Whittier Christian High School uses the traditional sequence of Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Precalculus. This differs from the integrated math sequence (Integrated Math I, II and III) of the Irvine Unified School District, and grade levels in the two systems cannot be converted directly. The school’s Academic Catalog does not give sample pathways, but it states the prerequisites for each course and describes four readiness exams, for Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus and Calculus. This page organizes four routes from these prerequisite relationships and explains the requirements at each step, the rules for outside courses and the highest course available.
Four Math Routes
Two-year algebra track
- Grade 9: Algebra 1A
- Grade 10: Algebra 1B
- Grade 11: Geometry
- Grade 12: Algebra 2 or Personal Finance
Regular track (starting with Algebra 1)
- Grade 9: Algebra 1
- Grade 10: Geometry
- Grade 11: Algebra 2
- Grade 12: Precalculus or Statistics
Honors track (Algebra 1 completed in middle school)
- Grade 9: Honors Geometry
- Grade 10: Honors Algebra 2
- Grade 11: Precalculus (H)
- Grade 12: AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics
Fastest track (Algebra 1 and Geometry completed in middle school)
- Grade 9: Honors Algebra 2 (after scoring 80% or higher on the Algebra 2 readiness test)
- Grade 10: Precalculus (H)
- Grade 11: AP Calculus AB
- Grade 12: AP Statistics; students who want AP Calculus BC must take it outside school with approval
The routes differ in their starting point, which is determined by the grade 8 course and entry placement. The two-year algebra route reaches Algebra 2 in grade 12, which just meets the College Prep Diploma requirement of completing Algebra 2. The regular route reaches Precalculus or Statistics in grade 12. Only the honors route and the fastest route reach AP Calculus AB at the school.
Requirements at Each Step
The table below follows the 2026-27 Academic Catalog course by course. In a few places the catalog’s schedule and course descriptions state different requirements (for example, the prerequisite for Honors Algebra 2 appears as B- in one place and B in another). Both versions are kept in the table, and the school’s actual requirements for the year govern.
| Course | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Geometry | Admissions committee recommendation, or C- or higher in Algebra 1 or Algebra 1B |
| Honors Geometry | Admissions committee recommendation; or an A- or higher in Algebra 1 with demonstrated Algebra 1 mastery; or passing the Geometry Readiness test. Students with an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 1 may take the readiness test |
| Algebra 2 | C- or higher in the second semester of Geometry, or passing the Algebra 2 readiness test |
| Honors Algebra 2 | B or higher in both semesters of Honors Geometry (the course listing states B- in the second semester), or 80% or higher on the Algebra 2 readiness test; students with an A in both semesters of regular Geometry may take the readiness test |
| Precalculus | B- or higher in Algebra 2 |
| Precalculus (H) | B- or higher in both semesters of Honors Algebra 2, or 70% or higher on the Precalculus readiness test; students with an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 2 may take the readiness test |
| Statistics | C- or higher in Algebra 2 |
| AP Statistics | B- in Precalculus (H), B+ in regular Precalculus (the course listing states B), or A- in Honors Algebra 2, plus a recommendation from the previous year's math teacher |
| AP Calculus AB | B- or higher in Precalculus (H), or 70% or higher on the Calculus readiness test; a cumulative AP practice exam is given at the end of the year |
| Personal Finance | Grades 11 to 12; completion of Algebra 1 or Algebra 1B |
Two patterns stand out. First, moving between honors levels requires roughly a B- in the previous course, while moving from regular to honors requires an A in both semesters followed by a readiness exam. Second, readiness exams also let new students skip a level: a score of 80% or higher on the Algebra 2 readiness exam allows direct entry into Honors Algebra 2, and the threshold for the Precalculus and Calculus readiness exams is 70%.
Summer and Outside Courses
The school runs a summer school; the 2026-27 school calendar lists summer school 2027 from June 7 to July 16. The student handbook states that summer school can be used to repeat a course or take a new course, and either may raise the GPA. The school does not publish a summer course list or fees.
Courses taken outside school to accelerate require approval from the college advisement staff, and only APEX Online Learning, UC Scout, and the Mt. SAC credit recovery program are accepted; community college courses count only as elective credit. The course catalog states that taking an AP subject the school does not offer, such as AP Calculus BC, outside school requires approval from the AP Coordinator, who decides whether the exam can be taken at the school. Students in 11th and 12th grades who are on track to graduate, have good attendance, and are in good standing may apply for the Flexible Learning Option: they take at least 4 courses on campus and use the remaining time for dual-enrollment courses, extracurricular activities, or internships, with approval from the academic advisement office.
For students who want to reach calculus a year early, the more reliable approach is to secure a place in Honors Geometry or Honors Algebra 2 at entry rather than to rely on outside courses. Outside courses add clear value only for subjects the school does not offer, such as AP Calculus BC.
The Highest Available Course
Mathematics at Whittier Christian High School ends at AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. The prerequisite for AP Statistics is a B- in Honors Precalculus, a B+ in regular Precalculus or an A- in Honors Algebra 2, plus a recommendation from the previous year’s math teacher. Students on the honors route can therefore choose between AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics after Honors Precalculus, or take both in grades 11 and 12. The school does not offer AP Calculus BC, multivariable calculus, linear algebra or AP Precalculus, and the dual enrollment courses in the Academic Catalog include no mathematics. The course descriptions for Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, and Precalculus (H) all state that this sequence leads to the Honors Mathematics distinction at graduation.
Computer science offerings are very limited. The 2026-27 Academic Catalog includes no computer science course, only Robotics and PLTW engineering courses; PLTW Computer Science Principles, which is on the UC list, does not appear in the catalog. The school website also lists a Coding Club.
Math Course List
Mathematics
| Course | Level | Grades | Prerequisites / Conditions / Notes | UC A-G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | AP | — | B- or higher in Precalculus (H), or 70% or higher on the Calculus readiness testCourse number 0649; a cumulative AP practice exam is given at the end of the year; the school does not offer AP Calculus BC; transcript abbreviation: AP Calculus | c |
| AP Statistics | AP | — | B- in Precalculus (H), B+ in regular Precalculus (the course listing states B), or A- in Honors Algebra 2, plus a recommendation from the previous year's math teacherCourse number 0638; transcript abbreviation: AP Statistics | c |
| Honors Algebra 2 | Honors | — | B or higher in both semesters of Honors Geometry (the course listing states B- in the second semester), or 80% or higher on the Algebra 2 readiness testCourse number 0625; students with an A in both semesters of regular Geometry may take the readiness test to move in; school-designated honors course, not weighted in the UC GPA; transcript abbreviation: Hon Algebra 2 | c |
| Honors Geometry | Honors | — | Admissions committee recommendation; or an A- or higher in Algebra 1 with demonstrated Algebra 1 mastery; or passing the Geometry Readiness testCourse number 0635; students with an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 1 may take the Honors Geometry readiness test; school-designated honors course, not weighted in the UC GPA; transcript abbreviation: Hon Geometry | c |
| PreCalculus (H) | Honors | — | B- or higher in both semesters of Honors Algebra 2, or 70% or higher on the Precalculus readiness testCourse number 0647; students with an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 2 may take the readiness test to move in; UC-approved honors course, weighted for UC admission; transcript abbreviation: PRE CALCULUS (H) | c |
| Algebra 1A | CP | — | Admissions committee recommendationCourse number 0657; first year of two-year Algebra 1, for students who need more time; transcript abbreviation: Algebra 1A | c |
| Algebra 1A,B | CP | — | Admissions committee recommendation; incoming students who pass the math section of the entrance exam are placed in Algebra 1Course number 0611 Algebra 1 (P); transcript abbreviation: Algebra I | c |
| Algebra 1B | CP | — | C- or higher in the second semester of Algebra 1ACourse number 0658; second year of two-year Algebra 1; transcript abbreviation: ALG 1B | c |
| Algebra 2A,B | CP | — | C- or higher in the second semester of Geometry, or passing the Algebra 2 readiness testCourse number 0620 Algebra 2 (P); transcript abbreviation: Algebra II | c |
| Geometry A,B | CP | — | Admissions committee recommendation, or C- or higher in Algebra 1 or Algebra 1BCourse number 0630 Geometry (P) | c |
| Precalculus | CP | — | B- or higher in Algebra 2Course number 0648 Precalculus (P); transcript abbreviation: Precalculus | c |
| Statistics | CP | — | C- or higher in Algebra 2Course number 0637 Statistics (P); transcript abbreviation: Statistics | c |
| Personal Finance | CP | 11-12 | Completion of Algebra 1 or Algebra 1BCourse number 0616; personal finance math course; not on the UC A-G course list | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whittier Christian High School use integrated math or the traditional algebra and geometry sequence, a question Irvine families often ask?
The traditional sequence. Mathematics at Whittier Christian High School runs from Algebra 1 to Geometry, Algebra 2 and Precalculus, followed by AP Calculus AB or Statistics. It is not the integrated sequence of Math I, Math II and Math III used by the Irvine Unified School District. Students coming from an Irvine middle school who completed Math I or Enhanced Math I should first confirm with the school whether that course counts as Algebra 1.
Can a student from an Irvine middle school who completed Algebra 1 in grade 8 take Honors Geometry in grade 9 at Whittier Christian High School?
The student can pursue it. The Whittier Christian High School Academic Catalog states that the prerequisite for Honors Geometry is a recommendation from the admissions committee, demonstrated mastery of Algebra 1 (the course description specifies an A- or higher in Algebra 1), or a passing result on the Geometry Readiness test; any one of the three is sufficient. A student who has already completed Geometry in middle school may also take the Algebra 2 readiness exam, and a score of 80% or higher allows direct entry into Honors Algebra 2.
What is the highest math course available at Whittier Christian High School, as Irvine families want to know?
The highest courses at the school are AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. The Whittier Christian High School Academic Catalog states explicitly that the school does not offer AP Calculus BC, and it offers neither multivariable calculus nor linear algebra. A student who wants AP Calculus BC must obtain approval from the counseling staff to take it outside school. The school recognizes only APEX Online Learning, UC Scout and the Mt. SAC credit recovery program, and the AP coordinator decides whether the student may take the BC exam at the school.
Can a regular-track math student at Whittier Christian High School move up to honors, and what should Irvine families watch for?
Yes, but the student needs an A in both semesters. The Whittier Christian High School Academic Catalog states that a student with an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 1 may take the Honors Geometry readiness exam; an A in both semesters of regular Geometry qualifies the student for the Algebra 2 readiness exam (Honors Algebra 2 requires 80% or higher); and an A in both semesters of regular Algebra 2 qualifies the student for the Precalculus readiness exam (Honors Precalculus requires 70% or higher).
Are the honors math courses at Whittier Christian High School weighted by UC, as Irvine families ask?
Only some of them. According to UC's A-G course list for the 2026-27 school year, Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra 2 at Whittier Christian High School are not UC-approved honors courses; they are weighted by the school but count as regular courses for UC. The math courses UC weights are Honors Precalculus (listed as PreCalculus (H)), AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics.
Can Irvine students take math in advance over the summer at Whittier Christian High School?
The school runs a summer session. The 2026-27 school calendar lists the 2027 summer session as June 7 to July 16, and the student handbook states that summer school can be used both to repeat courses and to take new ones. However, Whittier Christian High School does not list its summer math courses or fees on its public pages. Families who want to use the summer to take math in advance should first confirm with the school which courses the summer session offers that year and how grades are recorded on the transcript.
