Other Academic Options
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WDMCS offers students several additional educational opportunities in addition to the hundreds of courses available on-site.
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Central Campus
Central Academy/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 Academy/ Campus on a space-available basis during grades 8-12, provided those courses are not available at Valley High School. Central Academy/Campus offers courses in 24 vocational-technical areas, as well as academic classes not available at Valley.
The tuition for courses not offered in the West Des Moines Community School District will be paid by the district, and students must transport themselves to these courses. For more information, contact your counselor at Valley High School.
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DMACC/Dual Enrollment
The courses listed are offered at Valley High School for both Valley High School and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) credit. Students will earn both Valley credits and college credits at no expense to the student. Students who choose to take any of the following courses must take each for DMACC credit. Students will be required to take all final exams associated with the course and cannot take the course pass/no pass. Finally, students enrolled in these courses will be generating a college transcript from DMACC while in high school. All DMACC policies in regard to 504s and IEPs will be followed. Many Advanced Placement courses are also dual-enrollment courses. Effective for math classes, all students who wish to enroll in a DMACC mathematics course for the first time will be required to take the ALEKS mathematics placement assessment. The results of this exam will determine eligibility for the math course students wish to take.
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.
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Art
- Ceramics Applications I (DMACC class = Ceramics; 3 credits)
- Ceramics Applications II (DMACC class = Ceramics II; 3 credits)
- Drawing Applications (DMACC class = Drawing; 3 credits)
- Experimental Film Photography (DMACC class = Principles of Photography; 3 credits)
- Painting Applications (DMACC class = Painting; 3 credits)
- Photo I: Principles of Digital Photography (DMACC class = Principles of Digital Photography; 3 credits)
- Photo II: Photoshop for Photography (DMACC class = Photoshop for Photography ; 3 credits)
- Video Production: (DMACC class = Video Production 1; 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Computer Science
- AP Computer Science A (DMACC Class = PLTW Computer Science Applications; 3 credits)
- AP Computer Science Principles (DMACC Class = PLTW Computer Science Principles; 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Engineering Technology
- Introduction to Engineering Design (DMACC class = PLTW-Intro to Engineering and Design; 3 credits)
- Civil Engineering and Architecture (DMACC class = Civil Engineering and Architecture; 3 credits)
- CIM Manufacturing + CIM: Robotics (DMACC class = PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing; 3 credits)
- Principles of Engineering (DMACC class = PLTW-Principles of Engineering; 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Family and Consumer Science
- Child Development (DMACC = Emergency Care and Early Childhood Development; 4 credits)
- Café V (ProStart) (DMACC = Sanitation and Safety, Food Preparation; 5 credits)
- Culinary Work Experience (DMACC = Work Experience; 3 credits)
- Design Studio (DMACC = Fashion Analysis and Design and Textiles; 6 credits)
- Fashion Analysis and Design (DMACC = Fashion Analysis and Design; 3 credits)
- Personal and Career Exploration (DMACC = Career Exploration; 1 credit)
- Textile Construction II (DMACC = Intro to Garment Construction; 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Language Arts
- Advanced Speech Communication (DMACC class = Fundamentals of Oral Communication; 3 credits)
- AP Language and Composition (DMACC class = Composition I/Composition II; 6 credits)
- AP Literature and Composition (DMACC class = Introduction to Literature/Contemporary Literature; 6 credits)
- Advanced Creative Writing (DMACC class = Creative Writing; 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Math
- AP Calculus AB (DMACC class = Calculus I; 5 credits)
- AP Calculus BC (DMACC class = Calculus II; 5 credits)
- AP Statistics (DMACC class = Statistics; 4 credits)
- Pre-Calculus (DMACC class = Pre-Calculus; 5 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Miscellaneous
- Initial Field Experience (DMACC class = Initial Field Experience; 2 credits)
- Emergency Medical Technician (DMACC class = Emergency Medical Technician; 6 credits)
- Foundations of Education (DMACC class = Foundations of Education; 3 credits)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (DMACC class = Advanced Nurse Aide, Emergency Care, Intro to Health Careers, Medical Terminology I, Nurse Aide 75 Hours, Survey of Health Careers; 14 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Science
- AP Biology (DMACC class = General Biology I/General Biology II; 8 credits)
- AP Chemistry (DMACC class = General Inorganic Chemistry I/General Inorganic Chemistry II; 8 credits) (potential ALEKS exam required for enrollment)
- AP Environmental Science (DMACC class = Environmental Science/Environmental Science Lab; 4 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: Social Studies
- AP European History (DMACC class = Western Civilization: Ancient to Early Modern/Western Civilization: Early Modern to Present; 6 credits)
- AP Psychology (DMACC class = Introduction to Psychology; 3 credits)
- AP U.S. Government and Politics (DMACC class = American National Government and Politics; 3 credits)
- AP U.S. History (DMACC class = U.S. History to 1877/U.S. History since 1877; 6 credits)
- AP World History: Modern (DMACC class = The Middle East and Islam = 3 credits, Country Study = 3 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment Courses: World Languages
- AP Spanish Language (DMACC class = Intermediate Spanish I/Intermediate Spanish II; 8 credits)
- German IV (DMACC class = Intermediate German I/Intermediate German II; 8 credits)
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DMACC Dual Enrollment: Business
- Collaborative Field Experience (DMACC class = Occupational Experience; 3 credits)
- Computer Applications I (DMACC class = Introduction to Computer Business Applications; 3 credits)
- Computer Applications II (DMACC class = Intermediate Computer Business Applications; 3 credits)
- Sales — class (DMACC class = Principles of Selling; 3 credits)
- Introduction to Computer Applications: Keyboarding and Word (DMACC class = Basic Word Processing; 1 credit)
- Workforce Development and Skills – job (DMACC class = Career Development Skills; 2 credits and Occupational Experience; 3 credits)
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DMACC Associate of Arts Degree
As part of the dual enrollment program, Valley students wishing to earn a DMACC Associate of Arts Degree can use their Valley credits in meeting the DMACC requirements listed below.
- Communication: Must complete 9 credits
- Composition I (ENG105)
- Composition II (ENG106)
- Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SPC101)
- Social and Behavioral Science: Must complete 9 credits
- U.S. History to 1877 (HIS151: 3 credits)
- U.S. History 1877 to present (HIS152: 3 credits)
- Western Civ.: Ancient to Early Modern (HIS110: 3 credits)
- Western Civ.: Early Modern to Present (HIS111: 3 credits)
- American National Govt. & Politics (POL111: 3 credits)
- Math and Sciences: Must complete 9 credits
- General Biology I (BIO112: 4 credits)
- General Biology II (BIO113: 4 credits)
- General/Inorganic Chemistry I (CHM165: 4 credits)
- General/Inorganic Chemistry II (CHM175: 4 credits)
- Calculus I (MAT211: 5 credits)
- Pre-Calculus (MAT129: 5 credits)
- Statistics (MAT157: 4 credits)
- Humanities: Must complete 9 credits
- Intermediate German (FLS241: 4 credits)
- Intermediate German (FLS242: 4 credits)
- Intermediate Spanish I (FLS241: 4 credits)
- Intermediate Spanish II (FLS242: 4 credits)
- Intro to Literature (LIT101: 3 credits)
- Contemporary Literature (LIT185: 3 credits)
- Distributed Credit: Must complete 12 credits
- Select the remainder from any of the courses in the above categories.
Course Electives (must complete 16 credits)- Apparel
- Textiles (APP211: 3 credits)
- Fashion Analysis and Design (3 credits)
- Art
- Drawing Applications (ART 133: 3 credits)
- Painting Applications (ART 143: 3 credits)
- Ceramic Applications I (ART 173: 3 credits)
- Ceramic Applications II (ART 174: 3 credits)
- Experimental Film Photography (ART 184: 3 credits)
- Principles of Digital Photography (ART 186: 3 credits)
- Photoshop for Photography (ART 225: 3 credits)
- Video Production (MMS 480: 3 credits)
- Business
- Personal Finance (FIN121: 3 credits)
- Intermediate Computer Business Apps. (BCA213: 3 credits)
- Basic Word Processing (BCA122: 1 credit)
- Principles of Selling (MKT140: 3 credits)
- Small Business Management (BUS148: 3 credits)
- Career and Development Skills (ADM221: 2 credits)
- Occupational Experience (ADM 936: 3 credits)
- Culinary Arts
- Sanitation and Safety (HCM100: 2 credits)
- Food Preparation I (HCM143: 3 credits)
- Early Childhood Careers
- Emergency Care (ECE130: 1 credit)
- Early Childhood Development (ECE170: 3 credits)
- English
- Creative Writing (ENG221: 3 credits)
- Home Building/Remodeling Technology
- PLTW Introduction to Engineering (EGT400: 3 credits)
- PLTW Principles of Engineering 9EGT410: 3 credits)
- PLTW Digital Electronics (EGT420: 3 credits)
- PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture (EGT: 3 credits)
- Teacher Academy
- Introduction to Education (EDU213: 3 credits)
- Initial Field Experience (EDU218: 2 credits)
- Communication: Must complete 9 credits
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Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act
Students must be high school juniors and seniors, or sophomores identified as gifted and talented, to be eligible. Any student anticipating enrollment in a post-secondary course under this act must complete and submit an application form on or before March 15 with the intent to enroll in said course for the next school year. Summer school courses are not included in the program. The October 31 deadline is for the second semester only.
Students may enroll in any participating institution of higher learning under the control of the State Board of Regents, an area school, or an accredited private institution as defined in Section 261.0 sub section 5 of the Iowa Code.
A maximum of two (2) credits may be earned from any institutions other than Valley to be used toward graduation. Students will be granted one (1) high school credit for every three (3) hours of college credit earned. Grades earned in courses taken from other institutions will be recorded on the transcript and included when computing GPAs. Failure or withdrawal from any post-secondary course will result in a failing grade being recorded on the transcript and computed in the GPA. The tuition then becomes the responsibility of the student.
The West Des Moines Community Schools will make payment to the post-secondary institution for tuition, textbooks, materials and fees upon successful completion of the course. Students will be required to purchase equipment that becomes the property of the students.
Parents or guardians will be required to furnish transportation to and from the eligible post-secondary institution.
Support services in the form of counseling will be available to students at Valley as well as the post-secondary institution. These services will include academic, social, and emotional counseling related to participation under this act.
Students will be responsible for scheduling post-secondary courses in a manner that does not conflict with their schedule at Valley High School.
A student may not enroll in a post-secondary course when a comparable course is available at Valley High School. The administration reserves the right to determine acceptability of courses as provided under this act. Students must have prior approval before enrolling in such courses.