AP (Advanced Placement) is the College Board’s college-level course program; each course leads to a national exam in May scored on a 5-point scale. The St. Margaret’s Episcopal School website lists 26 AP courses; the UC 2026-27 A-G list includes 27 AP courses at the school, all UC-approved honors courses that are weighted for UC admission and earn one extra grade point at the school. This page lists grade levels and prerequisites course by course, explains the exam results the school publishes and the common AP courses it does not offer, and suggests course combinations by intended major.
The At a Glance page lists 26 Advanced Placement courses. The AP list in the School Profile names 27 courses, but AP 2-D Design and AP 2-D Design: Photography lead to the same AP 2-D Art and Design exam. The UC 2026-27 A-G list includes 27 AP courses, adding AP Human Geography; that course appears on the 2026-27 course pages but not in the School Profile or the History Department overview updated in February 2026.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School: Grade Levels and Prerequisites for Each AP Course
The table below for St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is compiled course by course from the school’s 2026-27 course pages. Nearly every AP course requires department approval, and the course pages do not give specific letter-grade thresholds, so the table lists only prerequisite courses and grade levels.
| AP course | Grade levels and prerequisites |
|---|---|
| AP United States History | Grade 10; World History and History Department approval; meets the grade 10 history requirement |
| AP Macroeconomics | Grades 10-12; History Department approval, priority to grade 12 |
| AP Computer Science Principles | Grades 10-12; application and Computer Science Department approval |
| AP Computer Science A | Grades 10-12; a 4 or 5 on the AP Computer Science Principles exam, or an introductory computer science course and a placement exam, with approval in either case |
| AP Music Theory | Grades 10-12; two yearlong ensemble classes (band, choir or orchestra) and Arts Department approval |
| AP Precalculus | Depends on math progress; Algebra II Honors and Mathematics Department approval |
| AP Calculus AB | Depends on math progress; Precalculus or Precalculus Honors and Mathematics Department approval |
| AP Calculus BC | Depends on math progress; Precalculus BC Honors or AP Calculus AB and Mathematics Department approval |
| AP Statistics | Grades 11-12; Algebra II or higher and Mathematics Department approval |
| AP Biology | Grades 11-12; Chemistry or Chemistry Honors and Science Department approval |
| AP Chemistry | Grades 11-12; Chemistry Honors, with concurrent Precalculus AB or Precalculus BC Honors |
| AP Environmental Science | Grades 11-12; Chemistry, completion of or enrollment in Biology, and Science Department approval |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Grades 11-12; concurrent AP Calculus AB and Science Department approval |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism | Grades 11-12; Precalculus BC Honors or AP Calculus AB, with concurrent AP Calculus BC |
| AP World History | Grades 11-12; History Department approval |
| AP European History | Grades 11-12; World History and History Department approval, priority to grade 12 |
| AP US Government and Politics | Grades 11-12; offered in some years only, priority to grade 12 |
| AP Human Geography | Grades 11-12; History Department approval; whether it runs depends on the current year's course list |
| AP Psychology | Grade 12 only; History Department approval |
| AP English Literature and Composition | Grade 12; English III or English III Honors and English Department approval |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | Chinese IV Honors and World Languages Department approval |
| AP Latin | Advanced Latin Literature and department recommendation; the course page notes it is not offered every year |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | Spanish III Honors or Spanish IV Honors, teacher recommendation and department approval |
| AP Art History | Grades 11-12; a yearlong introductory arts course, with department review of history grades and a writing sample |
| AP 2-D Art and Design (including Photography and Ceramics options) | Grades 11-12; the Studio Art sequence or Advanced Photography, a portfolio presentation and instructor approval |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | Grades 11-12; Advanced Clay Handbuilding, a portfolio presentation and instructor approval |
| AP Drawing | Grades 11-12; Intermediate or Advanced Studio Art, a portfolio presentation and instructor approval |
Most AP courses begin in grade 11: AP United States History is the grade 10 history course; AP Macroeconomics, AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A are open from grade 10; AP Psychology and AP English Literature are for grade 12 only; AP European History, AP Macroeconomics and AP US Government give priority to grade 12; and AP US Government runs only in years when it is offered. Students enrolled in an AP course are required to sit for the AP exam, and any student may elect to take an AP exam without taking the course. The school reports scores for all students who sit for an AP exam.
AP Exam Results Published by St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
The School Profile states that 101 students in the Class of 2027 took 523 AP exams, that 82% of students scored 4 or 5, and that 93% scored 3 or above. The school words these figures in terms of students and does not say whether the percentages are calculated per student or per exam. The share of scores of 3 or higher used on this site’s public high school pages is calculated per exam, so this school’s percentages cannot be compared directly on the same basis. Based on the two figures the school publishes, each Class of 2027 student who tested took an average of about 5 exams, a figure that runs only through grade 11.
The school’s other published academic results are standardized test scores: according to the School Profile, the middle 50% SAT range for the Classes of 2024 through 2026, through June 2026, was 1290 to 1520, and the ACT range was 31 to 34. The school does not publish National Merit counts or AP results by subject. To gauge how well a particular AP course is taught at the school, ask the teacher or college counselor about past score distributions.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School: Post-AP Courses
Post-AP courses listed in the School Profile: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Advanced Chinese Studies, Advanced Study: Spanish Culture and Conversation, Informatics: Artificial Intelligence Systems, Introduction to Software Engineering, Software Engineering, and Advanced Study in 2D and 3D Design. Post-AP courses carry the same one-point weight as AP at the school. On the UC 2026-27 A-G list, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Advanced Chinese Studies, Advanced Study: Spanish Culture and Conversation, Artificial Intelligence Systems, Introduction to Software Engineering, Software Engineering and Solving STEM Problems with Computer Science are all UC-approved honors courses; Advanced Study in 2D and 3D Design is not on the list.
AP Courses St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Does Not Offer
The following AP courses are common in UC applications but are not offered at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in 2026-27.
- AP English Language and Composition: the only grade 12 AP English course is AP English Literature
- AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2: the school offers only the calculus-based AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Microeconomics: the school offers only AP Macroeconomics
- AP Comparative Government
- AP French, AP German and similar courses: the school's world languages are Chinese, Latin and Spanish only
- AP Seminar and AP Research
- AP African American Studies: the school offers African American History as an honors course instead
The largest gaps are AP Physics 1 and 2 and AP English Language. In physics, the school skips algebra-based AP Physics and goes directly to calculus-based AP Physics C, so students whose math progress has not reached AP Calculus have no AP physics option at school. In English, the only grade 12 AP course is AP English Literature, and the advanced option in grade 11 is English III Honors. In economics, the school offers only AP Macroeconomics, so students aiming at economics or business may consider studying AP Microeconomics outside school.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School: AP Course List
The table below for St. Margaret’s Episcopal School matches the UC 2026-27 A-G list against the school’s course pages course by course; the notes column shows the school’s course title and the transcript title on the UC list.
English
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP English Literature and Composition | AP | 12 | Completion of English III or English III Honors and English Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; The school's only AP English course; AP English Language and Composition is not offered; transcript title on the UC list: AP English Literature | b |
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Precalculus | AP | 10-12 | Completion of Algebra II Honors and Mathematics Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; The course page describes it as preparation for AP Calculus BC; transcript title on the UC list: AP Precalculus, AP Pre-Calculus | c |
| AP Calculus AB | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Precalculus or Precalculus Honors and Mathematics Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; All students take the AP Calculus AB exam at the end of the year; transcript title on the UC list: AP Calc AB | c |
| AP Calculus BC | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Precalculus BC Honors or AP Calculus AB and Mathematics Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Calc BC | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra II, Algebra II Honors, Precalculus or Precalculus AB and Mathematics Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Statistics | c |
Laboratory Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Chemistry or Chemistry Honors and Science Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Bio | d |
| AP Chemistry | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Chemistry Honors and Science Department approval; concurrent enrollment in Precalculus AB or Precalculus BC HonorsUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Chem | d |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Chemistry or Chemistry Honors; completion of or enrollment in Biology or AP Biology; Science Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Env Sci | d |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP | 11-12 | Concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus AB and Science Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; Students take only the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam; transcript title on the UC list: AP Physics C: Mechanics | d |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Precalculus BC Honors or AP Calculus AB; concurrent enrollment in AP Calculus BC and Science Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; School course title: AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism; covers both parts in one year and leads to two AP exams; transcript title on the UC list: AP Physics C: MEM | d |
History and Social Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP United States History | AP | 10 | Completion of World History and History Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; Meets the grade 10 history requirement; transcript title on the UC list: AP United States History | a |
| AP World History | AP | 11-12 | History Department approval requiredUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP World History | a |
| AP European History | AP | 11-12 | Completion of World History or equivalent and History Department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; The department overview gives priority to grade 12; transcript title on the UC list: AP European History | a |
| AP Human Geography | AP | 11-12 | Department approval requiredUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; Listed on the 2026-27 course pages but not in the School Profile or the February 2026 department overview; confirm whether it runs in a given year; transcript title on the UC list: AP Human Geography | a |
| AP Government and Politics United States | AP | 11-12 | Department approval requiredUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; School course title: AP US Government and Politics; offered in some years only, with priority to grade 12; transcript title on the UC list: AP US Government and Politics | a |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP | 10-12 | Department approval requiredUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; UC places it in category g; the department overview gives priority to grade 12; transcript title on the UC list: AP Macro | g |
| AP Psychology | AP | 12 | Department approval requiredUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; Grade 12 only; UC places it in category g; transcript title on the UC list: AP Psychology | g |
World Languages
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | AP | — | Completion of Chinese IV Honors and department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Chinese | e |
| AP Latin | AP | — | Completion of Advanced Latin Literature and department recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; The course page marks it as not offered every year; transcript title on the UC list: AP Latin | e |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP | — | Completion of Spanish III Honors or Spanish IV Honors, teacher recommendation and department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Spanish | e |
Computer Science
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | AP | 10-12 | Application and department approval; students new to computer science may need a math or science teacher recommendationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; UC places it in category d; transcript title on the UC list: AP Comp Sci Principles | d |
| AP Computer Science A | AP | 10-12 | A 4 or 5 on the AP Computer Science Principles exam and department approval, or an introductory computer science course, a placement exam and department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; UC places it in category c; transcript title on the UC list: AP Comp Sci A | c |
Visual Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 2D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Studio Art, Intermediate and Advanced Studio Art and instructor approval; the photography option requires Intermediate or Advanced Studio Art or Advanced Photography plus a portfolio presentationUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; The school also runs Photography and Ceramics options of this course; transcript title on the UC list: AP Art 2D, AP Studio Art 2-D Design | f |
| AP 3D Art and Design | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Advanced Clay Handbuilding, a portfolio presentation and instructor approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: 3 D Design, AP Art 3D, AP Studio Art: 3-D Design | f |
| AP Drawing | AP | 11-12 | Completion of Intermediate or Advanced Studio Art, a portfolio presentation and instructor approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Drawing | f |
| AP Art History | AP | 11-12 | Completion of a yearlong introductory visual or performing arts course; department review of prior history grades and a writing sampleUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Art History | f |
Performing Arts
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Music Theory | AP | 10-12 | Two yearlong ensemble classes (band, choir or orchestra) and department approvalUC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; weighted +1 at the school; transcript title on the UC list: AP Music Theory | f |
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School: Course Combinations by Intended Major
These combinations use only courses listed on St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s 2026-27 course pages and follow each course’s prerequisites. The school does not publish an annual limit on honors and AP courses; the combinations below keep weighted courses to three or four per year.
AP at St. Margaret's Episcopal School: Frequently Asked Questions
Irvine families often ask: how many AP courses does St. Margaret's Episcopal School offer?
The At a Glance page lists 26 AP courses. The AP list in the School Profile names 27 courses, but AP 2-D Design and AP 2-D Design: Photography lead to the same exam. The UC 2026-27 A-G list includes 27 AP courses at the school, adding AP Human Geography; that course appears on the 2026-27 course pages but not in the School Profile or the History Department overview updated in February 2026. The school also offers several Post-AP courses, which carry the same one-point weight as AP at the school.
Irvine families want to know: how do St. Margaret's Episcopal School students do on AP exams?
The School Profile states that 101 students in the Class of 2027 took 523 AP exams, that 82% scored 4 or 5, and that 93% scored 3 or above. The school phrases these figures in terms of students and does not say whether the percentages are per student or per exam, so they cannot be compared directly with public high school pass rates calculated per exam. The school states that it reports scores for all students who sit for an AP exam.
Can students take AP courses in grade 9 at St. Margaret's Episcopal School?
According to the 2026-27 course pages, there are no AP courses in grade 9. The earliest is grade 10: AP United States History is the grade 10 history course, and AP Macroeconomics, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A and AP Music Theory are also open to grade 10. Math AP courses depend on progress, and grade 10 students who have completed Algebra II Honors can take AP Precalculus. Most science, history and art AP courses begin in grade 11, and AP Psychology and AP English Literature are for grade 12 only.
Irvine families should note: which AP courses does St. Margaret's Episcopal School not offer?
Based on the UC 2026-27 A-G list and the school's course pages, St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not offer AP English Language and Composition, AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, AP Microeconomics, AP Comparative Government, or AP Seminar and AP Research, and it has no AP world language courses other than Chinese, Latin and Spanish. In physics, the school offers only the calculus-based AP Physics C, which requires concurrent AP Calculus.
Must students take the AP exam for AP courses at St. Margaret's Episcopal School? How do Irvine students get into AP courses?
Yes. The School Profile states that students enrolled in an AP course are required to sit for the AP exam, and that students may take an AP exam without taking the course. Nearly every AP course requires department approval; the Academic Departments page states that department chairs make acceleration decisions, and the course pages do not give specific letter-grade thresholds. AP Chemistry requires Chemistry Honors, AP Chinese requires Chinese IV Honors, and AP Physics C requires concurrent AP Calculus.
How does AP Physics C work at St. Margaret's Episcopal School, and what should Irvine students interested in engineering watch for?
The school has two AP Physics C courses. AP Physics C: Mechanics requires concurrent AP Calculus AB, and students take only the mechanics exam; AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism covers both parts in one year and leads to two AP exams, requiring Precalculus BC Honors or AP Calculus AB and concurrent AP Calculus BC. The school does not offer AP Physics 1 or AP Physics 2, so students interested in engineering or physics need math progress that reaches AP Calculus by grade 11.
