High School Information

  • Academic Planning Guide
    The handbook of classes for high school students.

    Advanced Placement
    Advanced Placement is a program designed to award college credit to students who take college level course work during high school and who can demonstrate proficiency on a nationally administered test through The College Board.

    ACT and AzSCI Grade Enhancement

    Students are eligible to positively impact their semester grades in ELA and Math courses aligned to the high school ACT Assessments if they earn specific scale scores on the sub sections of the ACT.  They can also positively impact their Biology or Biology Honors and 10th grade Science course grades if they earn a Proficient or Highly Proficient on the high school AzSCI Science assessment. More information here. 

    Aspire - Deer Valley's Online Academy
    Welcome to the gateway to online classes offered by Aspire Deer Valley Online Academy.  Students may apply to enroll in Aspire as a full-time student by filling out an open enrollment application.  There is no cost to students as a full-time student.  Students may also enroll in Aspire as a part time student (click here for more information). Tuition is $175 per course, if the student is already enrolled in 6 courses in the district. 

     
    Career and Technical Education
    CTE provides students with academic subject matter taught with relevance to real world applications and career pathways that link secondary and post-secondary education.
     

    College Readiness Assessments

    Information about PSAT, ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, and other tests that high school students may take for college admissions or college credits.
     
    Course Loads
    Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 must be enrolled in six DVUSD credit-bearing courses each semester, which may include on campus, off-site CTE program, WestMEC, Deer Valley Online Learning Program, and DVUSD Pathways courses.  Students in 12th grade must be enrolled in a minimum of four DVUSD or WestMEC courses during both semesters of their senior year.
     

    Crisis Intervention
    This section contains links and phone numbers to Crisis Intervention websites and services.

    Deer Valley Pathways

    DVUSD Pathways is an afterschool program that provides additional learning opportunities for currently enrolled DVUSD high school students to accelerate their learning, provide flexibility to the school day, or recover credit.  DVUSD Pathways classes are available on three district high school campus sites at Boulder Creek HS, Barry Goldwater HS, and Deer Valley HS. Sessions run during the Fall and Spring semesters as well as in the Summer. Click here for enrollment information. 

    Dual Enrollment
    Dual Enrollment courses are offered at all five high schools and taught by high school teachers with community college certification. Students earn both high school credit and college credit.

    Graduation Requirements

    International Baccalaureate
    (IB) at Barry Goldwater High School is a DVUSD signature program addressing the academic needs of highly motivated students. BGHS is one of eleven high schools in Arizona offering the IB program. Within the IB Program, students can choose one of two programs - IB Diploma or one or more IB Certificates. The IB Diploma Program curriculum presents students with many opportunities to demonstrate and build on their positive qualities. The curriculum provides a comprehensive and balanced course of study, including IB preparatory classes for grades 9-10 and IB diploma or certificate programs for grades 11-12.

    JROTC
    The Air Force JROTC program is offered at Deer Valley and Sandra Day O’Connor High Schools. JROTC is designed to educate and train high school students in citizenship; promote community service; instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline; and provide instruction in aerospace science fundamentals.

    Prevention Services
    The Deer Valley Unified School District offers prevention programs to address potential student alcohol and drug use and abuse, low self-esteem and self-destructive behaviors.

    SEI Program
    The Structured English Immersion (SEI ) program consists of daily instruction in English language development involving listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

    Special Education
    Deer Valley offers special education programs for preschool through age 21 in several areas.

    Title I
    The Title I program in the Deer Valley Unified School District provides funding for supplemental reading and math assistance to students at eligible schools.