Valley High School (Sacramento, California)

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For other schools of the same name, see Valley High School (disambiguation).
Valley High School
File:Valley High School, Sacramento, California.JPG
Address
6300 Ehrhardt Ave
Sacramento, California, Sacramento County 95823
United States of America
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Information
Established 1977
School district Elk Grove Unified School District
Principal Chelsea Bowler
Colour(s)               
Mascot Vikings
Rival Elk Grove High School Florin High School
Feeder schools Samuel Jackman Middle School
Website Official website

Valley High School is a 9th-12th grade college preparatory high school located in Sacramento County, California, near the city limits of Elk Grove, California and Sacramento, California. The school was established in 1977 as part of the Elk Grove Unified School District. Valley's mascot is the Vikings and their cross town rivals are the Elk Grove High School Thundering Herd and the Florin High School Panthers

History

Valley was Elk Grove's second comprehensive and traditional high school. The new school was built to serve the northern part of the huge 320-square-mile (830 km2) district, which covered a large portion of south Sacramento. The name chosen for the high school was intended to reflect the Valley Hi community, which was then one of the newer subdivisions in the south area. It was also chosen to remind local citizens of the great Sacramento Valley and the vast meadowlands that once covered south Sacramento.

Academics

Valley High School has a similar school ranking of a 10 (the highest there is on the API). Valley has seen an increase in its CST scores for nine years. Valley has been recognized nationally; Valley High School ranked in the top 1,300 high schools in the United States by Newsweek in 2008.[citation needed] Students from Valley are currently attending college at Cornell, Brown, UCLA, U.C. Berkeley, Stanford, U.C. Davis, CSUS, Howard, and many other colleges.

The school has increased the number of students completing A-G requirements from 21 percent in 2005 to 30 percent in 2007. The number of Valley High School students who successfully completed CSU applications rose by 56 percent from 2005 to 2007. The number of students taking the PSAT rose from a 4 percent participation rate in 2005-2006 to 80 percent in 2007-2008. During the same time period, the EGUSD participation rate rose from 16 percent to 79 percent in 2007-2008. The numbers of students participating are now far higher than the state level at 34 percent and the nation at 37 percent.[1]

Academic Competitions

National History Day

Valley has developed a strong National History Day program, sending several teams to the state competition regularly as well as the national competition. In 1996, two teams reached the state finals in the Senior Group Exhibit and Senior Group Documentary categories. The documentary group was the state alternate to represent California in the National History Day competition. In 1997, two projects, in the Senior Group Performance and Senior Individual Exhibit category went on to the National history Day competition. Bobby G. Roy, a senior, competed in the Senior Individual Exhibit category with his project "The Unforeseen Triumph of a Tragic Event: The Port Chicago Mutiny" and won second place in the nation.[2] Fernan Tolentino, Cathrin Long, Jenny Duong, and Elaine Abelaye competed in the Senior Group Exhibit (1998) taking 3rd place at Nationals, with "Shattered Lives: The Five Migrations of the Ahwahneechee (Yosemite Miwok)" and Fernan Tolentino again in Senior Individual Exhibit (1999) at the National History Day competition. In 2007, three students advanced to nationals in the Senior Group Exhibit category and won second place.[3]

College Readiness Programs

Advancement Via Individual Determination

Valley High School has the longest running National Demonstration AVID program in Northern California. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. AVID’s emphasis is on ensuring all students have an opportunity to be eligible for a four-year college or university. The Valley High AVID program has 98 percent of its graduates attending a four-year university or college. The AVID program serves roughly 400 kids at Valley High School. The program pushes students into the Honors and AP classes and then teaches them the skills to be successful in those classes. The AVID program is one of the main reasons for the schools similar school ranking of a 10 (the highest there is on the API).[1]

Cosumnes River College As Soon As Possible

In Cosumnes River College As Soon As Possible (CRC ASAP), counselors meet with seniors and assiste them in the completion of CRC applications. As a result 98 percent of the senior class successfully completed and submitted their applications to CRC in 2007-08. Students are then given the opportunity to take their English and Math placement tests at Valley.[1]

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness Program

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness Program (GEAR UP) is a federal program of the U.S. Department of Education. This program offers information, resources, and support services for students, families, teachers, counselors, and administrators.

Health TECH Academy

The award winning Health TECH Academy establishes pathways for students to excel in their A-G classes as well as learning about the health fields. The Health Tech Academy at Valley High School has a partnership with U.C. Berkeley and Kaiser Hospitals. Students construct Health care projects based on issues facing various groups within the South Sacramento community alongside the guidance of doctors in the Sacramento region. Students put on health fairs throughout the South Sacramento and Elk Grove region each school year. The health field has the most jobs, which makes this academy perfect for students.

Junior Air Force ROTC

The award winning Junior Air Force ROTC program provides students with a background in the Air Force and military. JROTC provides students with discipline, structure, and leadership skills.

Notable alumni

Athletics

Politics

Social Sciences

Friends of Valley

In 2007, four former Valley faculty members and one current faculty member (Michelle Khayat, Formerly of Valley Counseling; Vanette Kirkland, English Department; Ralph Schmitcke, Social Studies Department (Retired); Jay Tinsman, Social Studies Department (Retired); and Valerie Welch, English Department (Retired)) began a campaign to create a perpetual scholarship to honor and support Valley students who go on to college.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Valley High School Students Get a Start on College
  2. ↑ [1]
  3. ↑ National History Day 2007 Finalists

External links

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