The Program in America and California Explorations (PACE) is a small learning community at John F. Kennedy High School. PACE is a California themed college preparation program with an emphasis on Advanced Placement courses. The goal is to ensure that all PACE students are prepared to attend and succeed at competitive four-year colleges and universities. Each PACE student takes a rigorous college-prep curriculum and uniquely designed English and history courses with an emphasis on California history, government, and literature, emphasizing writing across the curriculum. PACE English and social science classes are blocked in the freshman year and follow a modified block in the sophomore year. Junior and senior English and social sciences classes are traditional schedule and most PACE students are with the same English and social science teachers, so students benefit from a close-knit environment of a small learning community, yet have access to all the benefits of a large school.