Student Opportunities

Throughout high school students have the opportunity to either start learning a vocational career through some of our electives courses or earning college credits through our career & Technical Educational Courses (CTE) or Early College Programs. Listed below are a few of those various opportunities that students can take advantage of.  

Vocational and Career Oriented Courses:

Students can take various Career & Technical Education Courses (CTE) or  Vocational and Career Oriented Courses at Paradise Valley High School to not only learn a valuable trade, but to fulfill their Elective Graduation Credits. Students can start taking these courses at PVHS their freshmen year for one or all four years of high school or start them during any grade level of high school. In most cases, students attend Pinnacle High School in the mornings to complete their Core Academic Courses and go to PVHS in the afternoon for their Vocational and Career Oriented Course. Bus transportation is provided.

Paradise Valley High School offers the following  Vocational and Career Oriented Courses for Pinnacle Students:

• Automotive Technologies

• IT Essentials and Networking

• Child Development

• Metals Manufacturing

• Welding

• Woodworking

• Sound Engineering

• Fashion Design and Merchandising

• Health Care Academy Programs (explained in detail below)

Students can also take Air Force JROTC at Shadow Mountain High School (Students must provide their own transportation)

Students register to take one of these programs during the Registration Process for the following school year.

 Health Care Academy Programs:

During your Junior and Senior Year, if you have an Interest in Nursing or some other medical field, consider the Health Care Academy Programs at Paradise Valley High School. You can apply for these programs in the fall of your sophomore and junior year. 

There are two programs within the Health Care Academy:

• Health Care Pathways - Gain skills, knowledge, and experience in a diverse sampling of clinical areas.  Shadowing experience with some hands on experience.  For junior and senior students. Students apply for this program during the Fall of their Sophomore or Junior year.

• Health Care Assistant - This class will provide the education and training necessary for students to be eligible to take the certification exam from the AZ State Board of Nursing to become a CNA upon completion of the course.  This program is for senior students only who have already completed the Heath Care Pathways Program.

PLEASE NOTE:  There is a bus that goes between Pinnacle High School and Paradise Valley High School for all the courses based at Paradise Valley High School. Students taking the Heath Care Academy Courses are responsible to provide their own transportation to and from clinical's, which are located in various hospital/medical settings around the valley. 

Please Contact Mrs. Allazetta in the Counseling office for additional information about the Health Care Academy Program. 

For all other programs at PVHS, please see your counselor for additional information.

West-MEC (Western Maricopa Education Center) Vocational and Career Training Programs:

What is West-MEC?

West-MEC (Western Maricopa Education Center) is a public school district dedicated to providing students innovative Career & Technical Education programs that will prepare them to enter the workforce and pursue continuing education. This program allows Juniors and Seniors the opportunity to start training for a Vocational Career while still in high school and the chance to get certified in that Career upon completion of the program. Students have to sign up for this program during the Fall of their Sophomore or Junior year, depending on the program. 

Go to west-mec.edu for more detailed information about each program.

West-MEC Career Courses are offered off-campus and the training sites for the programs are located throughout the valley. Students must provide their own transportation to and from their training site and students are not guaranteed a parking space at Pinnacle High School.

Contact Mrs. Willittes in the Counseling office for more information.

Early College Programs

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) has three Early College Programs for high school students: ACE Program, PUMA Early College Program, and Hoop of Learning. These programs offer juniors and seniors the opportunity to start earning college credits while still in high school. These college credits will appear on the student's high school transcript and will count towards Elective Credits only (except English 101/102, which will count as the student's senior English credit). These classes are taught at PVCC.  Students can only apply for these early college programs in the fall of their sophomore or junior year. The programs are explained below. Please pay special attention to the eligibility requirements for the programs.

ACE (Achieving a College Education) Program

What is ACE?

The ACE (Achieving a College Education) is a scholarship program that gives eligible students the experience of taking college credit courses while still enrolled in high school. ACE students can earn up to 24 college credits by the time they graduate high school. ACE empowers these high school students to achieve a higher education and success in life by learning the skills it takes to manage high school, attend college, and plan for a rewarding future. This is a scholarship program paid by PVCC.

Eligibility

Student applicants must have one or more of the following characteristics to be eligible:

• First member of family to attend college

• Demonstrated financial need

• Under-represented population and/or English Language Learner

• Environmental risk factors (will be considered on a case by case basis, for example: student raised in foster care, teen parent, etc.)

Application Process for ACE

• Applications are available in the College and Career Center or at the PVCC Early College Office

• Students must apply during the fall of their sophomore year in high school

• Students must be available to take in person classes at PVCC and provide their own transportation beginning the summer after their sophomore year. 

• Student applications are due to the College and Career Center by December 17th

PUMA Early College Program

What is the PUMA Early College Program?

This exciting program is designed for motivated high school students (juniors and seniors) with good academic and attendance records who wish to get a jump start on college. Students must also possess the readiness for and commitment to rigorous college coursework. While still in high school, students will make progress toward earning their AGEC Completion or Associate's Degree, typically enrolling in 6-9 credits a semester beginning in the summer. All courses are taught in person on the PVCC campus and students are responsible for their own transportation. Tuition is paid by the student and parents, however, need based scholarship funding is available. Students that are accepted into this program take their 4 Required Core Classes (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) in the mornings at Pinnacle and attend PVCC in the afternoons.

Eligibility Requirements

• 2.6 or higher unweighted GPA

• Two recommendation forms from a counselor or teacher

• Application

• Short essay

Benefits

• Earn college and high school credit simultaneously

• Save money on college tuition and textbooks

• Reduce college completion time

• Eliminate duplication of coursework during the freshman year of college

• Scholarship available to those who meet income eligibility requirements

Hoop of Learning Program

What is the Hoop of Learning program?

The Hoop of Learning Program serves Native American students and is designed as a high school-to-college bridge program administered by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD). For more than 10 years, we have provided thousands of Native American students who, largely due to socio-economic reasons, would not have access to higher education, a pathway to college.

Our goal is to:

• Increase high school graduation and retention rates.

• Increase Native American enrollment and participation in college.

• Empower Native American students to reach their goals.

• Enhance Native American culturally relevant curriculum.

• Increase diversity on campus.

• Strengthen partnerships with external Native American communities, school districts, and other agencies.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Student must be an enrolled member of a federal/state recognized tribe (or in the process of obtaining a census #.)

• Students are required to contact their High School counselor for approval.

• Student must show proof of citizenship (CIB, or Birth Certificate)

• Students must take Assessment tests in Reading, Writing & Math.

• Student must have a minimum 2.00 GPA in High School

• Student & Parent(s) must attend mandatory orientation.

• Students must be able to attend in person classes at the PVCC campus.  New cohorts begin each summer

Please Note: Transportation to and from PVCC is the students’ and parents' responsibility. 

Contact Mrs. Maria Castro in the College and Career Center for more information about the PVCC Early College Programs. .

Students must provide their own transportation to and from the Early College Programs at PVCC, the West-MEC Programs, and the clinical's for the Heath Care Academy Programs. Participation in these programs does not guarantee you a parking space on campus.