Pacifica Stories

At Pacifica, our STEM program is one of our coveted Signature Programs that is constantly expanding to meet the fast-paced changes of the industry. Our inquiry-based approach within the curriculum challenges students to grow into inquisitive scholars, independent thinkers, and innovative problem solvers. Read on to explore the various facets of our STEM department!

STEM COURSE OFFERINGS

A vibrant selection of courses is the foundation of our STEM program. Beyond the typical offerings for baseline science and math classes, our curriculum includes 7 STEM AP courses, honors options, engineering, and computer science classes. Below is a full list of our STEM course offerings: 

SCIENCE
Biology, AP Biology, Physics, AP Physics, Marine Biology, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology

TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
AP Computer Science, Intro to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Computer Science & Software Engineering

MATHEMATICS
Algebra I, Algebra II, Honors Algebra II, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics

STEM SCHOLARS & SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

Our STEM Scholars program is designed for students who are passionate about STEM fields of study. Students who successfully complete the program will graduate with STEM honors and receive a STEM endorsement on their official transcript. In addition to an above-average amount of required STEM courses (nine in total), scholars are required to complete a STEM-focused internship as well as a STEM Senior Project, which is a summative and comprehensive project employing the knowledge and skills that students have gained from their studies. To supplement these requirements, scholars are also invited to hear from guest speakers in the STEM industry and embark on field trips to research labs/science centers around Los Angeles.

Science Olympiad is another academic extracurricular that STEM-driven students can pursue. This club engages students in gathering notes and group studying for regional and national competitions that consist of different tests and/or building various devices. These assessments are college-level in difficulty, and help build studying, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Students participate in a combination of virtual and in-person competitions, where they bond with their teammates and go up against SciOly members from all around California. Last year, one of our groups placed 6th overall in their first tournament!

HYDROGEN CAR TEAM & AERIAL DRONE TEAM

Pacifica’s Hydrogen Car Team attracts students who are interested in mechanical engineering and want to pursue this interest beyond the classroom. Participants in this club spend the year constructing a remote-controlled hydrogen-powered car, and then preparing to race it in endurance competitions against other schools in the spring. Last year, our team narrowly missed advancing from the regional competition to state, and are hoping to surpass these efforts in the upcoming competition season. Club participants have the opportunity to be on the team as drivers, pit crew, support team, or as our team leader. 

Our newest STEM extracurricular is the Aerial Drone Team! This team is spearheaded by beloved faculty member Dr. David “Doc” Sumida, who also oversees the Hydrogen Car Team. This year, Pacifica hosted the first ever Aerial Drone Workshop in L.A. and will be kicking off competition season in the spring with the Mission 2024 Eclipse drone competition series. Check out highlights from this workshop on our YouTube channel!

Pacifica’s STEM program is unique in its desire to propel STEM-focused students into leadership positions that will further expose them to various parts of the STEM industry and allow them to explore these passions. We are already looking forward to seeing how these programs flourish this year and beyond!