Whittier Christian High School is a nondenominational Christian private high school in La Habra, at the northern edge of Orange County next to the Los Angeles County line. The school opened in 1958 at College Avenue Church of the Nazarene with a first class of only 44 students in grades 9 and 10, then moved through campuses in East Whittier and Maybrook before settling in La Habra. According to the 2025-26 School Profile, the school enrolls 385 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. The school stands out for its small size and clearly defined tracks: students choose among three diplomas, the honors sequence is tied to dual enrollment courses, and the University of California (UC) A-G course list has not been updated to match the school’s schedule for several years. This page does not rate the school. It answers two questions: how to gain admission, and how to plan the four years after enrollment.
UC A-G refers to the 7 subject categories (a through g) that the University of California and California State University require high school students to complete, and UC recognizes only courses on a school’s A-G course list. AP (Advanced Placement) courses are college-level courses from the College Board; honors courses are advanced courses designed by the school itself. Dual enrollment courses are college courses that high school students take at their own school while earning college credit.
How Whittier Christian High School Students Move On to College
The school’s published data point to four characteristics.
First, the school is small and students are sorted by diploma. In the 2025-26 school year the school enrolled 385 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. Students choose among three paths: the High School Diploma, the College Prep Diploma and the Alpha Honors Diploma. The College Prep Diploma requires a cumulative academic GPA of 2.5, and the Alpha Honors Diploma requires a cumulative weighted academic GPA of 3.5 plus honors courses in both grades 11 and 12. The school does not rank students.
Second, graduates divide between community colleges and four-year universities. In its 2025-26 School Profile, the school reports that 95% of the Class of 2025 went on to college: 60% to four-year universities and 35% to two-year community colleges. The school also states that 87% of the Class of 2025 were eligible for admission to a four-year university. Official UC data show that in fall 2025, 18 students applied to the University of California and 9 were admitted to at least one campus. For families aiming at a four-year university, this means confirming early that the student is on the College Prep or Alpha Honors path.
Third, AP offerings are limited, but the school publishes exam results counted by exam. The 2026-27 Academic Catalog lists 12 AP courses. Mathematics goes up to AP Calculus AB, and the catalog states explicitly that AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C are not offered. According to the School Profile, students sat 116 AP exams in 2025 and passed 86, a pass rate of 74%; in 2024 they sat 125 exams with a pass rate of 82%.
Fourth, the UC A-G course list differs noticeably from the school’s actual schedule. UC’s list for the 2026-27 school year registers 106 courses at the school, but the list page shows a last-updated date of March 7, 2019. The list includes French, German, Honors Physics and other courses that the 2026-27 Academic Catalog does not list, while the dual enrollment courses and most Bible courses in the catalog are not on the list. Course selection requires checking both lists course by course.
How to Apply
Grade 9 is the main point of entry to Whittier Christian High School, and the school also accepts transfer students and international students. Admission runs in three rounds: priority, regular and rolling. The steps below follow the application process on the school website; the specific dates are governed by the 2027-28 calendar the school will publish in early October 2026.
Steps for grade 9 applicants
- Attend school events in the fall: the middle school preview day on September 17, 2026 and the first Discover Night (open house) on October 19; families may also book a family tour or a shadow day
- Submit the online application and pay the $50 application fee; after the automatic confirmation email, the admissions office writes to arrange the next steps
- Complete the file: grade 7 report card, current grade 8 progress report, recommendation forms from an administrator and a teacher at the current school, immunization records and birth certificate
- The student and at least one parent attend a family interview with the admissions director; interviews begin in November
- Take the placement test on a Saturday morning at the school, on a date assigned at application; placement testing begins in January 2027
- Admission letters are sent starting in January; at enrollment, a $325 enrollment fee holds the seat, followed by the new student course selection day
| Entrance exam | Local applicants take Whittier Christian High School's own Placement Test, given on campus on Saturday mornings; a test date is assigned at registration. Results are used for admission and 9th grade course placement; the math course catalog states that incoming students who pass the math section of the entrance exam are placed in Algebra 1. Students from Heights Christian and Friends Christian take the test on their own campuses |
|---|---|
| Application calendar | For 2027-28 admission, the school states that placement testing begins in January 2027 and that specific dates will be announced in early October 2026. The previous cycle (2026-27 admission) ran as follows: priority applications from October 13 to January 17, regular applications from January 18 to March 21, and rolling applications from March 22; placement tests were held on January 24, February 7, March 7, and May 2 (the final test) |
| Tours and open houses | 2026-27 school calendar: Jr. High Explore Day on September 17, 2026; the first Discover Night (open house) on October 19; the second Discover Night on January 25, 2027. Families may also schedule a Custom Tour or a Shadow Day |
| Application materials | Online application; $50 application fee ($100 for international students), nonrefundable; 7th grade report card and current 8th grade progress report (transfer students submit unofficial transcripts); Two recommendation forms, sent directly by the current school: one from an administrator (principal, assistant principal, or counselor) and one from a math, English, science, or history teacher; Immunization records (including Tdap) and birth certificate |
| Interview | A family interview is required: the Director of Admissions interviews the student and at least one parent, and the school prefers that both parents attend. After the application is submitted, the admissions office contacts the family to schedule the interview; interviews begin in November |
| Admission notification | A decision is made only after the file is complete and the interview has taken place. Admission letters are mailed to the student address on the application beginning in January, and enrollment is then confirmed through online registration |
| Tuition and enrollment fee (2026-27) | Tuition for U.S. citizens and residents is $19,585 per year. Payment in full receives a 2% discount, for $19,193, due July 1, 2026; payment in two installments receives a 1% discount, at $9,694.50 each, due July 1, 2026, and January 2, 2027; or 10 monthly payments of $1,958.50 each, from August 5, 2026, through May 5, 2027. A separate Enrollment Fee applies: $550 for grades 9 and 10 and $650 for grades 11 and 12, with a $225 sibling discount; $325 is paid at registration to hold the student's place |
| What the enrollment fee covers | The Enrollment Fee covers campus security, on-site technology support, student accident insurance, ACSI membership dues, standardized testing, college advisement, grade-level materials for required courses, student activity fees (student ID, yearbook, and free admission to regular home games), and graduation expenses in 12th grade |
| Other fees | Books cost $150 to $300 per year; each sport costs $300 to $2,000 per season; course fees for some courses are $75 to $125 per year; dual-enrollment course fees are $125 to $300 per year; AP exams are $97 to $100 each; band, choir, and theatre fees vary by activity; bus service is $250 per family per year; the Academic Support Program is $3,500 per school year |
| Tuition assistance | Tuition assistance is awarded based on family financial need, in the form of grants, generally 5% to 35% of annual tuition and up to 50% in special circumstances. The FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment evaluates family finances, and the school's Financial Aid Committee determines the final award; the school states that about $1 million is distributed each year across its tuition assistance programs. Aid decisions are released only after the admission application and interview are complete |
| Assistance timeline | Priority applications open each year on November 1; applications completed by January 19 receive decisions at the end of January. Regular applications received by February 10 are released together on February 21; later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as funds remain |
| Conditions for receiving assistance | Families must reapply every year. Aid recipients must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher and a citizenship evaluation of Satisfactory in every course; participation in school activities is also considered. Required documents include tax returns and W-2 forms |
| Religious requirements | The school is a nondenominational Christian school. Bible is required all four years, for 40 credits; the School Profile states that students take one Bible course each semester and attend chapel once a week, and the student handbook requires all students to attend chapel. The school recommends 20 hours of community service each year; students who complete 80 hours over four years receive the Service & Faith Leadership Academy cord at graduation. The student handbook describes service as a recommendation, not a graduation requirement |
| Family and faith | The student handbook states that admission depends on admission criteria including whether the student and family support the school's mission and statement of faith. The school's application page does not require a pastor's recommendation and does not state that only Christian families are admitted |
| International students | After submitting the online application, international applicants interview with the Director of Admissions: on campus for those in California, and by Zoom for those outside the United States. Required materials include transcripts for the current year and the two prior years (non-English records must be translated into English and notarized), English proficiency scores, administrator and teacher recommendation forms (with an additional recommendation letter on the current school's letterhead), immunization records translated into English and notarized, a birth certificate or passport, passport and visa (students transferring from another U.S. school also submit their current I-20), and proof of funds in U.S. dollars. The application process page gives recommended ranges, not admission cutoffs: Duolingo 75 to 80 for grades 9 and 10 and 85 to 90 for grades 11 and 12; TOEFL 45 to 50 for grades 9 and 10 and 60 to 65 for grades 11 and 12; iTEP SLATE 3.0 for grades 9 and 10 and 3.6 for grades 11 and 12. Once tuition and the Enrollment Fee are paid, the school issues the I-20 (the school document international students need to apply for an F-1 visa). Students must arrive in the United States before the new international student orientation, held about one week before school starts, where they also take English and math placement tests. Tuition for international students in 2026-27 is $33,025 per year, plus the Enrollment Fee (the same amount as for local students) and a $500 new-student orientation fee. After admission, a deposit covering tuition, the Enrollment Fee, and the orientation fee is due first: $17,037.50 for grades 9 and 10 and $17,137.50 for grades 11 and 12, with the $17,037.50 balance due by July 1, 2026. Payment must be made by wire transfer, U.S. bank check, or cashier's check and is nonrefundable |
The school also offers one scholarship for incoming grade 9 students and states that it does not award athletic scholarships.
| Program | Amount and conditions |
|---|---|
| Academic Merit Scholarship | Up to $2,500, with a limited number of awards; open to incoming 9th graders. The review considers 7th and 8th grade grades, two work samples, an essay titled Why Do You Want to Attend WCHS, and recommendations from a math teacher and an English teacher. Applicants must already be admitted; applications are due in April, and results are announced in mid-May |
| Athletic scholarships | Not offered; the school explains that California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules prohibit high schools from awarding athletic scholarships |
The open house and tuition assistance dates published on the school website, followed by comments from EDUBUS advisors, appear below.
Application TimelinePublished on the school website
- First Discover Night (open house)
- Priority tuition assistance applications open (through FACTS)Opens
- Placement testing for 2027-28 entry begins; the school will announce exact dates in early October 2026
- Priority tuition assistance deadlineDeadline
- Second Discover Night (open house)
- Regular tuition assistance deadline; later applications reviewed as funds allowDeadline
Commuting from Irvine
The school is located in La Habra, at the northern edge of Orange County next to the Los Angeles County line. The school runs 9 morning and afternoon bus routes at $250 per family per year, with online registration and payment required. Stops are in Anaheim, Brea, Hacienda Heights, La Mirada, Montebello, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Yorba Linda. Morning buses depart between 6:45 and 7:25; afternoon buses return between 3:25 and 4:00 Monday through Thursday and between 2:15 and 3:00 on Friday. The two stops closest to Irvine are the Anaheim route (4905 E. La Palma Avenue, Independence Christian School, departing at 6:45 a.m.) and the Yorba Linda route (4231 Rose Drive, Friends Christian Middle School, departing at 7:00 a.m.); the buses do not serve Irvine. First period starts at 8:00 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and at 9:00 on Wednesday and Friday. Families leaving from Irvine need to weigh morning rush-hour traffic together with the bus departure times, and should test the commute once during school-day traffic.
Choosing a School: Total Tuition, Commute and Campus Visits
This section answers four questions parents often ask before deciding whether to apply: which families the school suits, what four years cost, what an Irvine commute involves, and what to confirm during a campus visit.
Which Families the School Suits
Whittier Christian High School suits families who value Christian education and want the student in a small school. The school enrolled 385 students in the 2025-26 school year, with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. Bible is required for all four years, students attend chapel once a week, and the student handbook states that admission considers whether the family supports the school’s mission and statement of faith. Academically, the advanced offerings consist mainly of honors courses, dual enrollment courses and 12 AP courses. Mathematics goes up to AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C are not offered. Students planning demanding STEM coursework need to arrange outside courses in advance. The school does not offer Chinese; the only world languages are Spanish and American Sign Language.
Total Tuition for Four Years
At the 2026-27 standard tuition of $19,585 for U.S. citizens and residents, four years from grade 9 through grade 12 come to about $78,340 in tuition; paying in full each year at $19,193 brings the total to about $76,772. Enrollment fees for the four years total $2,400 ($550 per year in grades 9 and 10 and $650 per year in grades 11 and 12). At $33,025 per year, four years of tuition for an international student come to about $132,100. All figures use 2026-27 prices, since the school has not published tuition for later years; books, bus service, athletics and course fees are additional.
Commuting from Irvine
The school is in La Habra, at the northern edge of Orange County. Measuring from each neighborhood’s center point to the school address, EDUBUS calculates straight-line distances of about 19.5 miles from Northwood in Irvine, 20.8 miles from Woodbury, 21.8 miles from Portola Springs and 22.6 miles from Turtle Rock. The school bus has no Irvine stop; the nearest stops are in Anaheim and Yorba Linda, with departures at 6:45 and 7:00 a.m. Actual driving time depends on navigation, and the morning rush hour is noticeably longer than off-peak times. For Irvine families, the daily drop-off and pick-up arrangement is a practical factor in whether the student can attend, and the commute should be tested once during school-day traffic.
Questions to Confirm During a Campus Visit
- The 2027-28 calendar: the application window and placement test dates, which the school states will be announced in early October 2026.
- The UC A-G course list: UC’s list for the school was last updated in March 2019. Ask whether the school plans to update it and whether dual enrollment courses can be added.
- AP English Language and Composition: the UC list, the School Profile and the student handbook all list this course, but the 2026-27 Academic Catalog does not. Confirm whether a section will run.
- College outcomes: the school does not publish a list of college admissions, and percentages such as 95%, 60% and 35% do not state their denominators.
- Graduation credits: the credit table in the Academic Catalog totals 240, the text of the same catalog states 250 and the School Profile states 254. Confirm which figure applies.
- Class size: the school publishes only the 14:1 student-teacher ratio, not the average class size.
Comparable Schools Nearby
The closest private high schools serving grades 9 through 12 differ from Whittier Christian High School mainly in their entrance exams and affiliation. Distances in the table are straight-line distances between school addresses calculated by EDUBUS.
| School | Affiliation | Entrance exam | Straight-line distance from Whittier Christian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosary Academy | Catholic, girls | HSPT | 5.4 miles |
| Servite High School | Catholic, boys | HSPT | 6.2 miles |
| Fairmont Preparatory Academy | No religious affiliation | No entrance exam | 6.3 miles |
| Orange Lutheran High School | Lutheran | No entrance exam | 11.1 miles |
Among these schools, Rosary Academy and Servite High School are single-sex Catholic schools that require the HSPT; Fairmont Preparatory Academy has no religious affiliation; and Orange Lutheran High School is also Christian but has no entrance exam. For tuition and courses at each school, refer to that school’s own guide.
Year-by-Year UC Data: Applicants, Admission Rates and GPA
The data below come from UC Infocenter, published by the University of California Office of the President by high school of origin, with the school type set to California private high school, and are updated annually. They answer two questions: how many Whittier Christian High School students apply and are admitted each year, and what GPAs admitted students hold. The GPA is the UC weighted, capped GPA, counting only courses from grades 10 and 11. UC does not publish categories with fewer than 5 applicants or fewer than 3 admits or enrollees; these appear as “—” in the tables. Because few students at this school apply to UC, many campus-level cells fall into this category.
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: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC Davis. The table lists, by year, the number of Whittier Christian High School students who applied to, were admitted to and enrolled at each campus, along with the average GPA; use the buttons to switch metrics. Cells shown as a dash are data UC did not publish because the numbers were too small.
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 | — | — | 3 (25%) | 3 (33%) | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | 5 (26%) | 3 (12%) | 4 (40%) |
| 2023 | — | 3 (14%) | 7 (33%) | 4 (19%) | 7 (27%) | 6 (35%) |
| 2022 | — | — | 4 (15%) | 5 (28%) | 7 (25%) | 7 (47%) |
| 2021 | 3 (16%) | — | 8 (24%) | 4 (13%) | 8 (20%) | 10 (43%) |
| 2020 | 3 (12%) | 3 (10%) | 8 (24%) | 8 (27%) | 11 (31%) | 14 (50%) |
| 2019 | — | — | 9 (27%) | 10 (31%) | 12 (30%) | 9 (36%) |
| 2018 | — | 5 (18%) | 10 (29%) | 7 (23%) | 11 (29%) | 6 (26%) |
| 2017 | 3 (12%) | — | 9 (26%) | 4 (13%) | 17 (38%) | 10 (53%) |
| 2016 | — | 6 (15%) | 16 (41%) | 10 (36%) | 13 (30%) | 14 (67%) |
| 2015 | — | — | 3 (12%) | 4 (18%) | 8 (24%) | — |
| 2014 | — | 3 (14%) | 6 (24%) | 5 (26%) | 11 (39%) | 5 (31%) |
| Change, 2014–2025 | — | — | ▲ 24% → 25% | ▲ 26% → 33% | — | — |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 5 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 10 |
| 2023 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 17 |
| 2022 | 16 | 24 | 26 | 18 | 28 | 15 |
| 2021 | 19 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 41 | 23 |
| 2020 | 25 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 36 | 28 |
| 2019 | 17 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 40 | 25 |
| 2018 | 20 | 28 | 34 | 30 | 38 | 23 |
| 2017 | 25 | 38 | 34 | 32 | 45 | 19 |
| 2016 | 24 | 40 | 39 | 28 | 43 | 21 |
| 2015 | 12 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 33 | 15 |
| 2014 | 13 | 21 | 25 | 19 | 28 | 16 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▼ 13 → 5 | ▼ 21 → 13 | ▼ 25 → 12 | ▼ 19 → 9 | ▼ 28 → 16 | ▼ 16 → 8 |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — |
| 2021 | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | 4 |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — |
| 2019 | — | — | 3 | — | 3 | — |
| 2018 | — | — | 3 | — | 4 | — |
| 2017 | — | — | 3 | — | 7 | — |
| 2016 | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — |
| Change, 2014–2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | 4.22 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | 4.14 | — | 4.22 | 4.03 |
| 2022 | — | — | — | 4.28 | 4.12 | 3.89 |
| 2021 | — | — | 4.12 | — | 4.05 | 3.86 |
| 2020 | — | — | 4.21 | 4.15 | 4.03 | 4.02 |
| 2019 | — | — | 4.14 | 4.18 | 4.14 | 4.14 |
| 2018 | — | 4.14 | 4.18 | 4.07 | 4.07 | 4.07 |
| 2017 | — | — | 4.10 | — | 3.93 | 3.98 |
| 2016 | — | 4.23 | 4.10 | 4.06 | 4.06 | 3.94 |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — | 4.07 | — |
| 2014 | — | — | 4.16 | 3.98 | 3.91 | 3.85 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Year | UC Berkeley | UC Los Angeles | UC San Diego | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine | UC Davis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025Latest | 3.30 | 3.51 | 3.67 | 3.28 | 3.60 | 3.34 |
| 2024 | 3.97 | 3.90 | 3.82 | 3.84 | 3.78 | 3.66 |
| 2023 | 3.89 | 3.92 | 3.88 | 3.82 | 3.81 | 3.68 |
| 2022 | 3.89 | 3.80 | 3.80 | 3.89 | 3.77 | 3.78 |
| 2021 | 3.87 | 3.79 | 3.73 | 3.66 | 3.73 | 3.61 |
| 2020 | 3.79 | 3.83 | 3.79 | 3.73 | 3.75 | 3.76 |
| 2019 | 3.90 | 3.90 | 3.83 | 3.77 | 3.77 | 3.75 |
| 2018 | 3.82 | 3.83 | 3.67 | 3.66 | 3.70 | 3.56 |
| 2017 | 3.89 | 3.80 | 3.78 | 3.82 | 3.72 | 3.86 |
| 2016 | 3.83 | 3.82 | 3.79 | 3.73 | 3.70 | 3.83 |
| 2015 | 3.62 | 3.76 | 3.64 | 3.54 | 3.68 | 3.55 |
| 2014 | 3.86 | 3.85 | 3.75 | 3.71 | 3.55 | 3.54 |
| Change, 2014–2025 | ▼ 3.86 → 3.30 | ▼ 3.85 → 3.51 | ▼ 3.75 → 3.67 | ▼ 3.71 → 3.28 | ▲ 3.55 → 3.60 | ▼ 3.54 → 3.34 |
Applications and Admissions by Campus in the Most Recent Year
| UC campus (fall 2025) | Applicants | Admits | Admit rate | Enrollees | Admit GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| UC Los Angeles | 13 | — | — | — | — |
| UC San Diego | 12 | 3 | 25% | — | — |
| UC Davis | 8 | — | — | — | — |
| UC Irvine | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| UC Santa Barbara | 9 | 3 | 33% | — | — |
| UC Merced | — | — | — | — | — |
| UC Riverside | 9 | 5 | 56% | — | 3.71 |
| UC Santa Cruz | — | — | — | — | — |
College Outcomes Published by the School
Everything in this section comes from materials published by Whittier Christian High School itself. It differs from the official UC data above in two ways: the school compiles it, and it covers all universities and community colleges, not only UC. Note the basis of the figures: the outcome percentages come from the 2025-26 School Profile, and the school does not state the denominator; the athlete list covers only the graduates who joined college teams and does not represent the whole class.
ScopeThe Class of 2025 college-going percentages are self-reported in the school's 2025-26 School Profile, and the school does not state the denominator. The athlete list comes from the school's Heralds Playing at the Next Level page and covers only graduates who joined college varsity teams; it shows where students enrolled, not a list of admissions. The school's current website does not publish a complete list of colleges where graduates were admitted. UC application, admission, and enrollment figures are taken only from the official data on the UC page. Source: Whittier Christian High School 2025-26 School Profile ↗
Class of 2025 college destinations (self-reported by the school)
- Attending college: 95%
- Of these, four-year universities 60% and two-year community colleges 35%
- Other (military or vocational school): 5%
- The school also states that 87% of the Class of 2025 were eligible for a four-year university
Selected Class of 2024 to 2026 graduates on college varsity teams (school athlete destinations page)
- Arizona State University (Class of 2026, softball)
- Tennessee Tech University (Class of 2024, softball)
- Biola University (Class of 2026, soccer)
- Liberty University (Class of 2026, disc golf)
- California State University, Bakersfield (Class of 2025, soccer)
- Concordia University Irvine (Class of 2024, track and field)
- The Master's University (Class of 2024, baseball)
- Oklahoma Christian University (Class of 2024, baseball)
- Community colleges including Cerritos College, Cypress College, and Pasadena City College (Classes of 2024 to 2026, 4 students in total)
These data show two things. First, a high share of this school’s graduates enroll at two-year community colleges: 35% for the Class of 2025, against 60% at four-year universities. Second, the school does not publish a list of college admissions, and the athlete list consists of individual students who joined college teams through athletics, so it cannot be used to estimate the chances of regular applicants. For UC applications, admissions and enrollment, the official UC data on this page govern in all cases.
GPA Weighting: School Rules and UC Rules
This section addresses the calculation 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 letter grades: A is 90-100, B is 80-89, C is 70-79, D is 60-69, and F is below 60; pluses and minuses do not change grade points. In regular courses, an A earns 4.0, a B 3.0, a C 2.0, and a D 1.0; in honors and AP courses, an A earns 5.0, a B 4.0, and a C 3.0 (2025-26 School Profile). The course catalog states that honors courses add 1 grade point to each grade |
|---|---|
| Weighted courses | All AP courses (12 are listed in the 2026-27 course catalog); School honors courses with Honors or (H) in the course name; Dual-enrollment courses marked (H) in the catalog: English 120C, English 230C, BUSI 100, BUSI 110, BUSI 120, and MGMT 210 |
| Class rank | The school does not rank students (the School Profile states: WCHS does not rank students), because classes are small and rank would not accurately reflect students |
| Graduation honors | Based on the cumulative weighted academic GPA over the first 7 semesters: 3.00 to 3.49 is Graduating with Honors, 3.50 to 3.79 is High Honors, and 3.80 or higher is Highest Honors |
| Valedictorian | The valedictorian and salutatorian are not simply the students with the highest GPA. The selection counts the number of honors semester courses taken over 7 semesters, from 9th grade through the fall of 12th grade, minus the number of B grades in academic and college courses, with no C grades allowed; breadth across subjects is also considered. Candidates must have attended the school for at least three years, including 11th and 12th grades |
| UC weighting rules | UC adds honors points only for AP courses, UC-certified honors courses, and UC-transferable college courses. The calculation covers 10th and 11th grades (including the summers after 9th and 11th grades), with a maximum of 8 honors points across 10th and 11th grades, no more than 4 of them from 10th grade; grades of D and F receive no honors points. When UC checks whether nonresidents (including international students) meet the 3.4 minimum GPA, it weights only AP and IB courses, not the school's own honors courses |
| UC-approved honors courses at the school | On the UC A-G course list for 2026-27, the school has 26 UC-approved honors courses: 13 AP courses and 13 UC-certified honors courses (including 3 PLTW engineering and biomedical courses and 3 arts honors courses) |
A course-by-course check of the official UC A-G course list against the school’s 2026-27 Academic Catalog shows that the following courses are weighted as honors courses at Whittier Christian High School but are not on UC’s list of approved honors courses, so they count as regular courses for UC.
| School honors course | Subject and notes |
|---|---|
| Honors English 1 | 9th grade English; UC does not count 9th grade grades |
| Honors Amer Lit & Comp | 10th grade English; the UC list has two honors American literature courses, one UC-approved honors course and one not; confirm with the school which one corresponds to this catalog course |
| Honors World History 2 | 10th grade social studies; registered as a regular course on the UC list |
| Honors Geometry | Mathematics |
| Honors Algebra 2 | Mathematics |
| Honors Chemistry | Science; neither of the two UC list entries, Honors Chemistry and Chemistry (H), is a UC-approved honors course |
| Theatre 4 (H) | Arts |
| English 120C, BUSI 100, BUSI 110, BUSI 120, MGMT 210 (dual-enrollment courses) | Not on the UC A-G course list; UC has separate honors-point rules for transferable college courses, so confirm with the school and UC whether these courses qualify |
The effect of this list on UC applications falls mainly on grade 10. UC does not count grade 9 grades, so Honors English 1 does not affect the UC GPA. But the main grade 10 honors courses, including Honors World History 2, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2 and Honors Chemistry, all count as regular courses for UC, so few courses that year can raise the UC GPA. The UC-approved honors courses that the Academic Catalog does not restrict by grade are mainly three PLTW engineering and biomedical courses and three arts courses: Honors Art, Honors Jazz Band and Honors Chamber Choir. Whether they fit grade 10 depends on each course’s prerequisites, and whether Honors American Literature is weighted depends on which course on the UC list it corresponds to. By grade 11, Honors English Literature, Honors Precalculus, AP United States History and the AP science courses are all on the UC list. EDUBUS recommends that students targeting UC schedule at least one or two UC-approved honors courses in grade 10 and concentrate on AP courses in grade 11. International students are nonresidents of California, and when UC checks their 3.4 minimum GPA it adds weight only for AP and IB courses, so their schedules should lean even more heavily toward AP.
Four-Year Timeline
Grade 8: Applying
- September to OctoberJr. High Explore Day on September 17; the school announces placement test dates in early October; the first Discover Night on October 19; the priority application window opens in mid-October (October 13 in the previous cycle)
- NovemberAfter applying, schedule the family interview; interviews begin in November. Priority tuition assistance applications open November 1
- JanuaryPlacement tests begin in January; families who complete aid applications by January 19 receive decisions at the end of January; admission letters are mailed beginning in January; the second Discover Night on January 25
- February to MarchRegular applications and placement tests (February 7 and March 7 in the previous cycle); regular aid applications received by February 10 are released together on February 21; after enrolling, attend course selection day
- April to MayAcademic Merit Scholarship applications are due in April, with results in mid-May; the final placement test is in early May (May 2 in the previous cycle)
- SummerRegister for the bus ($250 per family per year); international students attend the new international student orientation and English and math placement tests about one week before school starts
Grade 9
- AugustSchedule changes on schedule change day and during the first three days of school; freshman welcome day
- All yearOne Bible course each semester and weekly chapel; 20 hours of service recommended; take the PSAT
- Second semesterStudents in regular English who want to move to honors need an A in the second semester and must pass the placement test in early May; regular-track students who want Honors World History 2 in 10th grade need an A- in English 1 and an academic GPA of 3.5 at the end of 9th grade
Grade 10
- All yearThe UC GPA counts from the summer after 9th grade; UC counts a maximum of 4 honors points this year, and Honors World History 2, Honors Geometry, and Honors Algebra 2 count as regular courses in the UC calculation
- All yearThe Alpha Honors Diploma requires honors courses in at least three of the four years; take honors courses starting in 10th grade, since NHS applications also look at honors courses from 10th grade on
- Second semesterTo take AP U.S. History in 11th grade, students need a B- or higher each semester in Honors World History 2 and a teacher recommendation
Grade 11
- All yearThe last school year counted in the UC GPA; the honors English sequence is Honors English Literature in the fall and the dual-enrollment course English 120C in the spring
- All yearTake the PSAT; the student handbook notes that the PSAT is also used to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program
- All yearEligible students may apply to NHS (cumulative academic GPA of 3.85); students may apply for the Flexible Learning Option and use part of the day for dual-enrollment courses or internships
- MayTake the AP exams for AP courses taken
Grade 12
- FallAP U.S. Government or U.S. Government (one semester); the Alpha Honors Diploma requires a B- or higher in the first semester of AP U.S. Government; UC and CSU applications are submitted in the fall
- SpringEconomics (one semester); English 230C dual-enrollment course; AP exams in May
- MayCommencement (May 21 for the Class of 2027); the diploma type is determined by final grades over 8 semesters
Three points determine the direction. The first is the placement test and interview in grade 8, which determine the level of English and mathematics in grade 9. The second is the second semester of grade 9: moving from regular to honors English requires an A in the second semester and the May placement test, and entering Honors World History 2 in grade 10 requires a grade 9 academic GPA of 3.5. The third is grade 10: the grade in Honors World History 2 determines access to AP United States History, and the Alpha Honors Diploma requires honors courses in both grades 11 and 12, so grade 10 results largely set the rigor of the following two years.
Clubs and Academic Competitions
The Whittier Christian High School website lists more than 20 student clubs. Clubs and honor societies related to academic and professional interests include:
- Academic Decathlon
- Coding Club
- Robotics
- Aerospace
- Chess Club
- Creative Writing
- Playwriting
- Newspaper Club
- Law & Life
- East Asian Lit. & Culture
- Korean Lit
- Key Club (service club)
- Red Cross
- CSF (California Scholarship Federation)
- NHS (National Honor Society)
The school’s competitive activities consist mainly of two programs:
- Academic Decathlon: the clubs page on the school website describes it as a competition team that competes in ten subjects
- VEX Robotics: the Robotics course competes in 2 to 4 VEX Robotics competitions each year, and the school website also lists a Robotics club
The National Honor Society (NHS) is open to 11th and 12th graders; the course catalog requires a cumulative academic GPA of 3.85 and at least two honors courses each semester in 10th and 11th grades (plus 12th grade for 12th grade applicants). Students apply to the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) each semester based on the previous semester's grades; students who are members for at least four semesters from 10th grade on (including one semester of 12th grade) become life members.
Note that the clubs and courses the school publishes include no individual competition teams in mathematics, physics or chemistry, such as the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). Students who want to demonstrate STEM ability through competition results need systematic training outside school.
Special Programs
- Three diplomas and the Alpha Honors Diploma: Students choose among the High School Diploma, the College Prep Diploma, and the Alpha Honors Diploma, and the diploma notes the program completed. The Alpha Honors Diploma requires a cumulative weighted academic GPA of 3.5 or higher over 8 semesters, honors courses in at least three of the four years (including 11th and 12th grades), and a B- or higher in 12th grade in at least two of the four honors strands of English, history, mathematics, and science
- Five Academies: The five Academies are Biomedical, Engineering, Business, Arts, and Leadership. Each Academy requires 2 designated courses or field experiences plus a capstone project or field experience. The Biomedical Academy corresponds to PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems; the Engineering Academy to PLTW Engineering Essentials and Principles of Engineering; the Business Academy to the dual-enrollment business courses; the Leadership Academy requires two years of leadership experience, such as student council, the chapel team, or community service
- Dual-enrollment courses: Offered in partnership with Azusa Pacific University, Vanguard University, and Ohio Christian University, at $250 and 3 college credits per course. In the English honors sequence, students take English 120C in the spring of 11th grade and English 230C in 12th grade (which also prepares them for the AP English Literature exam). The school's dual-enrollment page notes that highly selective colleges may limit the number of AP and dual-enrollment courses they accept
- PLTW engineering and biomedical courses: PLTW (Project Lead The Way) is a U.S. engineering and biomedical science curriculum. The school offers four PLTW courses: Engineering Essentials, Principles of Engineering, Principles of Biomedical Science, and Human Body Systems; the last three are UC-approved honors courses, weighted for UC admission
- Academic Support Program: For students with a diagnosed learning disability, the program provides extended testing time, note-taking assistance, preferential seating, on-campus one-on-one tutoring, Study Hall 4.0 with a maximum of 10 students per class, and individual and small-group educational therapy, at $3,500 per school year, payable over 10 months. The school partners with NILD, an educational therapy organization for learning disabilities; the student handbook states that the program does not modify course content or simplify tests
- International Student Program: The school issues I-20s, and its staff includes a dedicated PDSO (the school's Principal Designated School Official for international students) and ESL teachers. International students live with host families screened by the school, and English courses progress from beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL to regular English
- Arts and athletics: Arts courses cover fine art, dance, instrumental music, theatre, film, and vocal music, with a musical each fall and spring. The School Profile states that the school has 15 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) sanctioned sports and has won 122 league championships, 19 CIF championships, and 2 state championships
Schools to CompareNearby private high schools, nearest first
Rosary Academy
Servite High School
Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Orange Lutheran High School (Lutheran High School of Orange County)
Veritas Classical Academy
Eastside Christian SchoolsUsing the School’s College Counseling
This section describes what the school’s college counseling provides and when to use each service.
| College counseling staff | The staff directory on the school website lists one College Advisor, Lia Murphy; there is also an assistant principal for academics and an Academic Support Program coordinator |
|---|---|
| College planning platform | The college planning platform is Naviance. The School Profile states that the school uses the full Naviance platform and also submits materials to colleges electronically through Naviance |
| Services provided | The school website states that the College Advisor meets one-on-one with students and parents on course selection, college lists, and applications, holds presentations, college fairs, and campus visits throughout the year, and provides support with financial aid, scholarships, SAT/ACT preparation, and essay writing |
| Standardized testing | The school requires all students in grades 9 to 11 to take the PSAT and encourages them to take full-length practice ACT tests held periodically on campus; 12th graders are offered workshops on essays and application strategy for UC, CSU, and the Common Application |
| Transcripts | The school sends transcripts free of charge to the colleges students choose; alumni requesting transcripts pay $10 per copy. Transcripts are not released while tuition, fees, or fines remain unpaid |
| Student athletes | The course catalog includes the NCAA academic eligibility standards for student-athletes, for students who plan to play varsity sports in college |
Naviance is a college planning platform used by many American high schools, where students build college lists, search for scholarships and manage application materials. The school’s public pages do not describe the process for requesting recommendation letters or publish the counselor-to-student ratio. Students should meet with the college counselor once before the end of grade 10 to confirm the recommendation letter and application timeline for grade 11. For the grades and prerequisites of each course, see Courses and Course Selection; for the math pathway, see Math Pathway; for AP courses and exam results, see AP Courses and Selection Strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tests do Irvine families face when applying to Whittier Christian High School?
Applicants take the school's own Placement Test, not the HSPT or the ISEE. The test is given on a Saturday morning on the Whittier Christian High School campus, and the school assigns the test date at the time of application. The school states that placement testing for the 2027-28 school year begins in January 2027, with specific dates announced in early October 2026. The four test dates in the previous cycle were January 24, February 7, March 7 and May 2. In addition to the test, the student and at least one parent must attend a family interview with the admissions director; interviews begin in November.
How much does a year at Whittier Christian High School cost an Irvine family?
For the 2026-27 school year, Whittier Christian High School tuition is $19,585 per year for U.S. citizens and residents, reduced by 2% to $19,193 when paid in full. An enrollment fee is charged in addition: $550 for grades 9 and 10 and $650 for grades 11 and 12. Books cost $150 to $300 per year, AP exams cost $97 to $100 each, and the school bus costs $250 per family per year. The school awards need-based grants, generally 5% to 35% of tuition and up to 50% in special cases, as well as an Academic Merit Scholarship of up to $2,500 for incoming grade 9 students.
How does school bus service work for Irvine students attending Whittier Christian High School?
Whittier Christian High School is located in La Habra, at the northern edge of Orange County next to the Los Angeles County line. The school runs 9 bus routes at $250 per family per year, but the stops are concentrated in Anaheim, Brea, Yorba Linda and Whittier in Los Angeles County, with no stop in Irvine. The routes closest to Irvine are the Anaheim route (departing at 6:45 a.m.) and the Yorba Linda route (departing at 7:00 a.m.), so parents still need to drive the student to a bus stop. First period starts at 8:00 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Families should test the commute once during school-day traffic before deciding.
Are all honors courses at Whittier Christian High School weighted when Irvine students apply to UC?
No. Whittier Christian High School weights AP courses and all honors courses on its own transcript, with an A worth 5 points. UC adds weight only for courses designated as honors on the A-G course list: the school has 26 such courses for the 2026-27 school year, 13 of them AP. Honors English 1, Honors World History 2, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, Honors Chemistry and Theatre 4 (H) are weighted by the school but count as regular courses for UC. International students are nonresidents of California, and when UC checks their 3.4 minimum GPA it adds weight only for AP and IB courses.
May non-Christian families in Irvine apply to Whittier Christian High School, and how are Bible courses handled?
The school's application page does not require a pastor recommendation and does not state that only Christian families are admitted. However, the Whittier Christian High School student handbook states that admission considers whether the student and family support the school's mission and statement of faith. After enrollment, Bible is required for four years, for a total of 40 credits; students take one Bible course each semester and attend chapel once a week. Of the eight Bible courses, only World Views is on the UC A-G course list, as a category g elective.
Where do Whittier Christian High School graduates go, according to data Irvine families can check?
According to the Whittier Christian High School 2025-26 School Profile, 95% of the Class of 2025 went on to college: 60% to four-year universities and 35% to two-year community colleges, with another 5% entering the military or vocational schools. The school's current website does not publish a list of college admissions. UC admission numbers come from the University of California's official data by high school of origin: for fall 2025, 18 Whittier Christian High School students applied to the University of California and 9 were admitted to at least one campus. The school's athletics page lists students from the Classes of 2024 through 2026 who joined college teams at universities such as Arizona State University and Biola University.
What GPA do Irvine students need to apply to UC from Whittier Christian High School?
According to official data from the University of California Office of the President by high school of origin, Whittier Christian High School students admitted for fall 2025 had a systemwide average weighted GPA of 3.85. For admits to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC Davis, UC did not publish the GPA (too few students); the published figure for UC Riverside is 3.71. This is the UC weighted, capped GPA for grades 10 and 11, which adds weight only for UC-approved honors courses and is calculated differently from the weighted GPA on the school transcript. Year-by-year data appear in the UC data section of this page.
What does an international student need to apply to Whittier Christian High School from Irvine?
Whittier Christian High School accepts F-1 international students and issues the I-20, the school document required to apply for an F-1 visa. The application fee is $100 and tuition for the 2026-27 school year is $33,025 per year, plus the enrollment fee and a $500 new student orientation fee. The English scores the school lists are recommended reference ranges, not admission cutoffs: TOEFL 45 to 50 or Duolingo 75 to 80 for grades 9 and 10, and TOEFL 60 to 65 or Duolingo 85 to 90 for grades 11 and 12. International students live with host families screened by the school, and their English courses progress from ESL to regular classes.
