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Fairmont Prep Academy’s STEM Programs put students in the lead, preparing them for top college majors in science, engineering, and computer science. Learners drive outcomes in the Advanced Science & Engineering Program (ASEP), Advanced Mathematics, and Robotics, combining AP-level and exclusive Honors science courses with real-world problem-based learning.
Innovate and experiment in Orange County’s “Best Private School for STEM“ (Newsweek), through unparalleled flagship Advanced Science & Engineering Program (ASEP), Advanced Mathematics, and Robotics programs.
Pursue a career within the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields, gaining entrance to elite STEM colleges in the US, including MIT, Ivy League, Stanford, UC Berkley, Penn, John Hopkins University, and California Institute of Technology.
Experience individualized academic and college counseling from dedicated program counselors, benefitting from a low student-to-counselor ratio, 1:1 mentoring, group sessions, university fairs, and meetings with college reps.
Build creativity, critical thinking, autonomy, and global citizenship through the ISP life skills framework, growing into capable problem-solvers, knowledgeable communicators, and inquisitive learners.
Enhance multilingual skills by choosing Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), or American Sign Language, becoming confident and fluent in more than one world language.
Live the American way and make unforgettable connections in our Homestay Program, welcoming international students into safe, supportive families or an external boarding dorm with 24/7 guidance from our staff.
Benefit from personalized interventions including Social-Emotional Learning, mental health counseling, Flex Period, academic assistance, and English support through the International Foundation Center and adapted classes.
Enjoy experiences and opportunities that foster a deep love of science and technology through participation in research projects and internships in renowned universities, the Kennedy Space Center, Boeing Engineering Week, and NASA's lab.
Gain hands-on experience in fully equipped, university-level laboratories. Utilize advanced equipment, including PCR thermal cyclers, gel electrophoresis apparatuses, and tissue culture hoods.
Enroll with ease in our STEM Programs, guided by our friendly admissions team every step of the way, with additional support for international families.
Students in our STEM Programs perform exceptionally well both in academic examinations and competitions, including the prestigious American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP), and USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO).
4.63
avg. GPA for ASEP students
1402
avg. SAT for ASEP students (vs 1050 national avg.)
4.5
Avg. GPA for Advanced Math students
11
Advanced Math students qualified for the AIME
1
Silver medal earned in USAMO
Qualification to MOP
Fairmont’s ASEP empowers students to excel in STEM, preparing them for top science and engineering colleges. Students complete 230 credits, combining rigorous core subjects and electives at College Preparatory (CP), Honors (H), and Advanced Placement (AP), and fulfill 20 hours of community service each year. All our courses are UC approved.
The pathway is designed for those planning to major in science, engineering, or related fields, ensuring every student builds the expertise and confidence to thrive in university and beyond.
Biotechnology gel electrophoresis
Audrey, biometrical engineering at Yale
At our American High School in California, students challenge themselves in ASEP, combining AP courses with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics. Advanced math options let students push boundaries and prep for college-level work. Every year, learners take a core ASEP course focused on problem-solving, creativity, and real-world application.
ASEP freshmen start strong in Methodologies in Science & Engineering (H), exploring key concepts and skills for science and engineering. Problem-based learning drives active engagement, as students tackle modern problems and share ideas.
Classroom assignments, projects, lab reports, presentations, and exams help students track progress and celebrate growth.
Required for ASEP sophomores, Bioengineering (H) highlights how biology, engineering, and material sciences converge in top-notch innovations like 3D organ printing and the Human Genome Project.
Students work together on activities spanning electrical and mechanical engineering, computer science, chemistry, and biology, including building EKGs, developing personal care products, and investigating genetic engineering and nanotechnology. The course challenges students to consider ethical questions raised by new technologies.
Organic Chemistry (H) offers students a rigorous introduction to college-level organic chemistry, covering the structure and reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, carboxylic acids, amines, alcohols, esters, ethers, and aromatic compounds. Students learn to determine compound structures using analytic methods such as IR spectrometry, NMR, and UV-Vis.
The course connects organic chemistry to applications in society and medicine, blending theory with hands-on analysis and interpretation.
At our international school in Anaheim, learners are introduced to foundational engineering design principles and practices, while exploring current and emerging challenges in the field. Projects including the solar oven, catapult, helicopter blade design, prosthetic hand, and 3D printing for clean water access provide hands-on, project-based learning modeled after the University of Arizona’s Engineering 102 course.
Dual enrollment allows students to earn 3 semester units of university credit, blending high school and collegiate experience for a truly advanced start in engineering.
At Fairmont Preparatory Academy, students experience hands-on programming and artificial intelligence. The first semester covers Assembly, C++, Python, stacks, queues, searches, sorts, graph properties, and tree algorithms. In the second semester, students apply these skills to AI, tackling heuristic searches, building game AI, using AIMA, and mastering PyTorch for machine learning.
Throughout the year, students design and develop their own software application, moving from research to development, and build real software engineering skills, project planning expertise, and confidence in applying AI to contemporary challenges.
An aspirational journey through Biotechnology (H) immerses students in the latest molecular and cellular bioscience technologies, combining instruction, hands-on application, and dynamic discussion. Learners practice and demonstrate advanced procedures, analyze data, and interpret results, while presenting research using current primary literature.
Success is measured through memoranda detailing procedures and findings, active participation in discussions, periodic assessments, and a culminating biotech design project.
Recognition comes to ASEP students who complete hands-on research or internships in their field, meeting requirements for observation, participation, and documentation.
Written pre-approval, a duties description, a log of hours, a summary of experiences, and a post-evaluation from the professional ensure students receive school credit while learning and growing.
Students complete their education progressing with the Fairmont standard curriculum, based on the American High School curriculum, carefully designed to prepare students for collegiate study and analysis. They build their own curriculum choosing from subjects in the following departments.
Students develop critical thinking skills through the study of the human experience, exploring Human Geography, World History, US History, Government and Politics, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Criminal Justice and Law, and Personal Finance.
Students comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate a wide range and level of complex texts across genres, recognizing the impact of linguistic, literary, and rhetorical elements through English, Writing and Language Seminar, and English Literature and Composition.
Students develop logical, critical and creative thinking, patience and persistence in problem-solving, along with high-level reasoning through Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, Statistics, Advanced Coding and AI Applications, and Complex Analysis.
Learners become informed citizens who think critically and have the ability to engage in scientific inquiry and analysis, employing rigorous methodologies to investigate phenomena in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Quantum Physics & Computing, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Computer Science, and Game Development.
Students explore a range of topics varying from daily life to more abstract ideas related to global issues in a second language, while exploring a different culture through Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), and American Sign Language courses.
Learners explore their chosen creative expressions and develop perceptual and analytical skills in Fashion Design, Visual Arts, Graphic Design, Art History, Speech and Debate, Yearbook, Film, Digital Filmmaking, Rehearsal & Performance, Music Theory, Concert Choir, Technical Theatre, and Chamber Ensemble.
Students expand their horizons by choosing a skill-building elective that goes beyond the classroom through Strategies for Success, Advanced Speech and Debate, Academic Decathlon, and Leadership/Associated Student Body.
Students demonstrate proficiency in a variety of physical activities, exhibiting competency in fundamental movement skills, coordination, and physical fitness through - Health, Physical Education, Yoga, Weightlifting, Contract Sport, CIF/Interscholastic Sports, and Strength and Conditioning.
Every day at The Prep is filled with transformative learning experiences that prepare students to confidently lead their paths. While timetables vary across weekdays, here's a glimpse into what happens in our STEM Programs.
8:00am – 9:25amFirst classes of the day with a deep dive on project-based learning and critical thinking.
9:25am – 9:35A time to recharge and relax while meeting with classmates.
9:35am – 11:00amLab sessions that focus con inquiry, discovery, and experimentation.
11:00am – 11:45amWholesome and healthy meal shared with friends in a convivial setting.
11:45am – 1:10pmIn-depth classes that spark curiosity, build confidence, and prepare students for college entrance exams.
1:10pm – 1:20pmA moment to get ready for the final classes of the day.
1:20pm – 2:45pmFinal learning sessions, building specialized academic knowledge and essential life competencies.
Through specialized STEAM Programs, students at Fairmont Private School in Orange County get ready to excel, succeed, and innovate empowered by a stimulating environment where ideas become a reality.
Enjoy personalized learning that continuously enhances knowledge, skills, and understanding.
Gain essential life skills to thrive in academics, as well as careers and personal lives.
Develop proficiency in at least one world language, while being supported in home or first languages.
Try global skill-building programs and activities that develop critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership.
Benefit from personalized guidance for university and career choices, supporting your chosen path.
Students' progresses are tracked through rigorous methods that mirror college-level expectations, including:
Formative assessments - quizzes, in-class tasks and quick assignments, from lab worksheets to code debugging
Summative assessments - tests, lab practicals, project reports, and design reflections
Advanced Placement and external exams
Project and competition-based assessments
Individualized monitoring - grades, assignments, project outcomes, and competition results
Goal-setting and reflection - with checks in mid-term and end-term to reflect on growth
Equity and inclusion - special attention to representation and support for under-represented groups is ensured. With a majority of STEM teachers being women, students see role models who reinforce confidence and belonging.
Students in STEM Programs step up and solve real problems, connecting ideas across science and engineering with an ethical lens. They get curious, ask "Why?" and push boundaries, extrapolating beyond what’s observed to imagine what’s possible.
Learners build strong relationships with peers, teachers, and experts, sharing ideas and driving innovation together. Every project is a rehearsal space for empathy and inquiry, helping students reflect on their place in science and engineering.
Students lead discussions, practice scientific habits of mind, and shape their own learning journey. They grow as problem-solvers, communicators, and inquirers, ready to adapt, collaborate, and thrive in any field.
At our American High School in California, students become confident multilingual communicators. Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), and American Sign Language courses are offered at College Prep, Honors or AP level, so students choose the pathway that matches their fluency and ambition. They apply their learning in academic and career settings, reflect on language and culture, and collaborate in a global community.
International students get tailored support and fast-track English fluency through Adapted classes, ensuring everyone thrives and builds the skills to succeed at school, in college, and beyond.
American Sign Language is available as a foreign language, offering students the chance to master a new mode of communication while engaging with the history and values of the ASL community.
In our STEM Programs learning goes beyond textbooks and students engage in simulating opportunities, including:
Guest speakers - Prep alumni from USC Med School, former students presenting their NASA SUITS project, presenter from the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, female engineer, and Principal Engineer – Privacy & Security at Google
Academic competitions - including UCLA/CNSI Nanovation Challenge, OCSEF, and USABO
Formalized workshops - to network with peers, listen to keynote professionals, and present prototypes
Field trips - including iFLY Indoor Skydiving – Ontario Learners also take part in ISP's ILOS experiences, including ISP Scientists, and meet with peers from all over the world.
Starting in Grade 9, students get real, personalized college guidance for STEM careers and universities. An academic counsellor works closely with students in Grades 9 - 10, supporting goal-setting and progress tracking. From Grade 11, learners transition to the college counselling team, diving deeper into applications, interviews, and competitive admissions.
With an outstanding student-to-counselor ratio of 85:1, compared to California’s average of 521:1, students connect with dedicated program counselors who know their goals and strengths.
Through 1:1 mentoring, group sessions, four-year planning, and college prep training, students lead their journey, set ambitious targets, and get ready to step into top STEM programs.
Advanced Mathematics Program
Our Advanced Mathematics Program is recognized by College Board and Siemens and challenges students with university-level courses including Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Number Theory, Complex Analysis, and Abstract Algebra. Participation in this rigorous curriculum challenges students intellectually, deepens their passion for mathematics, and cultivates advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills typically encountered only at the collegiate level. As a result, graduates of the program are exceptionally well-prepared to excel, not only in mathematics, but in all their classes at the nation’s most selective universities.
Robotics Program
Students get hands-on with robotics, turning big ideas into real-world solutions. They design, build, and program robots using advanced hardware and software, working side by side with professional engineers. Every project is a team effort, fueling the passion behind the Huskyteers, our internationally recognized robotics teams. Students step up at global competitions, solve tough challenges, and grow in confidence with every build. Robotics students qualify for more than $80 million in college scholarships from 200 universities.
ASEP, Advanced Math, and Robotics students gain access to the most prestigious STEM universities in the United States, often exceeding college admission requirements.
Acceptance rate in Top 100 colleges
United States
United Kingdom
I had the unique opportunity to sit in at a freshman class in Duke University.
Sitting there and listening to those presentations kind of made me realize that my curriculum at my own school was very very similar to that of a Top 20 university. Just being a part of ASEP in general makes me feel really prepared for a college and afterwards.
Camille
Student, Class of 2019
Entering science and engineering competitions is really valuable because it affords students the opportunity to apply the things they learn in the classroom – beyond what’s in the textbook – in very meaningful ways
Carolyn Lucia
Head of School
ASEP’s advanced science curriculum moves students beyond foundational knowledge into authentic scientific and engineering practice.
Anchored by core courses in Methodologies in Science and Engineering and Bioengineering, students then pursue advanced study aligned with their interests through options such as Organic Chemistry, Biotechnology, university-level Engineering, and Advanced Coding Languages and AI.
Megha Shah
Current ASEP Director & Science Department Chair
Students can enroll at Fairmont Prep Academy's flagship STEM programs in Grade 9, though they may join in their Grade 10 year, depending on preparation and available space. Our admissions team is always available to guide you through the admissions process, with additional support for international families.
Excel in STEM and drive innovation at Fairmont Preparatory Academy through college-level courses in our flagship ASEP, Advanced Mathematics, and Robotics Programs.
