West Valley High School: Full Guide

Location: Cottonwood, CA

Are you a student or parent at West Valley High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?

We've written the best guide to West Valley High available. Here we'll cover:

Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
How safe West Valley High is to attend
SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by West Valley High students
Which AP/IB classes you can take at West Valley High
Every sports team you can join at West Valley High

Let's get started!

Basic Information

West Valley High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Cottonwood, CA in Shasta County.

Based on its location, West Valley High is classified as a school in a rural fringe area, near an urbanized area. Here's the location on a map:

Contact Information

Mailing address:

West Valley High School
3805 Happy Valley Rd.
Cottonwood, CA 96022-9205

Phone number: 5303477171

West Valley High School homepage: http://www.wveagles.net/

Principal: Emmett Koerperich
Email the principal: [email protected]

Student Demographics

Student Enrollment

The total enrollment at West Valley High School is 943 students, making it a somewhat large high school, in the top half of all California high schools by size.

As a mid-sized high school, West Valley High strikes the balance between size and comfort. There will be enough students to provide a diversity of experiences, like clubs and sports, for you to join. But it'll be small enough that you'll likely get to know most people in your class.

Growth in Student Body Size

Is West Valley High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.

From our calculations, the enrollment at West Valley High has increased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.

	Male Students	Female Students	All Students
9^th grade	137	117	254
10^th grade	116	111	227
11^th grade	116	119	235
12^th grade	115	112	227

As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 27 students larger than the senior class. This suggests that the school is growing in size and taking on more students.

There are a few reasons this could be happening. The city of Cottonwood could be growing in population, thus sending more students into West Valley High. Alternatively, West Valley High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.

Gender Split

Are there more boys or girls at West Valley High School?

From our statistics, West Valley High has a 52:48 split between male and female students in the high school grades.

West Valley High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Shasta County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.

This usually means that West Valley High doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.

Ethnicity Breakdown

What's the racial diversity at West Valley High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?

From our statistics, West Valley High has a homogenous student body, with the overwhelming majority of students identifying as one ethnicity. Only a third of California schools show as little diversity as West Valley High does. When attending class, most students will be of the same ethnicity, with some variation.

The majority of students at West Valley High are white. In California, white students make up 26.3% of all California students, and are the second most common ethnicity after Hispanic students. Thus West Valley High is one of hundreds of schools in the state that have a majority of white students.

	Percentage	Number
American Indian/Alaska Native	4.4%	42
Asian	1.4%	14
Hispanic	13.2%	125
Black	0.4%	4
White	76.3%	720
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander	0.3%	3
Two or more races	3.7%	35

High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Cottonwood. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.

Income Level of West Valley High Families

What are the family incomes of students at West Valley High School? To determine this, we look at the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches, a classification by the US federal government.

To qualify for a reduced price meal, family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $45,000 or below.

To qualify for a free meal, family income needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $32,000 or below.

The lower the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals, the higher the income levels are likely to be.

At West Valley High, 11.4% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 37.1% qualify for free lunches.

This means West Valley High has a below average level of poverty. With most students not qualifying for free or reduced price lunches, West Valley High is below average among California schools in poverty level. The income level of families in Cottonwood is thus likely to be relatively high.

	Number	Percent
Reduced-price lunches	108	11.4%
Free lunches	350	37.1%
Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches	485	51.4%

As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Cottonwood and doesn't speak much about the school itself.

West Valley High is in the middle 50% of schools by income level. Generally, higher income level schools are better-funded and have a higher quality range of classes and activities. West Valley High is likely in the middle of the pack in this regard and will give you a good set of options to try.

If you have any interests that West Valley High doesn't cover, look to your local community for activities, or to the Internet for self-study AP classes.

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School Safety

How safe is West Valley High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?

To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at West Valley High: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.

These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other West Valley High students at risk.

In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 0 referrals to law enforcement, and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 971 students.

To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.

Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:

Anderson Union High School District Safety

School Name	Total Referred	Enrollment
Anderson High	2	698
North Valley High	0	97
Oakview High (alternative)	0	110
Anderson Community Day	2	12
Anderson New Technology High	0	220
Anderson Community Day Transition	0	0

Academic Performance

Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at West Valley High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?

We've compiled everything we could find about West Valley High's academics here.

Graduation Rate

To start off, an important benchmark of academic achievement is graduation rate. For all students who start high school at West Valley High, the state of California wants as many students to graduate as possible, since a high school diploma can mean a big difference in getting a job.

At West Valley High, 95% (of 214) West Valley High students graduated within four years of starting high school.

Here's how this stacks up to other schools. The California state government has defined 90% as a target rate. The state average is around 80-85%.

West Valley High is in the 87th percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is well above average. Generally, a graduation rate of above 90% is considered good and well above average, and below 75% is well below average.

Note: This data comes from a few years back, but the trends are likely to stay the same, since schools don't get significantly better or worse within a short period of time.

Standardized Testing

Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for West Valley High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.

Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.

SAT Scores

As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.

We did in-depth research and found the average West Valley High School SAT scores.

The average composite SAT score is a 1470 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 92 at West Valley High take the SAT.

This is an average SAT score, putting West Valley High School right around the national average. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that West Valley High will offer a fairly standard high school education, neither strongly lacking or outperforming.

Note, however, that this is just an average - the top students can still exceed the average significantly. If you can rise far above your school average, you'll have a great shot at entering a strong college.

Keep in mind, however, that only 9% of all students at West Valley High took the SAT, so the results could be skewed by the small sample size.

Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:

Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)

Source	Critical Reading	Math	Writing	Composite
West Valley High	490	511	473	1470
California	498	510	496	1504
United States	495	511	484	1490

Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.

To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.

How good is 1470 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1470 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1470 or any other SAT score!

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ACT Scores

In California, the ACT is less popular than the SAT. Fewer students take the ACT, and typically these students are more motivated and academically prepared for college. Therefore, it's harder to compare West Valley High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.

At West Valley High, the average ACT composite score was 22, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 36 out of 943 total students take the ACT.

This is above average performance, putting West Valley High in the top 50% of California high schools. Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, these ACT scores are a good indication that you'll get an above-average education at West Valley High.

Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for West Valley High compared to California and the US:

Average ACT Scores

Source	English	Math	Reading	Science
West Valley High	21	23	22	22
California	21.8	22.8	22.3	21.7
United States	20.3	20.9	21.3	20.8

Scores provided are for the 2013-14 school year.

Find out more about percentile rankings and the ACT in this article.

Every individual is different. What counts as a good ACT score for you? Learn more with this article!

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give West Valley High School students credit for college.

Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.

AP Scores

Every year, roughly 150 students in grades 9-12 at West Valley High take 244 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.

The average score of all AP exams taken at West Valley High is 2.1 out of 5.

Unfortunately, this score puts West Valley High at below average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the majority of students who take AP tests at West Valley High don't pass. This performance places West Valley High School in the bottom 50% of schools for AP tests in California.

This isn't all bad news. It's already good that West Valley High offers an AP program, so you can start dipping your toes into college-level courses. Some schools are new to offering AP courses, and teachers often get better at preparing students for AP tests. Furthermore, a good number of students still earn a passing grade of 3 or above. With hard work throughout the year, you'll still be able to beat your school's average.

We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:

AP Test-Taking Statistics

Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at West Valley High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.

At West Valley High, there is a total enrollment of 104 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).

Of AP-taking students, 26 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 32 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 18 took AP courses but took NO tests.

This is good test participation. Most students at West Valley High School are taking some or all AP exams available to them, and only a minority of students end up taking zero AP tests. This means most students feel well enough prepared to take the nationwide AP tests for their courses.

There's still some room for improvement. West Valley High could reduce the number of AP students who take zero AP exams, and encourage students to take all AP exams available to them. Some students may not feel confident that they'll pass, so they choose not to take the test. By building a better AP program West Valley High could improve their AP exam participation.

Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.

AP Passing Rates

For AP students at West Valley High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.

Of all AP test takers, 21 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 30 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 30 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.

This is good performance. The majority of students pass SOME or ALL of the AP tests. Only a minority of students at West Valley High School fail all the AP exams they take.

Overall, this points to a fairly strong AP program at West Valley High. Most students are able to pass at least one of the AP tests they take, which means the teaching is likely of acceptable quality, and the students are motivated to do well. However, the program isn't strong across the board. Some teachers or courses may be better than others, and students at West Valley High may be stronger at some subjects and weaker in others.

If you attend West Valley High, this means you'll have a good starting point to work from - but if you want to pass all the AP tests you take, you'll need to work hard and use good study strategies.

To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at West Valley High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.

Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.

State Tests

As of 2014, eleventh graders attending West Valley High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.

If West Valley High students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at West Valley High.

English/Language Arts

At West Valley High School, 53% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.

This is considered above average and puts West Valley High in the top 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Around half of West Valley High students pass state standards, and around half do not.

This specific percentage isn't much cause for concern - because the standards have gotten harder with the Common Core, the pass rate at West Valley High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects West Valley High's roughly average ranking among California high schools.

English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)

Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.

Math

The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.

At West Valley High School, 21% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts West Valley High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of West Valley High students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.

Math Test Results (2015)

Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.

Academic Offerings

In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like West Valley High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.

Brief Intro to AP/IB

AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at West Valley High. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at West Valley High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.

Furthermore, many colleges will accept your West Valley High AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.

So what advanced courses does West Valley High School offer?

AP Courses

West Valley High School offers AP courses in 9 subjects.

This is a relatively low number of AP subjects, putting West Valley High School in the bottom 50% of California schools offering AP courses. You'll likely be able to take the most popular courses like Calculus, English, and US History, but you won't have most other subjects available.

The total number of AP subjects is 38, so West Valley High is missing most. If you want to take any AP courses not being offered at West Valley High, ask your counselor for ideas on how to cover the gap. If you're a strong student, you might consider transferring schools to access a more advanced curriculum.

Of course, keep in mind that even though West Valley High doesn't offer many AP courses, it might teach the ones it does offer quite well. You can see student performance in the AP score analysis section above.

The following AP courses were offered at West Valley High during 2015-2016:

Course Title
Biology
Calculus AB
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Human Geography
Spanish Language and Culture
United States Government and Politics
United States History
World History

Sports Teams

Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at West Valley High School. Sports are an integral part of many students' high school experiences. The more sports that are available, and the more levels supported (Frosh, JV, Varsity), the more likely you'll be able to participate in a sport at West Valley High.

By the way, the West Valley High mascot is the Eagles. Go Eagles!

West Valley High School fields 11 teams for girls' sports. This is a relatively number that puts West Valley High in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer girls' sports. This is understandable - sports teams are expensive to support, and many schools would rather put those resources elsewhere. If you participate in a sport that West Valley High doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.

And now for the boys: West Valley High School fields 12 teams for boys' sports. This relatively number puts West Valley High in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Sports teams are expensive to support, and West Valley High may not be able to offer the full range of options. If you participate in a sport that West Valley High doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.

Boys Teams	Girls Teams
Basketball Var JV Fr	Basketball Var JV Fr
	Golf Var JV Fr
	Tennis Var JV Fr
Football Var JV Fr
Wrestling Var JV Fr
Volleyball Var JV Fr	Volleyball Var JV Fr
Baseball Var JV Fr
	Softball Var JV Fr
Soccer Var JV Fr	Soccer Var JV Fr

What’s Next?

Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!

Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.

Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.

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