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High School Course Listings Overview
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The Valley/Valley Southwoods Course Description Catalog is available online and in print.
- To access the catalog online, you can:
- Navigate the content online using the “Academics” menu to the left.
- View the 2023-24 Valley/Valley Southwoods Course Description Catalog PDF (updated March 9, 2023).
- To get a print catalog, visit your school’s main office or counseling office.
The course listings have been updated with information for the 2023-24 school year. If needed, download the 2022-23 Valley/Valley Southwoods Course Description Catalog PDF.
- To access the catalog online, you can:
Advanced Placement Courses
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Advanced Placement is an international program of college-level rigorous curriculum of courses and examinations. Valley High School currently offers 23 classes to prepare students for the examinations each May. Advanced Placement coursework and examination scores are used for college admissions and acceleration. College credit is granted if an acceptable score has been earned on an Advanced Placement examination given in May. Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.
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AP Exams
2023 AP Exam Information (Fall 2022)
AP exam registration must be completed by the following dates to avoid late fees:
FULL-YEAR AND FIRST-SEMESTER COURSES: BY NOV. 14, 2022
SECOND SEMESTER-ONLY COURSES: TBA in 2023
Note: Even if students are not taking the AP exam in May, they must take action as stated below.
Registration is a 2-step process. Both steps are required to take an AP exam.
STEP 1
It is mandatory students “join” their AP courses by logging into their College Board account (https://myap.collegeboard.org) using the joining code provided by their AP course instructor.- Most students will have completed this in their AP classes.
- After joining each AP course, students are automatically signed up for an AP exam.
- Students who choose NOT to take the AP exam in May must notify the Counseling Center by Monday, Nov. 14.
- To register for an AP exam if you are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course, please see Mr. Mandernach in the Counseling Center for a code to join the course.
STEP 2
Pay for exam(s) by March 3, 2023.- Fees ($97/test) will be posted to WDMCS student accounts after Valley’s order has been placed with College Board (November 15, 2022).
- Fees can be paid online at https://www.wdmcs.org/online-payments or in-person in Valley’s Student Services office by cash, check, or card payment.
- Once fees are posted to WDMCS student accounts, families may pay for exams in full or in installments, with full payment due by March 3, 2023.
IMPORTANT AP DATES
- Nov. 15, 2022, through March 3, 2023: After Nov. 14, 2022, full-year and first-semester exams ordered will incur a non-refundable $40/exam College Board-imposed late fee.
- March 3, 2023: Final deadline to order and pay in full for all exams, including second semester-only courses. The College Board does not allow exceptions.
REFUNDS
- Refunds for second-semester exams requested by March 3, 2023, will receive a full refund.
- Refunds for full-year and first-semester exams requested after Nov. 14, 2022, and by noon on March 3, 2023, will receive a full refund.
- This is true even if a student drops an AP course after March 3, 2023.
Have questions? Please contact Valley AP Coordinator Pam Wymer at wymerp@wdmcs.org.
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AP Courses
AP courses presently offered are:
- Art: AP Art and Design
- Computer Science: AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles
- Language Arts: AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition
- Math: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics
- Music: AP Music Theory
- Science: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science with AP Seminar (PBLN), AP Physics
- Social Studies: AP European History, AP Human Geography (VSW), AP Macroeconomics, AP Psychology, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP U.S. History, and AP World History
- World Languages: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French, AP Latin, AP Spanish
It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum. Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.
Successful completion of an Advanced Placement course requires much more commitment to study time than a normal high school class. Therefore, before registering for these classes, it is highly recommended that the student assess his or her total course schedule as well as the amount of involvement in extracurricular activities. Students should consider including at least one study hall each day for additional assistance and an opportunity for make-up after an absence.
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AP Capstone
AP Capstone is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two AP courses—AP Seminar and AP Research—and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study experienced in other AP courses.
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AP Seminar (Project-Based Learning)
AP Seminar is integrated with AP Environmental Science using project-based learning instructional strategies.
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision.
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AP Research (Prerequisite: AP Seminar)
AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing. Analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000-5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.
It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum. Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.
Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student. If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.
Additional Resources
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Dropping/Adding a Course
Thoughtful preregistration eliminates many problems for the student and the school when the year begins. Exceptions may be approved by administrators; however, it is very difficult to change courses after the master schedule is made. Be sure to give considerable thought to your course selection. Adding a new course can only be done in the first 3 days of the semester.
Guidelines for Valley and Valley Southwoods
- Students may drop a class during the first 10 days of the semester and the course will be removed from their schedule.
- If a student drops a class on day 11 through day 45 of the semester, a “W” for withdrawal will appear on the student’s permanent transcript.
- After first-quarter or third-quarter, the student may elect to drop a class and receive a failing grade for the course.
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Pass/No Pass
Students will have the opportunity of choosing one Pass/No Pass per semester, providing it is not a required course for graduation, a required course within Honors or Scholars of Distinction, or offered for DMACC credit. No course that meets a graduation requirement can be taken Pass/No Pass until that graduation requirement is completed (except otherwise indicated on a student’s IEP). Credit may be earned on a Pass/No Pass basis. Students will be expected to obtain a parent's signature for approval plus the signatures of their counselor and instructor to indicate their awareness of the student's intentions.
The Pass/No Pass decision must be made prior to the end of the first nine weeks of any semester and prior to the end of the seventh day of class for all summer school courses. In addition to the strict Pass/No Pass option, students can elect to remain on a grade basis if the earned grade for the semester is:
- A
- B or better
- C or better
Students electing to take a class Pass/No Pass need to be aware that the class will not count toward the 5.5 credits needed to meet the criteria for Academic Letter awards.
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Eight-Credit/Period Day
To qualify for a physical education waiver due to an academic schedule of eight credits/periods, the schedule must be either:
- core driven (no more than two electives), or
- reflective of core classes for grade-level and graduation, and electives that demonstrate the student’s deep interest and past participation. Examples: 3-4 music courses (vocal and instrumental) or 3-4 technology-based electives. The student cannot randomly take 3-4 electives that do not support a pattern of past interest of collaborative content.
The eight-credit/period schedule is not an option just to get out of physical education. Final decision and approval/denial for the eight-credit/period schedule is made by the building principal.
