Academics

High School

Immaculate Heart High School offers all students a rigorous college preparatory program that exceeds the requirements for admission to the University of California. Virtually 100% of our students go on to college immediately after graduation, often to some of the most prestigious in the country. 

Students are encouraged to maximize their academic potential by enrolling in the many honors, advanced placement and elective classes we offer. Students must complete 245 credits for graduation (5 credits per class, per semester). Honors and advanced placement classes are offered in English, social studies, mathematics, science, foreign language, art and computer science. 

Browse by Department

A typical 9th grade program includes:

  • Theology 
  • English I or Honors English I
  • Mathematics: Algebra I, Geometry, or Honors Geometry
  • French or Spanish (I or II or III)
  • World Civilizations I or Honors World Civilizations I
  • Elective: Biology, Visual Arts and Performing Arts, or Intro to Computer Science
  • Health and Fitness

Graduation Requirements

List of 13 items.

  • Computer Science: 10 Credits

    Students must complete one year of Computer Science.  Introduction to Computer Science is the entry class, however advanced students can place into AP Computer Science Principles.

  • English: 40 Credits

    English 1, American Literature and World Literature or AP English Language and two senior English electives (one semester each) or AP English Literature.

  • Language: 30 Credits

    At least through third year of study.

  • Mathematics: 30 Credits

    Students must complete Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II before receiving credit for additional courses.

    Additional math courses are highly recommended.

  • Physical Education: 10 Credits

    Starting with the class of 2021, all freshmen will take one year of Health and Fitness, meeting the graduation requirement.  Transfer students and current students (class of 2019, 2020) must complete any two semester courses or two seasons on a sports team to meet the PE requirements.

  • Science: 20 Credits

    Biology and Chemistry

    Additional science courses are highly recommended.

  • Social Studies: 40 Credits

    World Civilizations I, World Civilizations II or AP European History, US History, Economics (one semester) and US Government (one semester)

  • Theology: 40 Credits

    Sacred Scriptures (first semester)
    The New Testament (second semester)
    Love, Choices, and Vocations (one semester)
    Sacraments, Church, and Liturgy (one semester)
    The Paschal Mystery (one semester)
    Contemporary Moral Issues (one semester)
    Two senior Theology electives (one semester each)

  • Community Service: 5 Credits

    Four years of Community Service (1.25 credits per year).

  • Visual & Performing Arts: 10 Credits

    One UC-approved, 10 credit (year-long) visual arts or performing arts course.

  • Upper Division Electives: 10 Credits

    Courses must be chosen from English, language, mathematics, science, social studies, or visual and performing arts upper division electives.

  • Elective Credits: 10 Credits

    Elective credits may be chosen from any area.

  • 255 Total Credits

    Five credits are awarded for completion of one semester of work in a course.

Electives

The electives offered vary by year and offer students the opportunity to explore areas of interest that go beyond the standard curriculum. Below is a listing of current and recent electives.

List of 7 items.

  • Computer Science

    • Advanced Topics in Computer Science

  • English

    • Creative Writing
    • Journalism
    • Shakespeare
    • Women in Literature
    • Ethnic Women Writers
    • Monstro: Exploring Monsters in Literature from Beowulf to Today
    • Literature of War
    • LA Noir: Studies in Mystery Fiction

  • Laboratory Science

    • Physiology
    • Marine Biology
    • Physics

  • Mathematics

    • Precalculus
    • Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications
    • Statistics and Probability
    • AP Statistics

  • Social Studies

    • Supreme Court
    • Psychology

  • Theology

    • Justice and Peace
    • Religions of the World
    • Spirituality in Literature
    • Women's Studies

  • Visual & Performing Arts

    • Drawing and Painting
    • Illustration I & II
    • Yearbook
    • Studio Art
    • Honors Studio Art
    • Advanced Placement Studio Art
    • Graphic Design
    • Digital Photography
    • Printmaking
    • 3D Sculpture & Design
    • Drama: Voices & Movement
    • Drama: Intro to Directing
    • Drama: Characters from Texts
    • Drama: Physical Comedy & Solo Performance
    • Modern Dance I & II
    • Women's Chorus
    • Life Drawing
    • Speech and Debate

Honors & AP Courses

Honors level courses, open to students by recommendation of individual departments, are more rigorous than the regular college-preparatory classes. Because these courses demand more reading, additional writing assignments and extensive home study, a student needs to consider carefully the number of honors courses she should take in one year.

Advanced Placement courses are designed for those students who wish to pursue college-level studies while in high school.  Colleges grant credit, and often advanced standing, to those students who do well on the Advanced Placement examinations in May. Advanced Placement classes require consistently high quality work along with extra time on the part of the student in reading, research, writing essays and independent study. Students who enroll in these classes commit themselves to taking the Advanced Placement exam in May. FEE: Students are billed for each Advanced Placement exam.

Enrollment in honors level and Advanced Placement courses requires department approval. Some courses may be offered every other year.

Immaculate Heart offers the following Honors and AP Classes:

List of 8 items.

  • Computer Science

    • Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles

  • English

    • Advanced Placement English Language
    • Advanced Placement English Literature
    • Honors American Literature
    • Honors English I

  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    • Advanced Placement Seminar
    • Advanced Placement Research

  • Laboratory Science

    • Advanced Placement Biology
    • Advanced Placement Chemistry
    • Advanced Placement Physics
    • Honors Biology
    • Honors Chemistry

  • Language

    • Advanced Placement Spanish Language
    • Advanced Placement Spanish Language for Spanish Speakers
    • Advanced Placement Spanish Literature
    • Honors French II
    • Honors French III
    • Honors Spanish II
    • Honors Spanish II for Spanish Speakers
    • Honors Spanish III
    • Honors Spanish III for Spanish Speakers

  • Mathematics

    • Advanced Placement Calculus
    • Advanced Placement Statistics
    • Honors Algebra II with Trigonometry
    • Honors Geometry

  • Social Studies

    • Advanced Placement European History
    • Advanced Placement Psychology
    • Advanced Placement United States Government
    • Advanced Placement United States History
    • Honors World Civilizations I

  • Visual & Performing Arts

    • Advanced Placement Art History
    • Advanced Placement Studio Art
    • Honors Studio Art

Immaculate Heart High School & Middle School

5515 Franklin Avenue • Los Angeles, California 90028
phone: (323) 461-3651 • fax: (323) 462-0610
A Catholic, independent college preparatory school for girls in grades 6 through 12, Immaculate Heart has been located on a beautiful hillside property in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles since our founding by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1906. We celebrate more than a century of nurturing the spiritual, intellectual, social and moral development of students as they distinguish themselves as women of great heart and right conscience.