Academics is our primary mission therefore, we offer several levels of academics to fit the needs of all students.

Applied Arts(AA)

This is the basic level of high school graduation course work.  Typically, students move through the curriculum in a slower, less intense fashion with most course work completed during class time. Acceptable for high school graduation but not typically acceptable to a four-year college or university directly out of high school. Usually a student is planning on attending a community college, vocational or training school right out of high school with this level of study.

College Prep (C)

This is the minimum level of course work a four-year university or college will accept for entry directly out of high school.  Typically, this level has homework four to five nights a week, has a broader, richer curriculum and is for the "average" student. 

Honors (H)

This level is largely offered in the 9th and 10th grades prior to beginning the Advance Placement level of course work in 11th and 12th grades.  This level includes the broadest and deepest level of study combined with a much faster pace. Students are expected to be more self-motivated, responsible, and committed to academics.  Homework is nightly and on week-ends.  Honors and Advance Placement levels of student come with a weighted grade point average as an incentive and reward to students for taking this elective level of course work.  For example, if a student earns an "A" in the College Prep or Applied Arts levels, it is calculated as 4 points and a "B" at 3 points whereas in the Honors and AP levels, an "A" is calculated at 5 points and a "B" at 4 points. In this way, a student taking mainly Honors and AP levels of course work over four years of high school and earning a majority of "A"s and "B"s can graduate with more than a 4.0 GPA. This is the preferred level of academics for four year college / university entrance directly out of high school.

Advance Placement (AP)

The highest level of academics on a high school campus, AP courses are college level courses taught in the high school. Part of the national program overseen and administered by The College Board (www.collegeboard.com), AP courses are rigorous, demanding, intensely academic and exciting, preparing students to take national exams in May.  Any student may enroll in any AP course (prerequisites recommended in both World Languages and Math) as long as they are willing and interested in working at the most difficult levels.  Once enrolled, students may drop up to or at the 6 week grading period of the fall semester only, with no reflection on their transcript. After this point, students may drop at the semester, but the grade they earn will be reflected on their transcript.  All students are expected to take and pay for the AP exams which are administered the first two weeks in May here at West Hills.   Fee waivers do exist for hardship via a short application handled here at West Hills.