Valley Regional High School is a comprehensive IB World School offering both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) and Career-related Program (CP) for students in grades nine through twelve from the communities of Chester, Deep River, and Essex.

Since its opening in 1952, Valley Regional has proudly upheld a rich tradition of excellence in education by offering a dynamic blend of rigorous academic courses and diverse electives. Our programs empower students to explore their passions, earn college credit, and develop career-ready skills and certifications. Committed to fostering reflective inquiry and global thinking, Valley prepares students to graduate with a high level of college and career readiness.

Valley Regional boasts a favorable student-to-teacher ratio and robust support services, including three school counselors, two-and-a-half social workers, and a school psychologist. The school’s leadership team includes a principal, associate principal, and athletic director, who work collaboratively to ensure a supportive and engaging learning environment.

High academic standards are reflected in a broad range of advanced courses, including IB Diploma and Career-related Program offerings as well as Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These challenging classes promote critical thinking, in-depth discussion, and authentic learning experiences.

Beyond the classroom, students are encouraged to engage in a rich array of extracurricular opportunities. Valley offers student leadership programs, national organizations, service clubs, and extensive options in applied, fine, and performing arts, along with a competitive athletics program. These experiences align with the school’s core values and beliefs and support the vision of the graduate, fostering well-rounded individuals prepared to contribute meaningfully to the world.

VRHS CORE VALUES & BELIEFS

We are committed to developing our students to be inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring people who are willing to take academic risks and work both independently and collaboratively to meet the challenges that face them at personal, community, career, and global levels.

VISION OF THE GRADUATE

VRHS students will learn the skills necessary to be responsible, adaptable, respectful, and ethical in the following academic, social, and civic areas:

• Critical and creative problem solving

• Analysis and evaluation of information

• Personal and professional communication of knowledge for diverse audiences

• Community service and civic engagements

• Personal wellness and accountability

INTRODUCTION

It is important to make thoughtful decisions when requesting courses so that your schedule is the right fit for you.  With all class changes, the expectation is that the students have a conversation with their parents/guardians, school counselor, teacher of the course being dropped or added, and in some cases, the department coordinator and/or administrator to understand the impact of the change.  

SCHEDULE CHANGE POLICY

A. Before the start of any course, a student can modify his or her schedule in consultation with the School Counseling Department. 

B. Once the scheduling process is completed, the schedule is set, and the semester has begun, schedule changes are only permitted within the first five days of a new semester. The administration may waive the deadline for changes ONLY for the following reasons:

1. Exception by a physician

2. Determination by a team meeting which may include the teacher, department coordinator, school counselor,  administrator, and parent that the student is incapable of meeting the academic challenge of the course content

3. To accommodate changes in academic plans/goals as determined appropriate by counselor, teacher, administration, and parents/guardians

4. As a result of the creation of a prescriptive program by the Planning & Placement Team

5. If, in extraordinary situations, a student is failing a class, the case is reviewed, and the decision to drop the class is accepted by administration, students may be able to drop the course with the designation of withdrawal with failure or WF on their transcript

Please understand that at times, before the end of the add/drop period, schedule changes may not be able to be accommodated due to scheduling constraints.

The following weighted model will be utilized for purposes of determining class rank.

Grade in courses will be multiplied by the following weight factors:

AP/IB/UCONN = 1.2

Honors (H) = 1.1

College Prep (CP) = 1.0

Level 0             = no weight

The unweighted GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale and is provided on the transcript. Starting with the class of 2028, we will be using a weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. 

In order to enhance our efforts to teach students, we at Valley Regional High School have developed guidelines to accurately determine student level placement. The process to be followed (in determining a student’s appropriate level placement in a specific subject matter) will incorporate consideration of the student’s past academic performance, and when necessary, available standardized test scores. 

Experience has shown that the most accurate predictor of appropriate level placement is the observations and evaluations of the classroom teacher. When the student has mastered prerequisite material based on departmental criteria, he or she will be considered for recommendation to the appropriate level for each subject. 

Rank in class is based upon the “Guidelines for Working with Grade Point Average and Rank-in-Class” published in the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Bulletin. The following stipulations modify the guidelines as they apply to Valley Regional High School.

1. Class rank is computed for all Valley Regional High School students. Class rank is weighted based on the leveling guidelines below.

2. Rank in Class is cumulative. Ongoing/cumulative ranks are reported to the colleges at the time of application. A final rank is included on the final transcript upon graduation.

3. Marks in all courses, except physical education and those designated as level 0, are used in determining class rank. Additional credits beyond 8 per year will be counted as a level 0 course.

4. In determining class rank, all failing as well as passing marks for any courses are included. Courses receiving a P are not included in ranked courses.

5. In determining class rank, all students at a given grade level are included.

6. Beginning with the class of 2028, class rank will not be included on transcripts. Weighted GPA for the class of 2028 and beyond will be a weighted 4.0 scale based on course grades and leveling. 

In order to determine the top graduate of the senior class, the following guidelines will be used:

1. The final class ranking for the top graduates (valedictorian, salutatorian, honor essayist, and top ten percent of the senior class) will be determined at the close of the first semester.

2. In order to be eligible for consideration as a top graduate, a student must have attended four consecutive semesters at VRHS.

3. In the case of transfer students, the sending school, whenever possible, will supply numerical grades. When not possible, the following scale will be used to translate letter grades:

A+ = 98

A = 94

A- = 90

B+ = 88

B = 84

B- = 80

C+ = 78

C = 74

C- = 70

D+ = 68

D = 64

D- = 60

F = below 60

Valley Regional High School offers courses for students with Individual Education Plans (IEP) and for English Language Learners (ELL). Placement in support courses is based upon individual student needs and the decision of the student’s educational team. 

Valley Regional High School offers courses through Virtual High School to offer students the opportunity to take specialized courses that align with their academic goals and interests. The following policies apply:

1. Per BOE policy, Valley Regional High School students may earn a maximum of three (3) credits in total by successfully completing pre-approved virtual/online courses within the following guidelines:

     a.  No more than one (1) credit may be applied toward the required credits for graduation in any combination of English, mathematics, science, or social studies

     b.  Credit earned from virtual/online courses may be applied toward graduation requirements as elective credits (you cannot take VHS courses, which are offered and taught at VRHS)

2. There is no guarantee that the course(s) applied for will be available.  Courses are approved on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to seniors and juniors according to the time-stamp of the VHS registration request form. 

3. The full VHS catalog is available online at https://vhslearning.org/catalog. The VHS catalog indicates prerequisites, VHS Levels, Grade Level, Semester and VHS policies. Students are responsible for reading and understanding the policies of VHS. Students must register for either semester or full year VHS courses and may not register for 'self-paced' courses.

4. Students are responsible for maintaining email and/or verbal communication with the Site Coordinator, Mrs. Ehrhardt, and your VHS teacher throughout the course regarding your progress, media material, technology support, absences, etc.

5. Students taking AP courses are required to take the AP exam and have scores reported to both VHS and VRHS. AP courses usually have required summer assignments.

6. The final date to drop a VHS course is five CALENDAR days, including weekends and holidays, after the course start date.  After that time, students are required to remain in the course and grades will be based on the work completed through the remainder of the class.

7.  Grades are updated in Power School approximately every two weeks.  The most current grade is always the grade posted in your course.  Weekly emails regarding your login history and grades are sent via email to both students and parents directly from VHS.