Two Pathways. One Destination.

In order to support the different learning-styles and academic goals of the students, there are two separate, distinct program pathways toward university preparation and acceptance. The two pathways are as follows:

Traditional Heritage (Regular Program)

• Description:

  • This pathway brings with it decades of experience integrating Social Science and Humanities (English) courses. Students are also required to take on a world language (Spanish or French) and visual and performing arts (VPA) courses to round out a comprehensive humanities-based education. The Traditional Heritage program has afforded students opportunities to expand their learning through a variety of activities, such as National History Day, mock trials, moot court, speech-and-debate, service-learning experiences, and charitable group research projects.

  • Heavy emphasis is placed on “learning by doing,” Socratic method, inquiry and primary source analysis, and exploration of multiple perspectives.

  • This pathway is rigorous, accelerated, and demanding. Students will be challenged with college-level / college-prep materials, high academic expectations, and opportunities to develop leadership.

  • There is a high degree of inter-disciplinary curricular integration between Social Science and English classes. Integration with world language and VPA classes may also occur.

  • There is no test or separate application process to enter the traditional program. Interested students will only need to indicate "Traditional Heritage" as their program of choice and register for the appropriate courses.

• Typical Traditional Heritage Freshman Student Profile:

  • Former middle school above average to high achieving student (2.5+ GPA)

  • Minimum grade-level reading and writing skills

  • Strong oral communication skills

  • They are a college-bound student who enjoys learning in collaborative environments, expresses themselves through creative endeavors (e.g. visual and performing arts), seeks to expand their critical-thinking skills, excels in creative demonstrations and problem solving, and wants to explore an array of multiple perspectives and world views through language, literature, and history.

• Minimum Heritage Coursework (Must Be Taken Concurrently):

  • 9th Grade: California History, Humanities / ELA 1, and World Language (Spanish 1 or French 1)

  • 10th Grade: Heritage World History, Humanities / ELA 2, and World Language (Spanish 2 or French 2)

  • 11th Grade: Heritage U.S. History, Humanities / ELA 3, and VPA (Recommend: World Language 3)

  • 12th Grade: Heritage Economics / American Government, Humanities / ELA 4, and VPA

Honors/AP Heritage

• Description:

  • This pathway builds upon the wealth of experience from the Traditional Heritage Program with the aim of preparing students for Advanced Placement (AP) exams within the humanities (English and Social Science). Rigorous classes help prepare students for the AP exams each May which, with a qualifying score (3 - 5), can meet certain university coursework requirements.

  • This pathway is extremely rigorous, fast-paced, analytical, and AP test-oriented. The goal of this pathway is to prepare for and pass the AP exam. AP classes utilize a prescribed college curriculum based on a strict timeline of coverage in preparation for the test in May.

  • Emphasis is placed on the College Board AP curriculum, AP testing strategies, simulated AP exam components, critical thinking, research methods, document-based expository writing and primary source analysis.

  • There is no formal integration between Social Science, English, World Language, and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) classes due to the prescribed, structured timeline of AP content that must be covered before the exam. Classes are self-contained; however, the courses are mutually supportive of one another, providing a comprehensive humanities-focused education.

  • To enter the Honors/AP program, students must apply and be accepted by going through a selective online application process. There is no test required.

• Typical Honors/AP Freshman Student Profile:

  • Former middle school high achieving and honors student (3.5+ GPA)

  • Above grade-level reading and advanced writing skills (approaching college-prep level)

  • Strong oral communication skills

  • They are a college-bound student that is highly independent and responsible for taking on university level work. Highly motivated and serious, they seek the most difficult academic challenges and course load with the goal of taking and passing the AP exam.

• Minimum Heritage Coursework (Must Be Taken Concurrently):

  • 9th Grade: AP Human Geography, Honors English / ELA 1, and World Language (Spanish 1 or French 1)

  • 10th Grade: AP Modern European History, Honors English / ELA 2, World Language (Spanish 2 or French 2)

  • 11th Grade: AP U.S. History, AP English Language and Composition, and VPA (Recommend: World Language 3)

  • 12th Grade: AP Economics / AP Government, AP English Literature, and VPA (Recommend: World Language 4)