College Admissions Requirements
FOUR (4) UNITS OF ENGLISH: At least two units must have strong grammar and composition components, at least one must be in English literature, and at least one must be in American literature. Completion of College Preparatory English 1, 2, 3, and 4 will meet this criterion.
FOUR (4) UNITS OF MATHEMATICS: These include Algebra 1 (for which Applied Mathematics 1 and 2 may count together as a substitute, if a student successfully completes Algebra 2), Algebra 2, and Geometry. A fourth higher-level mathematics course should be selected from among Algebra 3/trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, discrete mathematics, or a capstone mathematics course and should be taken during the senior year.
THREE (3) UNITS OF LABORATORY SCIENCE: Two units must be taken in two different fields of the physical or life sciences and selected from among biology, chemistry, or physics. The third unit may be from the same field as one of the first two units (biology, chemistry, or physics) or from any laboratory science for which biology and/or chemistry is a prerequisite. Courses in earth science, general physical science, or introductory or general environmental science for which biology and/or chemistry is not a prerequisite will not meet this requirement. It is strongly recommended that students take physical science (taught as a laboratory science) as a prerequisite to the three required units of laboratory science outlined in this section. It is also strongly recommended that students desiring to pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering or technology take one course in all three fields.
TWO (2) UNITS OF THE SAME FOREIGN LANGUAGE
THREE (3) UNITS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE: One unit of U.S. History is required; a half unit of Economics and a half unit in Government are strongly recommended.
ONE (1) UNIT OF FINE ARTS: One unit in Appreciation of, History of, or performance in one of the fine arts.
ONE (1) ELECTIVE: One unit must be taken as an elective. A college preparatory course in Computer Science (i.e., one involving significant programming content, not simply keyboarding) is strongly recommended for this elective. Other acceptable electives include college preparatory courses in English; fine arts; foreign languages; social science; humanities; laboratory science (excluding earth science, general physical science, general environmental science, or other introductory science courses for which biology and/or chemistry is not a prerequisite); or mathematics above the level of Algebra 2.
ONE (1) UNIT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR ROTC
NOTE: These requirements are minimal requirements for four-year public college admission. Students should check early with colleges of their choice to plan to meet additional high school prerequisites that might be required for admission.