SPECIAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

SPECIAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
DUAL CREDIT COURSES – The courses listed below are offered at Valley High School for both Valley High School and Des Moines Area Community College credit.

This means that a student who elects to take one of the following classes, registers for DMACC credit, successfully completes the course, has junior or senior status, or is a sophomore ELP student or a sophomore who has scored a 27 composite on the ACT will earn free college credit(s) as well as Valley High School credit(s).

Students electing to take a course for DMACC credit will be required to take all final exams associated with the course and cannot take the course pass/no pass.

Finally, students registering for DMACC credit will be generating a college transcript while in high school. Note: shared programming credit courses through Des Moines Area Community College are only offered to juniors and seniors with the intent to transition students from high school to college or career.

Valley Course	DMACC Course	DMACC Credits
Advanced Speech	Fundamentals of Speech	3
American Political Culture	American National Government	3
AP Biology	Principals of Biology I & II	8
AP Calculus	Calculus I & II	5
AP Chemistry	General Inorganic Chemistry I & II	8
AP Literature and Composition	Intro to Literature	3
AP European History	Western Civ (Beginning to Present)	8
AP Language and Composition	Composition I	3
AP Music Theory	Materials of Music	8
AP United States History	American History (1492 to Present)	8
Business Internship	Business Internship I	1 + 3
Ceramics	Ceramics	3
Construction	Construction Theory/Techniques	7
Drawing	Drawing	3
Fashion	Fashion Analysis and Design	3
Interior Design	Interior Design Planning	3
Introduction to Auto Mechanics	Tools and Measurements	3
ME Marketing Education	Principals of Selling	3
Painting	Painting	3
Personal Computers	Computer Applications & Adv.	3 & 3
Photo Foundations	Photography	3
Spanish IV	Spanish	8
Statistics	Elementary Statistics	4
Web page Design I	Web page Design I	3
Web page Design II	Web page Design II	3

All DMACC dual credits are subject to obtaining a certified DMACC instructor. If no certified DMACC instructor is available to teach the course, no DMACC credits will be issued – only Valley High School credits can be earned.

AP ONLINE COURSES
Additional Advanced Placement courses are available through the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa. These courses are very rigorous in nature. Because these classes are done in an independent manner, students need to be highly motivated and able to complete large assignments without prompting. Students are assigned to the Counseling Office for one period a day while enrolled in an online course. These courses do not override Valley graduation requirements. They are strictly electives. Available classes are as follows: Psychology, U.S. Government and Politics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Statistics.

EXTENDED LEARNING - This course is designed for gifted students (specific details are provided in the Valley Curriculum Handbook under information for Unique Programs and Courses).

LEARNING LAB 10 – This course is available to identified at-risk students (specific details are provided in the Valley Curriculum Handbook under information for Unique Programs and Courses).

READING AND WRITING: RESOURCES FOR DECISION MAKING - This course is available for students concurrently enrolled in Fundamentals of Writing who show a definite need to improve their writing skills (specific details are provided under Language Arts in the Curriculum Handbook).

SKILLS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS - This course is available for students concurrently enrolled in U.S. History who need assistance in learning how to read and study independently. It is restricted to students who receive 40% and below on standardized tests(specific details are provided under Language Arts in the Curriculum Handbook).

THEORY AND PRACTICE IN GOVERNMENT - This course is available for students concurrently enrolled in Government who need assistance in developing social studies skills. It is restricted to students who receive 40% and below on standardized tests(specific details are provided under Language Arts in the Curriculum Handbook).

ESL - Two semesters of ESL may be counted as fulfilling two of the six high school language arts requirements, one literature course and one elective. Six semesters of ESL may be counted as elective credits used to fulfill graduation requirements. With the exception of the special provisions stated above, ESL students must meet all graduation requirements of Valley High School in order to receive a diploma.

INDEPENDENT STUDY - Students may enroll in an independent study course only if that course is not currently being offered in the curriculum. Students must enroll in independent study course at the time of registration by completing an application form with the help of the intended instructor. This application must then receive the approval of a committee consisting of counselors and administrators.

CENTRAL CAMPUS OFFERINGS - Central Campus is an extension of the programs of most high schools in the central Iowa area. Students planning to graduate from Valley High School have the opportunity to attend classes at Central Campus on a space available basis during grades 10 - 12. Central Campus offers courses in 24 vocational-technical areas, as well as academic classes not available at Valley. Students who choose courses offered at Central Campus attend two or three period sessions in the morning or afternoon and receive two or three credits toward graduation at Valley each semester that they attend Central Campus. Students who choose to attend Central Campus will have their tuition paid by the West Des Moines Community School District, but each student will have to provide their own transportation to and from Central Campus. Vocation-Technical programs at Central Campus include Agriculture, Practical Nursing, Home Economics Education, Business Education, Aviation and Trade and Industrial Education. For more information, students should contact their counselor at Valley High School. The application deadline is March 1 for the ensuing school year.

POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS ACT - Any junior or senior and any sophomore designated as Talented and Gifted may enroll in no more than two total classes during high school at a participating post secondary institution providing a comparable course is not available at Valley High School. Any student anticipating enrollment in such a course must complete and submit an application form on or before March 1 (October 31 for the second semester) with the intent to enroll in said course for the ensuing school year. This application form is available in the Counseling Office.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTH (COH) – Valley, in partnership with the Iowa Methodist Medical Center, offers students medical career experience through an apprenticeship program. Students will receive hands-on experiential training in a variety of careers, while learning the social skills and attitudes that will enable them to function in a corporate setting. Students will attend IMMC approximately two and a half hours each day and will receive three credits per semester. Each student will have to provide their own transportation to and from IMMC. For more information, students should contact their Valley High School counselor. The application deadline is March 1 for the ensuing school year.

OFF-CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL COURSEWORK - All courses taken in another high school program or any other institution need prior written approval by a counselor and the principal (or his/her designee) if they are to be included on the Valley transcript and/or counted toward graduation. Forms may be obtained in the Counseling Office. See Board Policy 505.10.

Courses taken for graduation purposes, from other than Valley, may be granted approval only if a student cannot graduate by taking ten credits and physical education his/her senior year.

A senior student in good academic standing may have a one-course reduction in Valley courses if he/she wishes to enroll in one or more college/university course(s).

• The course must offer at least three (3) semester hours of credit.
• The course will be awarded one (1) high school credit.
• The credit will count toward high school graduation.
• The grade earned in the course will be figured into the high school grade point average.
• The grade will be weighted .5 on the high school transcript.
• The course scheduled must not interfere with the student’s Valley schedule.
• The course must be in the curricular area only.
• The student must take a minimum of four classes and physical education at Valley.
• The course cannot exist in Valley’s curriculum.
  

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

LEARNING CENTER - The Learning Center is available on a walk-in basis. It is designed for students wanting assistance in the area of study skills such as note taking, test-taking, and time management.


RESOURCE CENTERS - Resource centers are designed for students needing to do make-up work or to acquire special help. They are located in various rooms throughout the building and are available in practically every area of study. Most centers are available every period during the day, and information is available in all classrooms.

TUTORING - The school district each year compiles a list of individuals qualified to tutor high school students in the various academic areas. This list is available in the Counseling Office.