Valley High School (Sacramento, California)

"For schools of the same name, see Valley High School"

Valley High School is a high school in Sacramento, California that is part of the Elk Grove Unified School District. It is located at 6300 Ehrhardt Avenue, next to the Cosumnes River College in south Sacramento. It was established in 1977.

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 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 us of the great Sacramento Valley and the vast meadowlands that once covered south Sacramento.

Academics

Valley High School is often not considered a high achieving school locally. However, it has been recognized nationally; Valley High School ranked in the top 1,300 high schools in the United States by Newsweek in 2008.

The school has doubled 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. [ [http://www.egusd.net/news/spotlight/index.cfm Valley High School Students Get a Start on College] ]

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. Fernan Tolentino, competed in the Senior Group Exhibit (1998) and 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. [ [http://www.nationalhistoryday.org/2007Winners.htm#117131 National History Day 2007 Finalists] ]

College Readiness Programs

Advancement Via Individual Determination

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. [ [http://www.egusd.net/news/spotlight/index.cfm Valley High School Students Get a Start on College] ]

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. [ [http://www.egusd.net/news/spotlight/index.cfm Valley High School Students Get a Start on College] ]

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.

Teacher Academy

The Teacher Academy provides students an opportunity to explore the field of education.

Health TECH Academy

The Health TECH Academy introduces students to the medical field.

Junior Air Force ROTC

The Junior Air Force ROTC program provides students with a background in the Air Force and military.

Notable Alumni

Athletics

* Robert Awalt - seven-year NFL tight end
* Rae Carruth - former NFL wide receiver he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder of his girlfriend
* Keith Lewis - safety for the San Francisco 49ers
* Charles Mann - 12-year defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins
* Jamie Nieto - finished fourth in the high jump at the 2004 Summer Olympics
* Marshall Sperbeck - Sacramento State University football coach
* Fernando Viña - 12-year infielder for five MLB teams

Politics

* George A. Plescia - State Assemblyman, former Republican leader

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.

External links

* [http://www.egusd.net/valley/ Official website]
* [http://www.egusd.net/schools/vhs.cfm Information about VHS on the Elk Grove Unified website]