Academics

High School

Grades 9-12

Immaculate Heart High School offers all students a rigorous college preparatory program that exceeds the requirements for admission to colleges within the UC system and propels virtually 100% of our students  to college immediately following 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 offered. 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. 

Explore Our Curriculum

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, Honors Biology, Visual Arts and Performing Arts, or Intro to Computer Science
  • Health and Fitness

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 6 items.

  • 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

    • Engineer Your World
    • Marine Biology
    • Physics
    • Physiology

  • Mathematics

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

  • Social Studies

    • Psychology
    • Supreme Court

  • Theology

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

  • Visual & Performing Arts

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

Honors & AP Courses

Honors level courses, open to students by recommendation of individual departments, are more rigorous than regular college-preparatory classes, often involving additional reading, writing assignments and extensive home study.

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. 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 to taking Advanced Placement exams in May. Note: 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

    • Honors Advanced Topics in Computer Science
    • Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles

  • English

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

  • Interdisciplinary Studies

    • Advanced Placement Seminar
    • Advanced Placement Research

  • Laboratory Science

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

  • Language

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

  • Mathematics

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

  • Social Studies

    • Honors World Civilizations I
    • Advanced Placement Modern World History
    • Advanced Placement United States History
    • Advanced Placement United States Government

  • Visual & Performing Arts

    • Advanced Placement Art History
    • Advanced Placement Studio Art

Graduation Requirements

  • 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.
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Contact

5515 Franklin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028

hello@immaculateheart.org
Phone: 323-461-3651

Quicklinks

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.