The STEM Academy offers students unique experiences that allow them to ask questions bravely, build skills together and develop innovative and empathetic solutions to problems both big and small. We ask them to approach this journey with humility, tenacity and a collaborative spirit. Challenges that are currently facing society, such as climate change, access to clean drinking water, and the need for innovation to improve the human condition, are driven forward by core knowledge from STEM subjects and by exercising interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving. Our PBL STEM courses are standards-based and grounded in fundamental math, science and engineering practices, as well as crucial competences, such as proficient problem solving, effective and strategic communication, insightful model building, fearless trial and error learning, and the ability to maneuver within collaborative networks. We actively seek transformative experiences inside and outside the classroom to promote opportunity and diversity in STEM. To ensure that we aspire to and realize the STEM Academy mission and vision, we have shifted away from College Board Math and Science curricula. In lieu of Advanced Placement Science and Advanced Placement Mathematics classes, we offer dual enrollment courses with Santa Monica College, as well as a suite of challenging, upper-level honors courses.

The mission of the Humanities Academy is to develop in our students a lifelong love of learning, strong critical thinking skills, and a faith-filled empathy. Through a skills-based, standards-aligned curriculum, we strive to connect students with a variety of cultures, traditions, histories and ways of thinking. Ultimately, we hope our students graduate with an understanding of their role within their local and global communities and with a desire to advocate for others, whose experiences they have come to better understand as a result of our curriculum and instructional methodologies and practices. Follow this link to learn more about specific classes and programs. 

The Visual and Performing Arts Academy provides aspiring artists a different lens with which to see the world as visionary citizens in our vast changing world. As a department we cultivate students’ passion and talent through our student-centered (or student-focused) philosophy integrating performance, theory, creativity and academic rigor. Our 41 courses are designed to meet students where they are so that we can: challenge their own perception of their artistic abilities; support them as they master new techniques; and guide them to find and foster their individual voice through the arts. Our vision is to provide our students with experiences in redefining what it means to be an artist. Our graduates will encounter an exemplary Arts education that will: prepare them to utilize their skills in prestigious Art colleges; succeed in groundbreaking careers across multiple disciplines; and nurture their passion so they become lifelong scholars of the arts.

Advanced Placement Capstone is a Diploma Program developed by the College Board that consists of two classes: AP Seminar and AP Research. To qualify for the Diploma, students must earn a score of 3 or better in at least four Advanced Placement classes, plus a score of 3 or better in AP Seminar and AP Research. AP Seminar is taken typically in Grade 10 and AP Research is typically taken in Grade 11 or Grade 12. Through any subject area of the student’s choice, skills such as critical thinking, collaborating, public speaking and conducting in-depth research will be highly developed at the college level.