Advanced Placement Progam
The AP Program is administered by the College Board. Advanced Placement Exams are developed by the Educational Testing Service. In the spring of each school year, a cumulative exam is administered for each AP course. AP Exams are graded on a scale of one (minimum) to five (maximum). The cost for each exam (approximately $90) is paid for by the student. University credit is generally granted for exam scores of three and above, with five being the highest score. AP courses receive a weighted factor of .050 per semester. Based upon students’ AP Exam scores, they may earn as many as 18 semester hours of college/university credit. This represents a significant financial savings to the parents of these students. Green Valley High School administered 1,009 tests during the 2017-2018 school year. Thirty-four of our students earned a score of five and 644 students averaged a score of three.
Please review the document for information about the 2020-2021 AP test, testing dates, payment, and how to make payment arrangements if you qualify.
Career and Technical Education
Career and Technical Education gives students the chance to gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts while learning technical skills. CTE programs are designed to meet a need in the local community or job market and are aligned with related programs at Nevada’s public community and technical colleges. This allows students to easily continue their studies in college to earn a degree, diploma, or certification. The following programs are available at Green Valley High School:
The benefits of CTE classes is that they help students connect what they’re learning to the real world. It enables students to gain key skills that will help them get a job after graduation. It’s also a great way to explore career options and meet the people who work in them. Students also have the opportunity to earn college credit in high school. That can save time and money later on. Research also shows that students in career and technical education programs are more likely to graduate from high school than those who don’t.
Clark County School District (CCSD) high schools have agreements with state and local community or technical colleges, including the College of Southern Nevada (CSN). This allows students to earn college credit at that college or at another college in the state system that offers a similar program. Students in Nevada must complete a Career and Technical Education program of study with a 3.0 GPA in their content courses, pass an assessment in that area, and pass a test on the NV Employability Skills for Career Readiness Standards, in order to be eligible for certification and college credit.
For information about Green Valley High School’s CTE levels of study, please review the information available in PDF format here, speak with your school counselor, or visit the CCSD CTE website.
High School of Business
In early 2016, Green Valley High School was selected as a school site for MBA Research‘s High School of Business™ program. We are 1 of 5 schools selected in the State of Nevada.
This three year program is designed to challenge students through accelerated, project-based curriculum delivered in the context of business problems. Students completing the program will be positioned to excel in college-level business administration programs and earn 9 free college credits from CSN while still in high school.
Students participating in High School of Business™ will take part in project-based learning, which incorporates the learning of required skills into the process of solving real world business problems. Students will complete a series of six rigorous business administration courses. In addition, students will use technology in each course, take field trips, and hear from subject-matter expert guest speakers.
After years of planning and preparing, we welcomed our first freshman class into the program in August 2016. For more information about this program, please review the student brochure available here.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is an internationally recognized curriculum that offers 11th and 12th grade students an opportunity to earn the IB diploma. The program is offered in over 800 public and private secondary schools and in more than 100 countries around the world. To earn the IB diploma, students complete and test in six IB subjects; write an extended essay of independent research guided by a faculty mentor, complete 150 hours of creativity, activity, and service (CAS); and participate in a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge. This advanced, comprehensive program of study offers an integrated approach to learning across the disciplines with an emphasis on meeting the challenges of living and working in a global, technological society.