The following shares general information about our elementary schools, junior highs and high schools.

Elementary Schools
Each of the eight elementary schools and one early childhood center, like each of the more than 4,800 children who attend them, has a unique personality. However, the elementary schools share these characteristics:

• Emphasis upon mastery of the basic skills
• Coordinated curriculum, kindergarten through sixth grade
• Reading specialist in each school
• Enrichment and remedial activities to meet the needs of individual students
• Well-rounded programs in art, music and physical education
• Integrated reading and writing in a whole language program
• Spanish language instruction beginning in first grade
• Activity based programs in math and science
• Expanded use of technology as a way of learning
• Accreditation by the respected North Central
• Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
• Active, involved parent support groups
• Frequent principals' newsletters to parents

Junior High Schools
Included in the school district are two excellent junior high schools. Each is a community different from the other, but they share common traits:

• Selection as model schools in the state and/or nation in the United States Department of Education Secondary School Recognition Program
• Accreditation by the respected North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
• A program of studies which emphasizes and builds basic skills and provides exploratory learning in the areas of family and consumer sciences, technology education, fine arts, and consumer economics and career education 
• An educational philosophy focusing on student-teacher learning teams
• Course offerings in eighth grade which include high school level algebra, French and Spanish
• Special education programs for students with learning, emotional or mental disabilities
• Intramurals, band, chorus, student council, drama and various activities open to all students
• Interscholastic athletics for eighth grade students
• Regular home-school communication through telephone calls, progress reports, parent
• conferences, principals’ newsletters and Internet connections
• Supportive parent advisory councils

High Schools

Valley Southwoods Freshman High School
This school serves all ninth grade students in the district and is organized into multi-discipline learning teams that provide:

• a nurturing environment (student-centered, personalized learning)
• an integrated, student-centered, rich and challenging curriculum
  innovative instructional techniques
• an inclusive, collaborative approach to meet the special needs of all students
  technology integration
• community-based learning experiences
• performance-based assessment
• a wide variety of athletic and activity programs
• parent and community involvement and communication via Internet connectivity

Valley High School
Students in grades 10-12 attend Valley High School. Chosen by the U.S. Department of Education as a model American school, Valley’s outstanding program features:

• More than 190 courses (25 of which are dual credit courses and offer both high school and college credit), including special programs in advanced placement, marketing and office education, technology education and special education
• Forty academic credits plus eight semesters of physical education required for graduation
• Accreditation by the respected North Central Association (NCA)
• A recognition of the importance of a "personalized" high school experience
• Enrollment of more than 80 percent of graduates in a college, university or other post-high school educational program
• A wide variety of athletic and activity programs
• Extensive media and resource materials
• Excellent facilities, including a 4,500-seat fieldhouse, a 600-seat auditorium, an Olympic-size indoor swimming pool, a weight room, an aerobics room, six outdoor tennis courts, an all-weather metric track, a new, state-of-the-art 8000-seat stadium and complete vocal and instrumental music facilities
• Award winning academic, athletic, activity and fine arts programs
• Active athletic and music booster clubs and a parent-teacher support group
• Communication link to parents and community via the Internet

Walnut Creek Campus Alternative High School
This high school serves students in grades 9-12. Students may transfer to the school if they are not meeting with success in their current high school.
Walnut Creek Campus offers a unique program that includes:

• A personalized learning environment with differentiated curriculum
• Small class sizes to accommodate different learning styles
• Flexible schedule options
• Utilization of the restorative justice model when working with student discipline issues
• Creatively designed courses that are largely project based
• High academic standards that require students to demonstrate C quality work or above in order to earn credit
• Social work services to increase the level of communication with our families