Requirements for Castilleja Graduation, UC, and General College Admission Each Castilleja student’s curricular choices should start with Castilleja’s graduation requirements. Castilleja’s graduation requirements meet or exceed the minimum eligibility requirements for college admission; Castilleja graduates will be eligible for admission to any college or university. (We have included a chart below with more details.) Please note that meeting or exceeding these requirements and recommendations does not guarantee admission to any specific college, nor does following a different curricular pattern preclude admission to a college. We do recommend that most Castilleja students exceed our minimum requirements. We encourage students to register for some Honors and/or Advanced Topics (AT) courses when it is appropriate for their level and interests. Most selective colleges are seeking students that have chosen reasonable challenge from within the available high school curriculum. In other words, colleges ask that students take some courses from among the most rigorous courses available at Castilleja, not all of them. Students should develop a balanced curriculum each year in Upper School that allows them to experience the breadth and depth of our curricular offerings, explore their interests in particular subject areas, and maintain their health and well-being outside of the classroom. There is not a single path through Castilleja’s curriculum, and we encourage each student to explore and take risks along the way. The Castilleja College Counselors are available throughout this process to offer guidance and advice—rising seniors must approve their course selection with their Castilleja College Counselor. Upper School students must take a minimum of four courses per semester to be considered a full-time student in good standing. Castilleja strongly recommends that students limit themselves to no more than four Advanced Topics (AT) courses per semester. Students taking five AT courses should limit themselves to only five courses total. For in depth information about the college process at Castilleja, including standardized testing advice, please refer to the Castilleja College Guide as well as the College Counseling section of the Castilleja Parent and Upper School Portals. UC System Minimum Course Requirements*
Non-UC System Suggested Course Requirements**
Computer Science & Engineering
Castilleja Graduation Requirements Intro to Computer Science in Java
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English
4 years
4 years
4 years
Fitness and Wellness
2 years
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History-Social Science
3 years, including Global Identities & Institutions, Individual & Society, US Government, & US History
2 years; additional courses strengthen application
3-4 years
Mathematics
Algebra II, Geometry, & one additional year
3 years required; additional courses strengthen application
3-4 years, taken in grades 9-12, through Precalculus or Calculus
Science
3 years of a lab science, including physics, chemistry, & biology
2 years of a college prep science required; additional courses strengthen application
3-4 years of a lab science
Visual and Performing Arts
2 years, including Expl. in the Arts, Level I & II in a single discipline, & 1 additional semester
1 year (2 semesters) in a single arts discipline; additional courses strengthen application
1-2 years or more, according to interest
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