| UC Riverside | 57 | 52 | 91% | 3 | 3.78 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 64 | 40 | 63% | — | 4.01 |
College Destinations Published by the School
Everything in this section comes from the Class of 2026 acceptance and enrollment list and the college statistics page published by Santa Margarita Catholic High School. It differs from the official UC data above in three ways: it is compiled by the school itself; it covers the Class of 2026, whereas the latest year of official UC data covers applicants for fall 2025 entry; and it includes all colleges, not only UC. What makes this list unusual is that it gives both the number of acceptances and the number of enrollees for each institution.
ScopeAdmission and enrollment counts by institution for the Class of 2026 (473 graduates), from the school's published Class of 2026 acceptances and enrollments list; the admission count is the number of students admitted to that institution, and since one student may be admitted to several institutions, only the enrollment count reflects final destinations. Source: Class of 2026 Acceptances and Enrollments ↗
Class of 2026 school-reported statistics
- 473 graduates; 99% went on to college, enrolling at 157 institutions
- 5,136 applications submitted and 3,015 admission offers received, for an overall admit rate of 59% as calculated by the school
- 112 students were admitted to every institution to which they applied
- Location of institutions enrolled: 40% in California, 59% out of state, 1% abroad; 63% public, 37% private
- 81 students were recruited by colleges as athletes
Institutions with the most Class of 2026 enrollees (excluding UC campuses)
- Saddleback College (community college)34
- University of Utah24
- University of Southern California14
- Texas Christian University13
- University of Tennessee12
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo11
- University of San Diego11
Selected highly selective institutions, Class of 2026 (admitted / enrolled)
- Stanford University: 2 / 2
- Harvard University: 1 / 1
- Columbia University: 2 / 2
- Cornell University: 2 / 2
- Dartmouth College: 1 / 1
- Duke University: 2 / 1
- Johns Hopkins University: 2 / 1
- Vanderbilt University: 1 / 1
- University of Notre Dame: 7 / 5
- Georgetown University: 3 / 1
- University of Michigan: 11 / 4
- New York University: 14 / 6
- University of Southern California: 15 / 11
- Claremont McKenna College: 4 / 4
Two points stand out in this list. First, the gap between acceptances and enrollment is large: the University of Southern California accepted 15 students and 11 enrolled, while New York University accepted 14 and 6 enrolled, and the University of Michigan accepted 11 and 4 enrolled. Second, 59% of the school’s graduates left California; the University of Utah, Texas Christian University and the University of Tennessee all rank near the top in enrollment, a pattern very different from the UC-centered destinations of Irvine public high schools. These are school-reported counts and cannot be used to estimate any university’s admit rate. For UC applications, admissions and enrollment, the official UC data above are the reference; twelve years of campus-level data appear on the UC admissions page.
GPA Weighting: School Method and UC Method
This section addresses the question parents most often get wrong: how the school and UC each weight the same transcript. The school’s rules come first.
| School grading and weighting | The school uses a 4.0 scale: A is 90-100, B is 80-89, C is 70-79, D is 60-69, and 59 or below is F; plus and minus marks do not affect the GPA. Honors, AP, and IB courses earn one additional grade point for grades of C or higher. The GPA is calculated on a maximum of 280 credits, and all academic courses appear on the transcript |
|---|---|
| Weighted courses | All AP courses (24 offered by the school); All IB courses (including IB Business Management HL1, which UC does not mark as honors); All school honors courses (course titles containing Honors or H) |
| Courses not counted in GPA | Eighth-period courses such as AP Music Theory, IB Music HL1 and HL2, IB Music Group Performance SL, IB Dance HL1, and Dance Production Honors are not counted in the GPA, according to the school's Course Description Book |
| Class rank | The school does not rank students (School Profile: "SMCHS is a non-ranking school") |
| Honor roll and graduation | First Honors: weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher; Second Honors: weighted GPA of 3.5 to 3.99; minimum GPA for graduation is 2.0. Remediation is recommended for a D and required for an F |
| UC weighting rules | UC counts only A-G courses taken from the summer after grade 9 through the summer after grade 11, with A worth 4, B worth 3, and C worth 2. Honors points are awarded only for UC-approved honors courses: AP, IB HL and designated IB SL courses, and UC-certified honors courses; up to 1 point per course per semester, with a maximum of 8 points across grades 10-11, of which no more than 4 may come from grade 10; no points are awarded for D or F grades |
| UC-approved honors courses at the school | On the UC 2026-27 A-G list, the school has 108 UC-approved honors courses: 25 AP, 53 IB, and 30 UC-certified honors courses (including online versions) |
Checked course by course against the official UC A-G list, the following courses are weighted as honors at Santa Margarita Catholic High School but are not on the UC-approved honors list, so they count as regular courses for UC admission.
| School honors course | Subject and notes |
|---|---|
| World History MUN (H) | Grade 10 social studies; second year of the MUN sequence |
| Algebra 2 Honors | Mathematics, grades 9-10 |
| Geometry Honors | Mathematics, grades 10-11 |
| Biology The Living Earth H | Grade 9 science |
| English 1 Honors | Grade 9 English |
| Algebra 1 Honors | Grade 9 mathematics |
| Cultural Geography Honors MUN | Grade 9 social studies |
| United States Government MUN (H), Economics Honors MUN | Grade 12 social studies, one semester each |
| Spanish 1 Honors, Spanish 2 Honors | World languages |
| French 1 Honors, French 2 Honors, French 5 Honors | World languages |
| Mandarin Chinese 1 Honors, Mandarin Chinese 2 Honors | World languages; Mandarin Chinese 3 Honors is a UC-approved honors course |
| Latin 1-3 Honors, Ancient Greek 1-3 Honors | World languages; these two languages are offered only at the honors level |
| Wind Ensemble Honors, String Orchestra H, Chamber Singers Honors, Advanced Women's Chorus Honors, Steel Drum/Percussion Ensemble Honors | Performing arts |
| Modern and Contemporary Art Honors | Visual arts |
| Business and Management IB HL1 | IB course; not marked as honors on the UC list, although HL2 is |
| Advanced Debate and Argumentation H | English elective; UC approval is pending and the course is not yet on the list |
The practical effect of this list on UC applications falls in grades 10 to 11. UC does not count 9th-grade grades, so English 1 Honors, Algebra 1 Honors, Biology The Living Earth H and Cultural Geography Honors MUN do not affect the UC GPA. The courses that require attention are World History MUN (H) and Algebra 2 Honors in 10th grade and Geometry Honors in grades 10 to 11: they raise the school GPA but add nothing to the UC GPA. UC-approved honors courses in 10th grade are limited, mainly English 2 H, Chemistry Earth Systems H, Precalculus Honors, Spanish 3 Honors, French 3 Honors and Mandarin Chinese 3 Honors, plus AP World History, AP European History and AP Art History. EDUBUS recommends that 10th graders schedule two full-year courses from this group to use all 4 honors points UC allows; in 11th grade, AP and IB courses open fully and the choice of UC-approved honors courses widens.
Four-Year Timeline
Grade 8: Application
- September 1Online application, tuition assistance application, and Shadow Day registration open
- September to NovemberTuition assistance information sessions (9/15, 11/9), ASP and IB information session (9/23), Rally Day (10/8), Open House (10/19)
- November 15Priority admission and first-round tuition assistance deadline; international student status is determined by whether citizenship is obtained before this date
- December 1Priority applicants receive admission packets and assistance notifications; rolling admission begins December 2
- JanuaryHSPT review courses (1/9, 1/10, 1/17, 1/23, 1/24); choose one of three HSPT dates: 1/16, 1/20, 1/30
- February to MarchAcademic Decathlon Scholarship deadline February 1; new student welcome event February 23; Freshman Scheduling Night in March
Grade 9
- Throughout the yearTheology 1 and the Caritas Christi service project; Health Seminar; AP and IB courses are not open
- SpringTo move up to honors in grade 10, students need 92% or higher in both semesters of the subject, plus a passing score on the May placement or writing exam in math and English
- Spring course selectionAP World History and AP European History require 92% or higher in both semesters of English 1, or 88% or higher in both semesters of English 1 Honors
Grade 10
- Throughout the yearThe UC GPA begins with the summer after grade 9; UC counts at most 4 honors points from this year; AP World History, AP European History, AP Art History, and AP Music Theory are open
- Fall to springAttend an IB information session and decide whether to pursue the full IB Diploma, individual IB courses, or AP in grade 11; the second level of a world language and Geometry must be completed before grade 11
- SpringSelect grade 11 courses: AP United States History requires 92% or higher in both semesters of World History, or 82% or higher in both semesters of an AP history course
- SummerHours for the Lumen Christi service project begin to count; 40 hours of direct service are required across grades 11-12
Grade 11
- August to SeptemberIB Diploma courses begin; eligible students apply to NHS in September (cumulative academic GPA of 3.5 or higher)
- FallGrade 11 PSAT scores determine National Merit eligibility
- December to springA dedicated college counselor is assigned, and students begin building a college list
- SpringTake exams for AP courses enrolled; IB students prepare the Extended Essay
Grade 12
- OctoberOn-campus college fair (October 1) and on-campus SAT (October 14)
- FallUC and CSU applications are submitted in the fall; full IB Diploma students take Theory of Knowledge and complete the Extended Essay
- AprilLumen Christi service hours deadline
- SpringTake AP and IB exams
Three milestones determine the direction. The first is the HSPT in January of 8th grade, which determines the level of 9th-grade English, mathematics, science and world language placement, as well as eligibility for the HSPT scholarship. The second is spring of 9th grade: to take AP World History or AP European History in 10th grade, a student needs 92% in both semesters of English 1, or 88% in both semesters of English 1 Honors; moving from regular courses to honors is also decided at this time based on grades and the May placement exam. The third is 10th grade: students decide whether to pursue the full IB Diploma, take individual IB courses or follow the AP track, and must complete level two of a world language and Geometry before 11th grade, which are prerequisites for the IB Diploma. Eleventh grade is the last year counted in the UC GPA and the year with the heaviest concentration of IB and AP courses.
Clubs and Academic Competitions
The Santa Margarita Catholic High School clubs page lists 74 student clubs for 2025-26: 22 academic, 23 service and 29 social. Clubs and honor societies related to academic and professional interests include:
- Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society; the club description states that members compete in math competitions such as the AMC and AIME)
- F = ma Club (physics club preparing for the F = ma physics competition and Physics Bowl)
- SMCHS Science Club
- AI Club
- Game Development Club
- Research and Data Analysis Club
- Girls in STEAM
- SM Pre-Med Club
- DECA (business and marketing competition club)
- SM Economics Club
- Eagle Investors (investment club)
- SM Shark Tank (entrepreneurship pitch club)
- Legal Eagles (pre-law club)
- Speech and Debate Club
- English Club
- National Spanish Honor Society
- National Art Honor Society
- NHS (National Honor Society; students in grades 11-12 apply with a cumulative academic GPA of 3.5 or higher)
- CSF (California Scholarship Federation)
The school also has several coached academic teams that compete outside the school:
- Robotics: two teams, FRC 5805 and FRC 3020, compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition
- Model United Nations: connected to the four-year honors social studies MUN courses
- Speech & Debate: students in the debate course must compete in at least one off-campus tournament each semester, and there is also a competitive team
- Mock Trial: coached by practicing attorneys; an information meeting in August forms the team, which practices weekly and begins competition in November at the Orange County Superior Court building
Note that mathematics and physics competitions at this school are organized by student clubs. The Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society lists participation in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) and the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), and the F = ma Physics Club prepares for F = ma, the first round of the U.S. Physics Olympiad, and Physics Bowl. The school has no teams or courses for these competitions. Students who want competition results to demonstrate strength in math and science need systematic training outside the school.
Signature Programs
- IB Diploma Programme: Offered since 1997 as a two-year program in grades 11-12. In 2026, 85% of the 17 full Diploma candidates earned the Diploma, with an average score of 30 (out of 45); the Classes of 2026 and 2027 also included 276 Course Candidates. IB Philosophy HL may replace Theology 3 and Theology 4
- Model United Nations (MUN) four-year sequence: The MUN program began in 1991, and its courses are built into the honors social studies sequence: Cultural Geography Honors MUN in grade 9, World History MUN (H) in grade 10, United States History MUN (H) in grade 11, and United States Government MUN (H) and Economics Honors MUN or IB Global Politics SL in grade 12. The school states that since 2000 its delegations have won a combined 11,539 individual awards and 123 delegation awards. MUN students pay $500 per year for local conferences, with out-of-area conferences billed separately and by invitation only; the courses also require attendance at designated conferences and participation in fundraising
- Robotics teams SMbly Required (FRC 5805) and SMbld (FRC 3020): The teams compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Results published by the school include qualifying for the World Championship in 2016, 2018, and 2019, winning the Ventura Regional in 2025, and placing third at the Orange County Regional in 2026. The school also offers Introduction to Engineering and Robotics
- Auxiliary Studies Program (ASP): Established in 1995 for students with diagnosed learning differences, with separate tuition of $3,800 per year. The program provides on-campus psychoeducational evaluation, slower-paced math, science, and Spanish courses, an academic support class, and accommodations such as extended testing time, with six full-time ASP teachers and a dedicated counselor. Students must apply and be admitted separately
- Caritas Scholars Program: Serves students ages 14 to 18 with developmental and intellectual disabilities, integrating them into general education classrooms as much as possible; graduates receive a certificate of completion rather than a high school diploma
- Eagle Online Academy: A fully asynchronous online high school for grades 9-12, with courses developed and taught by school faculty; students earn the school's diploma, take final exams on campus, and may participate in school athletics, arts, and religious activities. The 2026-2027 School Profile lists more than 80 UC-approved courses
- Arts and media: The 2026-2027 School Profile lists 60 performing and visual arts courses, plus 44 courses in the after-school Talon Academy of Performing Arts (TAPA); students produce the daily news program Eagle Television and the student newspaper Eagle Eye
- Microsoft Showcase School: The school describes itself as one of 40 Microsoft Showcase Schools in the United States, with accompanying AI and media literacy courses and a school AI use policy
School Selection: Total Tuition, Commute and Campus Visits
This section answers five questions parents often ask when choosing a school: which families the school suits, the total tuition through graduation, how students get to school from Irvine, what to ask during a visit, and which nearby schools to compare.
Which Families the School Suits
Total Tuition Through Graduation
Tuition for 2026-27 is $23,600 per year. Catholic families registered at a local parish of the Diocese of Orange receive a $1,600 reduction, for $22,000 per year. At current prices, 4 years of grades 9 to 12 total $88,000 to $94,400 in tuition. Additional annual fees are the $700 registration fee and the $875 technology fee, plus a $475 senior fee in 12th grade; students in AP courses must take the exams, at $110 per exam. Students enrolled as international students pay $41,000 per year, $164,000 over 4 years, with no tuition assistance or discounts. Tuition assistance, sibling discounts and freshman scholarships are covered in the “How to Apply” section of this page.
Commuting from Irvine
Santa Margarita Catholic High School is on Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita, southeast of Irvine. The table below gives straight-line distances to the school from several Irvine neighborhoods where many Chinese families live, measured by EDUBUS from each neighborhood’s center point to the school address; actual driving time depends on navigation.
| Starting neighborhood | Straight-line distance to the school |
|---|---|
| Portola Springs | About 8.7 miles |
| Woodbury | About 10.1 miles |
| Northwood | About 11.6 miles |
| Turtle Rock | About 13.4 miles |
The school runs its own bus service; the North route stops in Irvine at Irvine Blvd and Culver Drive and departs at 7:10 a.m. in 2026-27. A full-year round-trip pass costs $3,500 and a one-way pass $2,500; monthly passes cost $550 round trip and $400 one way. Bus registration for 2026-27 has closed and new families can only join the waitlist; the school also partners with GoKid to help parents organize carpools. EDUBUS recommends driving the route once at the morning arrival time on the day of the school visit.
Questions to Confirm During a Visit
The following questions have no clear answer on the school’s public pages and are best confirmed in person during a visit or meeting.
- Which materials the 9th-grade application requires and whether there is an interview: the public website does not list them; they are visible only in the application system.
- The waitlist position for the bus and the availability of monthly passes.
- Summer courses and the rules for taking mathematics ahead: the website does not publish them.
- Whether the 12th-grade theology course Theology 4: Introduction to Philosophical Foundations of Theology is the same course as Introduction to Philosophical Foundations on the UC list.
- The share of students receiving tuition assistance: the assistance page states about one quarter, while the 2026-2027 School Profile states 40% (including scholarships).
Comparable Schools
The private schools in south Orange County closest to Santa Margarita Catholic High School are listed below; they differ mainly in religious affiliation, entrance exams and whether they offer IB.
- JSerra Catholic High School: in San Juan Capistrano; a Catholic school enrolling grades 9 to 12, with the HSPT as its entrance exam.
- Crean Lutheran High School: in Irvine; a Lutheran school enrolling grades 9 to 12, with no written entrance exam.
- Mater Dei High School: in Santa Ana; a Catholic school enrolling grades 9 to 12, with the HSPT as its entrance exam.
- Heritage Christian School (Junior High / High School Campus): in Lake Forest; a Christian school enrolling grades 7 to 12, with an in-house assessment for admission.
- Ronald Reagan Secondary School: in Laguna Hills; enrolls grades 7 to 12, with no religious affiliation and no entrance exam requirement.
For each school’s tuition, application calendar and courses, select the school name to view its page.
Schools to CompareNearby private high schools, nearest first
Crean Lutheran High School
JSerra Catholic High School
Pacific Academy (Irvine Campus)
Sage Hill School
The Geneva School
Heritage Christian School (Junior High / High School Campus)Using the School’s College Counseling
This section describes what the school counseling team provides and when to use each service.
| Counseling team | The 2026-2027 School Profile lists 17 school counselors, college counselors, and mental health counselors: 7 school counselors responsible for four-year academic and personal development and 4 mental health counselors; the college counseling team includes a director of college counseling, a director of college relations, 3 associate directors of college counseling, an associate director of college relations for recruited athletes, and a college planning advisor and registrar |
|---|---|
| Counselor assignment | Students are assigned a school counselor upon enrollment; in grade 11 they are assigned a dedicated college counselor (the School Profile says December of grade 11, while the college counseling page says the second semester of grade 11), after which both counselors work with the student |
| College platform and events | The school's class pages advise students to add target colleges to their Scoir accounts; the school holds an annual college fair (October 1, 2026) and organizes on-campus SAT administrations and online practice tests |
| College counseling services | College counseling includes individualized guidance on college selection and applications, standardized testing advice, scholarships and financial aid, essay guidance, and grade-level presentations and workshops; through a partnership with Prompt.com, students receive a discount on paid essay coaching |
| Student athletes | The school has a dedicated college athletics advisor who provides recruiting support for students hoping to play on college teams |
Scoir is a college planning platform on which students build college lists and manage application materials. The school’s public pages do not describe the recommendation letter request process or how transcripts are sent; confirm these in person after a college counselor is assigned in 11th grade. The grade levels and prerequisites for each course appear in Courses and Course Selection, the mathematics sequence in Math Pathway, and the choice between AP and IB in AP, IB and Course Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What entrance exam do Irvine families need for Santa Margarita Catholic High School?
Incoming 9th graders take the HSPT (High School Placement Test), the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools. Registration is completed with the online application, where families select one test date. For 2027-28 entry, the three test dates are January 16, 2027 (Saturday morning), January 20 (Wednesday afternoon) and January 30 (Saturday morning); calculators are not permitted. Besides admission, HSPT scores determine 9th-grade placement in English, mathematics, science and world languages, and a national percentile of 95 or above qualifies for a scholarship of $2,000 to $4,000. In January the school also offers 5 one-day review sessions at $95 each.
How does school bus service work for Irvine students attending Santa Margarita Catholic High School?
Santa Margarita Catholic High School runs its own bus service, and the North route has a stop in Irvine at Irvine Blvd and Culver Drive. In 2026-27 the bus departs at 7:10 a.m. and returns to the stop at about 3:20 p.m. A full-year round-trip pass costs $3,500 and a one-way pass $2,500; monthly passes cost $550 round trip and $400 one way. The school notes that bus registration for 2026-27 has closed and new families can only join the waitlist. The school also partners with GoKid to help parents organize carpools.
How much does a year at Santa Margarita Catholic High School cost for an Irvine family?
Tuition for 2026-27 is $23,600. Catholic families registered at a local parish of the Diocese of Orange receive a $1,600 reduction, for $22,000. Additional fees include a $700 registration fee, an $875 technology fee, a $475 senior fee in 12th grade, a $525 program fee for full IB Diploma candidates and $110 per AP exam. The second child receives a $500 reduction, and paying in full by May 31 saves another $750. The school states that about one quarter of students receive need-based tuition assistance averaging $7,500; the first-round deadline for 2027-28 is November 15, 2026.
Does an Irvine family with a green card apply to Santa Margarita Catholic High School as a local or an international student?
As an international student. Santa Margarita Catholic High School classifies students holding a U.S. green card, students on non-U.S. visas and U.S. citizens who were not enrolled in U.S. schools for the previous two consecutive school years as international students. International tuition for 2026-27 is $41,000, with a $350 application fee and a $1,500 registration fee; international students are not eligible for tuition assistance or any discount and are billed as international students for all four years. The school states that families seeking local-student status for fall 2027 entry must obtain U.S. citizenship by November 15, 2026.
Irvine families often ask: are all honors courses at Santa Margarita Catholic High School weighted for UC admission?
No. Santa Margarita Catholic High School adds 1 grade point to every honors, AP and IB course graded C or higher. UC adds weight only to courses designated as honors on the A-G list; for 2026-27 the school has 108 such courses, including 25 AP, 53 IB and 30 UC-certified honors courses. Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry Honors, World History MUN (H), Biology The Living Earth H, English 1 Honors and the lower-level Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese honors courses are weighted by the school but count as regular courses in the UC GPA.
Irvine families want to know: where do Santa Margarita Catholic High School graduates go to college?
According to the Class of 2026 acceptance and enrollment list published by the school, 99% of the 473 graduates went on to college, enrolling at 157 institutions. The four-year universities with the most enrollees were the University of Utah (24), the University of Southern California (14) and Texas Christian University (13). Students also enrolled at Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University and Cornell University. These are school-reported Class of 2026 counts. UC applications and admissions should be read from the official University of California data by source high school; the latest year is fall 2025, when 186 Santa Margarita Catholic High School students applied to the University of California and 125 were admitted to at least one campus, including 20 at the Berkeley campus and 16 at the Los Angeles campus.
Irvine families ask: what GPA does a Santa Margarita Catholic High School student need for UC?
According to official data from the University of California Office of the President by source high school, the average weighted GPA of admitted Santa Margarita Catholic High School students in fall 2025 was 4.21 at Santa Barbara, 4.18 at San Diego, 4.14 at Berkeley, 4.11 at Los Angeles, 4.11 at Irvine and 4.06 at Davis. This is the UC weighted, capped GPA for grades 10 to 11, which adds weight only for UC-approved honors courses and is not calculated the same way as the weighted GPA published by the school. Year-by-year data appear in the UC data section of this page.
Can non-Catholic Irvine families apply to Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and how are religion classes handled?
The school website does not state that admission is limited to Catholic families, but theology is a graduation requirement for all students in all four years, totaling 40 credits, and each grade level has a service project completed through the theology course; students in grades 11 to 12 must complete 40 hours of direct service. Ninth graders with no previous religion classes may take the slower-paced Theology 101. The $1,600 Catholic reduction applies only to families registered at a local parish of the Diocese of Orange. Full IB Diploma candidates may substitute Philosophy IB HL for theology in 11th and 12th grade.
