Pre-AP, AP & Honors Curriculum
About the Curriculum
Our Pre-AP, AP, and Honors curriculum are designed to challenge and inspire students to excel academically while preparing them for future educational endeavors.
Pre-APAt Pacific High School, in alignment with our mission to provide meaningful, relevant, and rigorous opportunities to ensure all students graduate prepared to think, act, and communicate successfully in college, career, and life, we enroll all general education freshmen in College Board's Pre-AP English 1, which takes place over two periods. The second block is Writing for Careers, which allows students the time they need to develop strong writing skills for College and Career. In sophomore year, students take either Pre-AP English 2 or AP Seminar. Both courses count towards graduation and A-G for English. Students that do not choose to take the AP Seminar course can still transfer to Advanced Placement classes in their junior year by taking AP Capstone or AP English Language. Students that choose not to take any AP classes are still encouraged to take rigorous courses such as Dual Enrollment College Coursework and/or completing a CTE Pathway.
AP (Advanced Placement):
Our AP and Honors courses offer an elevated level of academic rigor and depth. These courses delve deeply into specific subjects, encouraging students to engage with college-level material and challenging them to think critically and analytically. Successful completion of AP courses culminates in the opportunity to take AP exams, where high scores may earn students college credits, providing a head start in their higher education journey.
AP Courses Offered at Pacific
Benefits of Taking CoursesBoth AP and Honors courses not only offer intellectual stimulation but also provide students with the chance to explore subjects they are passionate about in greater depth. These programs foster skills such as independent research, effective communication, and advanced problem-solving—skills that are highly valuable for success in college and beyond. Additionally, it allows for students to save time and money in higher education by participating in the AP Examinations. Learn more here.
Our Pre-AP, AP, and Honors curriculum are supported by dedicated educators who are committed to guiding and inspiring students to achieve their highest potential, preparing them for the academic challenges they'll encounter in their future educational pursuits.
What you need to know about AP Courses
- AP courses are college-level courses offered in high school
- AP courses may require summer assignments
- Students take AP exams at the end of the course to measure their mastery of the college-level class
- A score of 3 or higher on an AP exam can typically earn students college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college
AP Scores
High AP exam scores (typically 3 or higher on a scale of 1-5) can earn students college credits. This can allow them to skip introductory-level college courses, saving time and money as they progress through their college education.
Strong AP scores can bolster college applications, demonstrating a student's commitment to academic rigor and readiness for college-level coursework. This can positively impact admissions decisions.
5 = Extremely well qualified
4 = Well qualified
3 = Qualified
2 = Possibly Qualified
1 = No recommendation
Honors:
Our AP and Honors courses offer an elevated level of academic rigor and depth. These courses delve deeply into specific subjects, encouraging students to engage with college-level material and challenging them to think critically and analytically. Successful completion of AP courses culminates in the opportunity to take AP exams, where high scores may earn students college credits, providing a head start in their higher education journey.