APPLE VALLEY
HIGH SCHOOL
A comprehensive and college preparatory public high school
2015-2016
School Profile
Blue Ribbon School of Excellence from
the U.S. Department of Education
Award for Excellence in Content Rich Arts
from the National Endowment of the Arts
“140 Best High Schools” in the U.S. from
Redbook magazine
Twelve Schools That Succeed from Phi
Delta Kappa Educational Foundation
“One of Eight Best High School Athletic
Programs” in the U.S. from Scholastic
Coach and Athletic Journal
“Minnesota Model Music School” from
Minnesota Music Educators Association
“Grammy Signature School” National
Academy of Recording Arts and Science
Speech and Debate National “School of
Excellence” Award (Top 5 in Nation)
Emmy Award – EaglEye from the
National Academy of Arts & Sciences
Upper Midwest Chapter
District 196 School Board
Rob Duchscher, Chairperson
Jackie Magnuson, Vice Chairperson
Gary Huusko, Clerk
Art Coulson, Treasurer
Joel Albright, Director
Mike Roseen, Director
Bob Schutte, Director
Superintendant: Jane Berenz
Administration
Steve Degenaar, Principal
Michael Bolsoni, Assistant Principal
Pete Buesgens, Assistant Principal/
Athletic Director
Anne Liebeck, Assistant Administrator
Paul Tinder, Assistant Administrator
Bill Blatzheim, Arts and Activities TOSA
Counselors
Val Fogolin
Michelle Gustafson
Scott Osthus
Ellen Perkins
Main Office: 952-431-8200
Attendance: 952-431-8216
Counseling Office: 952-431-8218
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY
Built in 1976, Apple Valley High School is located in the city of Apple Valley in northern Dakota County
and is 15 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. There are four comprehensive high
schools, two specialized smaller high schools, six middle schools and eighteen elementary schools which
serve the families and communities within the 110 square mile area of Independent School District 196.
A member of the prestigious South Suburban Conference, AVHS has a total enrollment of 1,788 students
in grades 9-12.
Mission Statement
The Apple Valley HIgh School community is committed to challenge all individuals to realize their
potential as learners by providing high quality and diverse opportunities for intellectual, emotional,
aesthetic, and physical growth.
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM
Apple Valley High School emphasizes educational excellence and innovation with a concern for
mastering basic skills as a foundation for further study. Over 125 staff members are committed to
curricular and co-curricular programs that prepare students for today and tomorrow.
Apple Valley High School offers over 300 required and elective trimester courses. This allows students a
vast choice of opportunities and challenging experiences.
• 1 5 mathematics courses through College Linear Algebra/Differential Equations
• 5 years of Spanish, 4 years of French, German and Japanese
•H
onors and Advances courses throughout all curriculum
• Advanced
Placement courses in Studio Art, Language and Composition, Literature and Composition,
European History, American History, Psychology, U.S. Government/Politics, Biology, Chemistry,
Calculus, Statistics, Computer Science, Spanish and Macro Economics.
• The Apple Valley High School Information Media Center (IMC) and Learning Commons provides
resources, support, and space for students and staff to engage in learning, instruction, collaboration
and exploration. The center boasts more than five computer labs and five mobile laptop/chrome
book carts for use in the classroom. The IMC provides an impressive array of digital resources
including databases, an ever-growing ebook collection and a substantial collection of both fiction
and nonfiction books and periodicals.
• The Technology Center at AVHS provides technology support for faculty, staff and students. It is the
hub of technology located in the center of the Academic Wing. Hardware, software and network
support can be found here. Hours of operation are from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
STEM & PLTW Programs
Apple Valley High School is part of the District 196 STEM corridor, which includes Cedar Park
Elementary School and Valley Middle School of STEM. AVHS is also the only District 196 High School that
is a certified Project Lead the Way (PLTW) site and offers a Fabrication Lab to all students. In 2014 District
196 received a $2.99 million federal grant from the Department of Labor to transform Apple Valley High
School into a school with a dedicated science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focus over the
next four years. The curriculum links STEM principles and complements traditional mathematics and
science courses while offering students the opportunity to take college classes while enrolled in high
school. Additionally, the program emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world
problem solving and prepares students to pursue a post-secondary education and career in a STEMrelated field. STEM education has become increasingly popular as parents and policymakers realize the
critical role it plays in enabling the United States to remain the economic and technological leader of the
global marketplace.
Other Educational Programs
Art – 34 courses
Business Education – 28 courses
Language Arts (English) – 36 courses
Family and Consumer Science –12 courses
World Language – 20 courses
Industrial Technology – 29 courses
Performing Arts – 23 courses
Physical Education/Health – 34 courses
Science – 17 courses
Social Studies – 14 courses
Career Development – 33 courses
Special Education
ELL Education
14450 Hayes Road • Apple Valley, MN 55124 • www.district196.org/avhs/
Our Learning Facility
GRADING SYSTEM
Our state-of-the-art digital classroom design includes built-in, LCDs, SMART
Technology; an infrastructure that includes building-wide wireless network/
Internet connections; a 4:1 student to computer ratio; student mobile
computing labs; a two-level learning commons with digital library research
capabilities and fully-equipped television and digital editing studios, a 650
seat Performing Arts Center with a fly loft and scene shop; a dedicated
dance studio and full-time, curricular dance program; four gyms with a
running track; a 4,000 square foot fitness center which is adjacent to 200
acres of playing fields, recreational facilities and competition stadiums.
The school year is divided into 3 marking periods or trimesters which are
approximately 12 weeks long. A final grade is given for each credit taken at
the end of each trimester. The grade point average (GPA) is calculated on a
4.0 system in which:
FACULTY
Apple Valley High School has over 126 full-time/part-time members
including teachers, counselors, principals, special educators and a school
nurse. Over 86% have advanced degrees, including 2 Doctorates and 10
Specialists. Seventeen years is the average length of teaching experience.
Apple Valley High School
Honors/Advanced Placement/College Courses
ENGLISH
Honors English 9
Honors Literature/Composition
Honors Speech
Honors Composition/SAU
Advanced Placement: Language/
Composition
Advanced Placement: Literature/
Composition
College in the Schools Speech
College in the Schools Writing Studio
BUSINESS ED
College in the Schools:
Microeconomics
MATHEMATICS
Honors Geometry
Honors Algebra II
Honors Pre-Calculus
Advanced Placement: Statistics
Advanced Placement: Calculus
(AB or BC)
Advanced Placement: Computer
Science
UMTYMP (U of MN)
VISUAL ARTS
Advanced Placement: Portfolio
SOCIAL STUDIES
Honors Civics & Citizenship
Advanced Placement: U.S. History
Advanced Placement: European
History
Advanced Placement: American
Government
Advanced Placement:
Macroeconomics
Advanced Placement: Psychology
SCIENCE
Honors Earth Science
Honors Biology
Honors Chemistry
Honors Physics
Advanced Placement: Chemistry
College in the Schools Anatomy and
Physiology
World Languages
Honors Spanish 2
Honors Spanish 3
Honors Spanish 4
College in the Schools Spanish 5
College in the Schools German 4
Co-curricular Activities
Apple Valley High School has a strong tradition of co-curricular
excellence. We are ranked #1 in Fine Arts State Championships and #3 in
Athletic State Championships in Minnesota. Students are able to pursue
their interests in over 30 athletic activities and over 30 fine and performing
arts activities. In addition, there are many clubs which challenge the
academic and interest areas of the students such as Math League, Academic
Quiz Bowl, and Science Olympiad. Intramural athletic programs are available
all three trimesters.
Minnesota Post-Secondary Enrollment Option
Juniors and Seniors at Apple Valley High School are eligible to enroll at
Minnesota post secondary institutions on a full- or part-time basis. Students
may take classes for both secondary, and post secondary credit. The purpose
of the program is to:
1. Promote rigorous educational pursuits.
2. Provide a wider variety of options for students.
Several other college credit options are also available within our curriculum.
A =4.0
A–= 3.7
B+= 3.3
B =3.0
B–= 2.7
C+= 2.3
C =2.0
C–= 1.7
D+= 1.3
D =1.0
D–= 0.7
E =0.3
F =0.0
P =Pass, is not included in GPA
NC/NG =No Credit/No Grade, not included in GPA
S+ =Credit via assessment - minimum
standard 80% mastery - not included in
GPA
I =Incomplete, course work not completed
due to serious illness/extended
absences
CLASS RANK and Honors Class Rank
Class Rank is cumulative from the beginning of ninth grade and is based
on the final grades in all trimester classes. Class rank is figured officially only
at the end of each academic school year. Honors and Advanced Placement
courses are not weighted.
Honors Class Rank is an alternative ranking option that recognizes and
ranks students who take a significant number of Advanced Placement (AP)
or Honors courses in the core subjects of science, social studies, English or
math. To qualify for an Honors Rank at Apple Valley High School, students
must meet the following criteria:
1.Take at least 23 trimester courses of Honors/AP courses throughout
grades 9-12.
• Complete 6 Honors/AP classes during 9th grade.
• Complete 12 Honors/AP classes during 10th grade.
• Complete 18 Honors/AP classes during 11th grade.
• Complete 23 Honors/AP classes during 12th grade.
2.Students must earn a grade of “B-” or better in Honors/AP courses to
count as a qualifying class.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to graduate from Apple Valley High School, students must:
1.Satisfactorily complete 66 credits of course work at the high school
level, grades 9-12 inclusively, to be eligible for high school graduation as
specified below:
• English/Language Arts: four years (12 credits).
• Social Studies: four years (12 credits) – encompassing U.S. History,
world history, economics, and government/citizenship.
• Science: three years (9 credits) – encompassing biology and a physical
science.
• Mathematics: three years (9 credits) – encompassing algebra, geometry,
and statistics and probability.
• Arts: one course from the Art Education or Music and Dance
departments or Interior Design, Marketing, Architecture, or Engineering.
• Health: two courses (2 credits).
• Physical Education: four courses (4 credits).
• Safety Education: one course (1 credit).
• Other: 16 credits, of which not more than 12 credits of instrumental
and/or vocal music may be applied toward fulfillment of the graduation
requirements.
2. Class of 2015 and 2016 need to pass the Graduation-Required Assessment
for Diploma (GRAD) tests in written composition, reading and math or
alternative assessment as determined by MDE.
3. Graduation testing requirements for the Class of 2017 and 2018 have not
yet been established by the MDE.
14450 Hayes Road • Apple Valley, MN 55124 • www.district196.org/avhs/
COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTING CLASS MEANS*
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT 1)
Number Tested Reading Average Math Average Writing Average
2007-200857
566
607
552
2008-200933
588
603
567
2009-201036
576
586
566
2010-201126
588
590
536
2011-201233
620
618
588
2012-201326
588
590
536
2013-201418
571
587
530
2014-201519
616
643
585
2014-15 Grade Distribution
American College Test (ACT)
Number Tested English Math Reading Science Comp.
2007-2008399
22.6 24.1 23.7 23.4 23.6
2008-2009337
21.9 23.4 23.3 23.2 23.1
2009-2010329
21.9 23.3 23.1 22.8 22.9
2010-2011324
22.2 23.5 23.1 23.0 23.1
2011-2012314
22.4 23.8 23.4 23.3 23.3
2012-2013269
22 22.9 23.2 23.2 22.9
2013-2014299
22.4 23.6 23.5 23.3 23.3
2014-2015287
22.4 23.9 23.6 23.7 23.5
Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
Number Tested Reading Average Math Average Writing Average
Class of 2010 98
52.6
56.2
50.4
Class of 2011 109
50.4
53.1
48.3
Class of 2012 62
52.5
55.7
50.3
Class of 2013 81
55.9
58.5
53.7
Class of 2014 51
55.5
55.7
51.2
Class of 2015 59
56.3
58.6
53.1
Class of 2016 47
52.7
58.1
50
* The test scores reported here are raw scores.
apple valley high school recent Graduates’ Post-secondary plans
Adrian College
American University
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American University of Paris
Amherst College
Anoka Technical College
Argosy University-Twin Cities
Arizona State University
Art Institutes International Minnesota
Auburn University
Augsburg College
Augustana College
Baylor University
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bemidji State University
Bennington College
Berklee College of Music
Bethany Lutheran College
Bethel University
Black Hills State University
Boston College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Bowling Green State University
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brigham Young University
Brown College
Buena Vista University
Butler University
California Institute of Technology
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University
Carthage College
Central College
Central Lakes College
Century Community College
Coe College
Colgate College
College of Saint Benedict
College of St. Scholastica
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia College
Columbia University
Concordia College
Concordia University, St. Paul
Cornell College
Cornell University
Creighton University
Dakota County Technical College
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dartmouth College
DePaul University
Des Moines Community College
Dickinson College
Drake University
Duke University
Dunwoody College of Technology
Eastern Michigan University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Emory University
Evangel University
Ferris State University
Florida State University
Florida Gulf Coast university
Fordham University
George Mason University
Georgetown University
Gonzaga University
Grinnell College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamline University
Harvard University
Harvey Mudd College
Hawaii Pacific University
Hennepin Technical College
Howard University
Illinois State University
Indiana University at Bloomington
Inver Hills Community College
Iowa State University
Itasca Community College
14450 Hayes Road • Apple Valley, MN 55124 • www.district196.org/avhs/
apple valley high school recent Graduates’ Post-secondary plans
ITT Technical Institute
Jamestown College
Johns Hopkins University
Lake Forest College
Lake Superior College
Lawrence University
Liberty University
Loras College
Loyola University Chicago
Luther College
Macalester College
Marquette University
Marymount University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McNally Smith College of Music
Metropolitan State University
Miami University, Oxford
Michigan State University
Michigan Technological University
Minneapolis Business College
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis Community College
Minnesota School of Business
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Moorhead
Montana State University, Billings
Montana State University, Bozeman
Morningside College
New Mexico Institute of Technology
New York University
Normandale Community College
North Carolina State University
North Central University
North Dakota State College of Science
North Dakota State University
North Iowa Area Community College
North Park University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Michigan University
Northern State University
Northland College
Northwestern College
Northwestern University
Oral Roberts University
Pacific Lutheran University
Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Pepperdine University
Pomona College
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
Rasmussen College Eagan
Regency Beauty Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rice University
Ripon College
Rochester Community and Technical College
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Saint John’s University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Saint Paul College
Saint Xavier University
San Francisco State University
Santa Clara University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
Seton Hall University
Simpson College
Smith College
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
South Dakota State University
Southwest Minnesota State University
St. Catherine University - Minneapolis
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud Technical College
St. Norbert College
St. Olaf College
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Texas Christian University
The Ohio State University
The University of Iowa
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
The University of Texas, Austin
Tufts University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy at West Point
United States Naval Academy
Universal Technical Institute
University of California at Berkeley
University of California at Irvine
University of California at Los Angeles
University of California at Santa Barbara
University of Chicago
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Colorado at Denver
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Florida
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota, Crookston
University of Minnesota, Duluth
University of Minnesota, Morris
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of Missouri Columbia
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of North Dakota
University of North Texas
University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Iowa
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of South Dakota
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of Southern California
University of St. Thomas
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Texas - Austin
University of Vermont
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin, Platteville
University of Wisconsin, River Falls
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin, Stout
University of Wisconsin, Superior
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
University of Wyoming
Valparaiso University
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Viterbo University
Wartburg College
Washington University in St. Louis
Wesleyan University
Whitman College
Williams College
Winona State University
Wittenberg University
Yale University
District 196 does not discriminate in employment or in any of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, membership or
activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, age or genetic information. District 196 provides equal access to designated youth groups. The Director of Human Resources (651-423-7859) has been designated
to respond to employment-related inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies. The Director of Elementary Education (651-423-7782) and the Director of Secondary Education (651-423-7712) have been designated to respond to
student-related inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies. The Director of Special Education (651-423-7629) has been designated to respond to inquiries concerning the rights of a student with a disability. The mailing address
for all directors is 3455 153rd Street W, Rosemount, MN 55068. 14450 Hayes Road • Apple Valley, MN 55124 • www.district196.org/avhs/
AVHS/Profile Brochure/15-16/AVHS Profile 15-16.indd/District 196 Graphics/10-15-15