• A: Social Studies
• B: English
• C: Math
• D: Science
• E: World Language
• F: Visual/Perf Arts
• G: Adv. College Prep
• Electives
• Physical Ed
• Health
30 cr. – 3yrs w/ C or better
40 cr. – 4yrs w/ C or better
30 cr. – 3yrs w/ C or better
20 cr. – 2yrs w/ C or better (Bio + Phys Sci)
20 cr. – 2yrs w/ C or better
10 cr. – 1yr w/ C or better
10 cr. – 1yr w/ C or better (core electives)
Physics, Geography, Statistics, 3yrs of lang
25 cr. – 2.5 yrs w/ D or better
20 cr. – 2 yrs w/ D or better
05 cr. – 1 sem w/ D or better
Total credits = 210

“A” Requirement:
History/Social Science
9 th – Honors or AP World History
10 th – AP U.S. History
11 th – Social Studies Elective (i.e. AP Human Geography,
AP Psychology, AP European History)
12 th – AP Government/Honors Economics
• With a “C” or better – LAUSD/A-G Req.
• minimum 30 credits – 3 years

“B” Requirement:
English
9 th – IH Honors English 10 (British Literature)
10 th - IH Honors English 11 (American Lit/
Contemporary Comp)
11 th - AP English Literature
12 th – English 101/English 102 (Pierce College)
• 40 credits – 4 years total
• Pass with grade of C or better

“C” Requirement:
Mathematics
Algebra 1A/B- this is a year long class & must be passed with C or better (Honors Algebra 1)
(you cannot proceed in math until this class is passed)
Geometry A/B (Honors Geometry)
Algebra 2A/B (Honors Algebra 2)
(students will continue to Honors Advanced Math, Into to
Data Science, AP Calculus AB/BC & AP Statistics or Pre-
Calculus)
• Students need 30 credits – 3 years
(validation rules apply)
• Pass with C or better

“D” Requirement:
Lab Sciences
Life Science : Honors or AP Biology
Physical Science: Honors or AP Chemistry
Physics or AP Physics 1,
AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C
• Students need 20 credits – 2 years
• Pass with C or better

“E” Requirement:
World Language
Spanish 1,2,3 Honors and AP Spanish
French 1,2,3 Honors and AP French
American Sign Language 1, 2 and 3
Korean 2 and 3
(students can take language classes at Hebrew High School, online
[National University] , or at an accredited community college)
• 20 credits – 2 years with a C or better (validation rules apply)
• LAUSD and 4-year colleges require 2 years of the same language, but more is recommended
(Students can take
College Office staff) proficiency exams, SAT Subject Tests or AP tests – Ask

“F” Requirement:
Visual & Performing Arts
Drawing A/B
Advertising Design A/B
Calligraphy A/B
Band/Orchestra
American Image
Video Production
Theatre
Theatre Production
Theatre Ensemble
Choir/Vocal Ensemble
Instruments/Harmony/Guitar
Music History or Honors Music
History
• Students need 10 credits – must be the same class for the entire year (semester A and semester B)
• Must pass class with C or better

“G” Requirements:
Elective Courses
Examples of “G” Courses:
• Physics
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics 2
• AP Physics C
• 3 rd year of a language
• AP Spanish
• AP French
• AB Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• Geography – 1 semester class
• Psychology/Sociology
• AP Psychology
• Journalism
• AP European History
• AP World History
• Latin American Studies
• (1 semester)
• African American History (one semester)
• AP Human Geography

Physical Education 1A/B (9 th grade)
Physical Education 2A/B (10 th grade)
Dance- Dance Team/Cheer/Drill team (tryouts pending for teams, cheer & drill)
Sports team participation for 2 years or more- (pending tryouts, we also have certain sports for Fall semester and others for Spring)
Marching Dynamics (pending tryouts)
Fitness gram test – given in 9 th graduation grade Spring semester – must pass for
• 20 credits – 2 years (after 2 years completion can be used as elective credit)
• Must pass with D or better

Health can be taken outside of school in the summer at Options for
Youth/Opportunities for Learning, or Health 11 at an accredited community college

1. Pass CAHSEE (CA High School Exit Exam) – score of 350 or higher includes Language Arts and Math
This test is administered in 10 th grade and you must have 50 credits completed and passed to be eligible (can take until you pass)
2. Complete Service Learning requirement- talk with your Government/Economics/Health teacher and/or your counselor
3. D’s or F’s in the Core A-G classes must be retaken in summer school or adult school

• 9 th grade to 10 th grade – need 50 credits
• 10 th grade to 11 th grade – need 105 credits
• 11 th grade to 12 th grade – need 160 credits
Students need 210 credits to graduate from
LAUSD High School

• Students must apply for Honors and AP classes each year
• Lunchtime meetings are held in early March (dates and rooms are posted in Counseling Office, College Office and classrooms)
• There is an application process for enrollment in Honors and AP Courses – requirements apply
• Counselors only put students in these classes if they have been accepted by department heads

 How many colleges can you think of?
 3,000+ schools in the United States alone…
 DON’T FALL INTO THE NAME TRAP!
 Just because you haven’t heard of it, doesn’t mean it’s not an excellent school!

• Community Colleges – 2 year colleges
– (i.e. Pierce, Valley, Santa Monica, Moorpark, Glendale)
• California State Universities – 4 year universities
– (i.e. CSUN, CSULA, San Diego State, Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo)
• University of California – 4 year universities
– (i.e. UCB, UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, UCI, UCD, UCSC, UCR, UCM)
• Private Universities – 4 year colleges and universities
– (i.e. USC, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Cal Lutheran)

• Most schools take holistic approach
• Academics:
– Grades (Cs or better, Ds not accepted for college)
– Challenging coursework
– Concurrent enrollment in community college classes
• Test scores: SAT/ACT, Subject Tests (if required)
• Extracurricular activities at school:
– Sports, clubs, music, drama, leadership, etc.
• Community service / Volunteer work outside school:
– Find your passion! Make a commitment!

• Personal Essays (if required or optional)
– Leadership
– Life experience
– Personal qualities (what makes student unique and a good fit)
– Awards / recognition
• Letters of Recommendation (if required or optional; students must give counselors/teachers advanced notice)
• Participation in special programs
– Summer programs, internships, employment, etc.
• Special factors
– Talent, legacy, first in family to attend college, diversity, etc.

Every Taft student has 3 unique GPAs
• LAUSD: 9 th – 11 th grade marks on 4.0 scale, with
¼ pt. weighting for all AP classes (how senior ranking is determined; recalculated after 12 th grade fall final marks for ranking and graduation cords)
• UC/CSU: 10 th -11 th grade marks on 4.0 scale, (full pt. weighting for all AP classes and applicable honors courses) [see handout for details]
• Financial Aid: 10 th -11 th grade unweighted marks on 4.0 scale (excludes PE)

• 4-year vs. 2-year
• Housing
• Location
• Cost/Financial aid package
• Degrees offered
• Weather
• Extracurricular activities
• Size (small vs. big)
• Special programs
• Unique college life aspects
• Academic focus
What is the best fit for student?
Take a tour/virtual tour

• Safety schools
– must have AT LEAST ONE safety school
• Competitive schools
– likely to be accepted, not guaranteed
• Reach schools
– very competitive, may not be accepted
Pick schools in each category
UCLA, UCB, UCSD, and UCSB are
COMPETITIVE/REACH schools for everyone!

• March: Plan next year’s classes
• April: Think about SAT / ACT
• May: AP exams
• June-August:
– Have summer activities (volunteer, job, etc.)
– Increase GPA through college classes/summer school
– Explore possible career choices/educational goals
– College research

• Peer College Counselors • Scholarships
• Junior meetings
• Catalogs and brochures
• Application workshops
• College application help
• College rep visits
• Financial aid information
• Concurrent Enrollment
• Test prep materials
• Recommendations
• Senior Rank/GPAs