Programs

Desert Shadows Middle School

The Academies at Desert Shadows Middle School will keep your teen stimulated, engaged, and challenged in a specific area of interest. The Academies include Computer Science, Engineering (Honors), Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Visual Arts, and World Languages.

Academy placement ensures a student has a focused class for two full years in their area of interest and are among peers that share a similar passion. Teachers create an environment in which students feel invested and engaged in a specialized program that suits their interests. Students leave the program with Academy distinction, ready for success in high school and beyond. An application process is required and begins in early November.

Greenway, Shea and Vista Verde Middle Schools

PVSchools is helping to make the reach to college a reality for students with Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). AVID is a college and career readiness system that equips teachers with strategies to teach students writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading skills, academic behaviors, and college and career knowledge necessary to succeed at every level of post-secondary pathways. Students in the AVID Elective class specifically address these skills, engage in rigorous coursework, receive extra preparation for the ACT/SAT, leadership training, and receive guidance with college applications, scholarship opportunities, and assistance with financial aid applications. Twice per week students in the AVID Elective engage in tutorials facilitated by actual college students, which are modeled after college study group sessions. Students collaborate as they pose higher-level questions related to their rigorous coursework. Many AVID students are the first in their families to go to college. AVID helps students develop a vision for their future, gain confidence in their abilities, and take ownership of their learning.

The power of AVID is its ability to impact all students throughout the campus by infusing best-teaching practices and academic behaviors that can be incorporated into any classroom to improve engagement and success for all students. AVID promotes a college and career-going culture on campus.

Sunrise Middle School

The Digital Learning Center (DLC) at Sunrise Middle School provides gifted students with an interdisciplinary, project-based learning environment that embodies 21st century learning. Science, Social Studies, Literature and Gifted Writing are combined within the DLC, allowing for a unique problem-based learning environment. This cross-curricular exploration will take students through the 7th and 8th grade standards with built-in continuity, leading to a culminating project that explores how science, history, and the learner fit into the world. Gifted students must qualify to apply for this rigorous program.

Sunrise Middle School

Parents want their children academically prepared with the 21st century skill set to compete and succeed in a global marketplace. The Dual Language Mandarin Immersion (DLMI) at Sunrise Middle School provides students with the pathway to achieve this goal.

DLMI at Sunrise features two courses, taught in Mandarin:   

Mandarin Language Arts focuses on using communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities to meet the world language standards. Mandarin is learned and practiced by integrating culture into the whole language instruction process.

Chinese Culture will consist of an exploration of various themes including, but not limited to, holidays, festivals, customs, China in the past including great historical figures, inventors, and China in the present including an exploration of modern media and communication.

Sunrise Middle School

The Dual Language Spanish Immersion (DLSI) Program at Sunrise Middle School provides students with the 21st century skill set to compete and succeed in a global marketplace. From the moment students step into one of the DLSI classrooms, they are fully immersed in the Spanish language and culture.

DLSI at Sunrise features:

• A Science, Social Studies and Spanish block of classes taught completely in Spanish;
• Exploration of Spanish-speaking cultures and societies around the world;
• Conversational skill development; and
• 1:1 technology along with a Google Jamboard to enhance the learning environment.

Vista Verde Middle School

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a four year program that teaches students character, global awareness, and the interdependence of the different disciplines of school. The curriculum reinforces the MYP philosophies and a holistic approach to teaching students about character traits of successful adults, an appreciation of global differences, time management, accountability, how subjects relate to one another. The program also prepares students to be successful in high school, regardless of the programs and goals they have.

Students can continue their IB journey at the high school level. If students successfully complete the 11th and 12th-grade diploma program, they will earn an IB Diploma, which can open doors to universities and future career opportunities.

Mountain Trail Middle School

A personalized path to success for Paradise Valley Gifted Middle Schoolers begins at Mountain Trail Middle School (MTMS). The Journey program provides a differentiated education based on the needs of the individual gifted learner, while keeping the students together in content blocks and immersing them in multiple modes of learning.

Teachers work with students in small groups or individually based on their individual learning targets, students’ strengths, and interests. Students are given choices on how they learn the content, and are expected to be self-directed learners, self-motivated learners, and embrace project-based and problem-based learning.

Journey differs from other Gifted programs by following block scheduling, utilizing a team of two teachers, implementing individualized goal setting, having personalized project-based learning, using cohorts of 20-25 students in each 7th and 8th grade, completing community service projects, and providing leadership opportunities available within MTMS.

Pinnacle Peak Preparatory School

Pinnacle Peak Preparatory School provides the only kindergarten through eighth grade experience in PVSchools. The school’s 7th and 8th grade program embraces high academic standards, project-based learning, and high expectations for citizenship and personal accountability. With approximately 50-60 students at both grade levels, the learning environment is personalized, nurturing, and technologically rich with our content-area expert teachers working together to create a unique learning experience for our students. Numerous leadership opportunities are available to our students and we offer a full slate of extracurricular activities.

Shea Middle School

PVSchools offers the first fully integrated arts education program in the Northeast Valley. Whether your child is passionate about dance, theater, music technology, or visual arts, the North Valley Arts Academies at Shea offers an outlet for your teen to express his or her creative passions, with a seamless continuation to Shadow Mountain High School.

Students receive daily instruction in one of four signature programs: Dance, Music Technology, Theater, or Visual Arts. This is in addition to core curriculum and specialized programs offered at the school.

Explorer and Mountain Trail Middle Schools

Explorer Middle School offers students the opportunity to engage, empower, explore, and experience the best that PVSchools has to offer. Through an extensive selection of elective courses, students can focus on interests in the Fine and Performing Arts, Technology, and World Languages. Eighteen elective course programs offer beginning and advanced instruction in Culinary Arts, Engineering, STEM, Broadcasting, Computer Science, Drama, Art, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

Explorer has adopted a unique scheduling model that provides extended Math and English instructional periods. A focus on these core subjects and an integrated class time that blends instruction, practice, and clarification has proven a prototype for success.

Mountain Trail Middle School (MTMS) offers a myriad of advanced electives with the goal of exposing students to as many new learning opportunities as possible, knowing that adolescence is the perfect time to discover new passions.

The most unique elective options at MTMS are in the STEM’s, including Environmental Adventures, Digital Media, Video Production, Computer Science, and coming in the 2021-2022 school year, both Engineering and Medical Detectives.

Students interested in traditional elective options can participate in Band, Orchestra, Keyboarding, Choir, Drama, Culinary Arts, Physical Education and Art. Both Spanish and Mandarin are options for those who want to learn a new language. Lead is available for students who want to develop and polish their skills as leaders within the school community.

Similar to Explorer, Mountain Trail Middle School has adopted a unique scheduling model that provides extended Math and English instructional periods.

Shadow Mountain High School

The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace technology and teaches students self-reliance, self-discipline, and other characteristics found in good leaders. The objectives of AFJROTC are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, instill responsibility, character, and provide instruction in air and space fundamentals.

Horizon, Pinnacle, and Paradise Valley

AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions.

AP Capstone™ is a two-year program built on the foundation of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. The program is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses. Participating schools use AP Capstone™ to provide unique research opportunities for current AP students, and to expand access to AP by encouraging students to master the argument-based writing skills that the AP Capstone™ program develops.

North Canyon and Shadow Mountain High Schools

PVSchools is helping to make the reach to college a reality for students with Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). AVID is a college and career readiness system that equips teachers with strategies to teach students writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, reading skills, academic behaviors, and college and career knowledge necessary to succeed at every level of post-secondary pathways. Students in the AVID Elective class specifically address these skills, engage in rigorous coursework, receive extra preparation for the ACT/SAT, leadership training, guidance with college applications, scholarship opportunities, and assistance with financial aid applications. Twice per week students engage in tutorials facilitated by actual college students, which are modeled after college study group sessions. Students collaborate as they pose higher-level questions related to their rigorous coursework. Many AVID students are the first in their families to go to college. AVID helps students develop a vision for their future, gain confidence in their abilities, and take ownership of their learning.

The power of AVID is its ability to impact all students throughout the campus by infusing best-teaching practices and academic behaviors that can be incorporated into any classroom to improve engagement and success for all students. AVID promotes a college and career-going culture on campus.

Paradise Valley High School

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide students with the foundation and opportunity to explore different career paths while gaining real-world experiences along the way. No matter what post-secondary aspirations students may have, whether it be continuing on to further education or joining the workforce immediately upon completion of high school, CTE programs provide students with a competitive advantage that will serve them well in any pursuit.

CTE programs include: Automotives, Biotechnology, Business Management Services, Child Development/Preschool, Computer Science, Culinary Arts, Desktop Publishing, Education Professions, Engineering, Fashion Design/Merchandising, Forensic/Public Safety, Graphic Design, Health Care Academy, Information Technology, Magazine Production, Marketing/Entrepreneurship, Metal Manufacturing, Photography, Sound Engineering, Sports Medicine, TV & Film Production, Welding Technology, and Woodworking.

CTE programs offered at Paradise Valley High School (PVHS) that are not available at a student’s home school are open to all district high school students. District transportation is provided to PVHS from the student’s home school.

Paradise Valley High School

The Center for Research in Engineering, Science, and Technology (CREST) is a specialty program offered exclusively at Paradise Valley High School. The CREST program provides students with the opportunity to study one of three specialized disciplines: Bioscience, Computer Science, or Engineering.

The CREST program emphasizes rigor, relevance, and relationships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), CREST students graduate prepared and fully-qualified to pursue STEM-oriented degrees at the postsecondary level.

Shadow Mountain High School

When a student steps inside a Digital Academy of Advanced Placement Scholars (DAAPS) classroom at Shadow Mountain High School, the student enters a rigorous college preparatory program with a Humanities emphasis. The bar is raised high and so are the expectations for students. Students are engaged in exploration and discovery, discussion and active learning without the constraints of teacher-centered direct instruction while being able to experience all that high school has to offer, including sports, fine arts, extracurricular activities, and the wide array that SMHS has to offer.

DAAPS is a two-period block program within the SMHS school day that focuses on developing the skills students need when they enter colleges such as analytical reading, grammatically-sound argumentative writing, critical thinking, and speaking.

Paradise Valley, Pinnacle, Horizon, North Canyon,

Shadow Mountain, and PVOnline

During the last two years of high school, students have the opportunity to get a head start on college by taking Dual Enrollment classes through Rio Salado College. Dual Enrollment is a program that allows students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. In some cases, students will graduate with an Associate of Arts degree before earning their high school diploma.

Dual Enrollment can not only save students time, it can also save money on college tuition and textbooks. While each high school offers different Dual Enrollment courses that students can take during the school day, Rio Salado College in Tempe offers a full range of courses they can take online or in the evening. More than 40 universities accept this pathway to entry.

Horizon High School

The Engineering Program introduces students to the mechanical and electrical engineering field, as well as design theory. Students have the opportunity to work on hands-on projects and conduct experiments with real world applications such as building a full-sized greenhouse, water purification system, and go-karts.  The education experience in the Engineering Program will culminate with the senior Capstone Project, which provides the opportunity for seniors to create a captivating engineer project that showcases their knowledge. If you’re looking to pursue a career in science and technology, having a background in engineering is highly advantageous.

North Canyon High School

In the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, students are learning subject matter through inquiry and concept-based lessons with a focus on the IB Learner Profile and are taught different approaches to learning. Along with learning challenging subject matter, students are simultaneously learning how to be

life-long learners and to be critical and creative thinkers.

At North Canyon, the IB Programme goes beyond the classroom. Students are required to take part in service learning activities and extracurricular activities. They also plan projects and conduct research outside of the classroom. If students successfully complete the 11th and 12th-grade diploma program, they will earn an IB Diploma, which can open doors to universities and future career opportunities.

Paradise Valley High School

Jobs for Arizona Graduates (JAG) helps students stay in school to acquire the academic, personal, leadership, and vocational skills they will need to be successful upon graduation. At Paradise Valley High School, College and Career Counselors work with juniors and seniors to plan and prepare for their transition from high school to careers. JAG coordinators continue to follow up with students for 12 months after graduation in order to ensure JAG students successfully engage in employment and/or post secondary education.

Pinnacle High School

Pinnacle High School’s Marketing and Entrepreneurship classes teach students the principles of marketing and the skills to become a successful entrepreneur, while running a small business on campus. There are four courses available in the Marketing/Entrepreneurship program. To get started, interested students need to check with their guidance counselor to sign up for the first course in the sequence: Introduction to the Marketplace.  To get the full experience and prepare students for college and beyond, students are encouraged to learn more about the DECA and Marketing/Entrepreneurship programs that are available.

Sweetwater Community School

Jobs and extracurricular activities can make it difficult for students to fit in all the classes they need to graduate. Sweetwater Community School makes it easy by offering evening high school classes.

Students can enroll in an extra class, retake a class or attend a class at a time that is more convenient for them. All classes provide teacher-based instruction, which offers students more of a one-on-one opportunity for learning. New classes are offered each quarter, and students can earn a .5 credit for each class completed.

Classes are held Monday through Thursday and students can enroll in one or two classes each quarter, depending on their needs and schedule limitations.

hadow Mountain High School

Whether your child is passionate about dance, theater, music technology, or visual arts, the North Valley Arts Academies (NVAA) at Shadow Mountain High School offers an outlet for your teen to express his or her creative passions, with a seamless continuation from middle school to high school.

Students learn skills in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and project management. NVAA classes move beyond typical art classes with increased rigor and unique specializations, which culminate in a twelfth-grade capstone and internship project.

Successful graduates from the NVAA program receive a special honors arts endorsement on their high school diploma. They learn skills that provide them with the ability to be creative, innovative leaders in a university environment and the 21st-century workplace.

North Canyon High School

North Canyon High School’s theater program presents an average of 18 productions a year and includes four elite groups under the North Canyon Theater Company umbrella. North Canyon Theater Ensemble, Writers Circle, Directors Guild, and Musical Theater Troupe offer yearlong performing, writing, and directing experiences. The groups are selected in highly competitive auditions, submissions, and interview processes. The North Canyon Theater Company has performed throughout the United States and around the world alongside professional actors and have been featured in special theatrical events . North Canyon theater celebrates diversity and has created a safe, supportive environment in which students can be open to learning about themselves and others through creative expression in a life-changing program.

Horizon High School

Horizon High School’s nationally acclaimed, award-winning choir program is designed to give students a chance to develop their singing and performing skills. Bringing tales to life through stage productions, students amaze and entertain audiences with ensembles filled with music and dance. With more than 300 members and six choirs, including Towne Criers, Step on Stage, Decibelles, Show Divas, Men’s Choir, and Women’s Choir. As a member of the choir, students can get on stage and perform in near professional venues and take part in large scale performances, including the award-winning Broadway Under the Stars.