How to raise my gpa?

<p>I'm an international student who was currently transferred to a private high school in CA. Since I'm Junior now, I have to seriously think about my status, especially my gpa, for the college admission. My weighted gpa of this first quarter was 4.38, and my unweighted gpa was 4.0. Since I had been homeschooling in my country until the last year, my gpa of this year would decide my total gpa. This year I'm taking five regular classes and three AP classes. Because of rule of my school, I have to take three regular classes, including religion, elective and PE, for graduation. Since I've never learnt English or US History in the United States, I wasn't allowed to take honor or AP of these classes. This rule and restriction of my choice of class are preventing me from getting high weighted gpa. In the last year, I took 4 AP exams without taking AP class and got high score in each of them(I learned these in my country). So, I can take AP class in online and easily raise my weighted gpa. Actually, I've already finished two AP classes in online, and I expect that I can finish two more AP classes in online in this school year. However, if I can quit taking my PE and elective by holding off on them for my Senior year, I would be able to get higher gpa.</p>

<p>Do you think that holding off on these two classes for the next year can be a good choice for my college admission? If I would hold off on them, I can get 4.6 gpa at maximum in this year. Do universities usually include the Senior year to calculate the cumulative weighted GPA? Since I heard from my counselor that I need at least 4.5 gpa to be accepted by so-called prestigious universities(I know that gpa is just one of many factors), I'm really worried by my current low gpa.</p>