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| Special Programs | ||
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| HONORS PROGRAM | CORE CLASSES | AVID | SPECIAL EDUCATION |
The Saddleback Valley Unified School District maintains a comprehensive Honors Program to make it possible for academically talented and high achieving students to upgrade the quality and increase the challenge of their students. The Honors Program is committed to academic excellence that will ensure a superior preparation for college course work and develop a respect for knowledge as understanding which promotes further learning. Students are accepted in the Honors Program on the basis of academic qualifications, teacher recommendations, and student interest. Qualified students may select fromt he Honors options outlined below:
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a program of credit by examination for college level studies pursued in high school. AP is a nationwide program administered by the College Board. The Saddleback Valley Unified School District offers the following AP courses to prepare for these exams:
| English AP | Statistics AP | Art History AP | European History AP |
| French AP | Computer Science A/B AP | Studio Art Portfolio AP | Government/Politics AP |
| German AP | Biology AP | Psychology AP | U.S. History AP |
| Spanish AP | Chemistry AP | U.S. Government/Politics AP | Economics AP |
| Calculus AB AP | Physics B/AP | ||
| Calculus BC AP | Physics C/AP |
The student who elects to take an Honors class without enrolling in the AP or IB program for external examinations will benefit from the academic challenge and high teaching standards. All Honors, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate classes meet the GATE requirement of a qualitatively different program for students who have been identified as "Gifted and Talented."
This program, based in Geneva, Switzerland, with North American headquarters in New York City, allows students to earn an internationally recognized diploma. Students must complete an intense course of study which culminates in six internationally graded examinations. Additional requirements include a special course in "Theory of Knowledge," a 4,000-word thesis on a subject of each student's special interest, and participation in 150 hours of aesthetic or social service activities. For their efforts, students in the program may receive college credit for each exam passed and, if full requirements are met, at some universities enter as sophomores. Because the students must become proficient in six academically demanding areas, including a foreign language, they also hold a distinct advantage in gaining admission to the college of their choice.
Model United Nations/International Studies
Participation in Model United Nations is the extra curricular component of a 4-year program of International Studies. Freshmen enroll in International Studies, which follows the Honors Cultural Geography curriculum and satisfies the freshman social studies requirement. Sophomore Honors World History also satisfies the social studies requirement for 10th grade. Junior and senior classes are electives in AP Government and Politics, and International Relations. In addition to prescribed course work, the study of current world events is an integral part of each class. Model United Nations is an international organization, affiliated with the United National Association in New York. Participating schools send delegations of students to Model United Nations conferences held by high schools or colleges all over the United States. The speaking, research, and writing skills acquired through Model United Nations are recognized by major universities as excellent preparation for the future.
All student are enrolled in a core curriculum. this curriculum consists of language arts (English), social studies, science, and mathematics instruction that prepare students for a meaningful transition to various post-secondary options. Foreign languages, computer technology, fine arts, performing arts, business, and technical education courses augment the core classes to better prepare students for admissions to colleges, universities, vocational training programs, and career opportunities. Students with special needs (English as a second language, specific learning disabilities, etc.) are ensured access to the core curriculum through sheltered classes with modified instructional strategies.
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an intermediate and senior high school program to prepare students in the middle with potential for success in rigorous secondary curriculum for four-year college eligibility. The program may also restructure the teaching methodology of the entire school to increase the accessibility of college preparatory curricula. AVID is an academic, regularly scheduled elective program based on writing as a tool of learning, inquiry method, and collaborative grouping. The three main components of the program are academic instruction, tutorial support, and motivational activities
Special Education programs are for individuals with exceptional needs who have been identified as eligible to receive special education and related services where instruction is provided in accordance with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students may either be in a Resource Specialist Program (RSP) where they participate in regular classroom activities for at least 50% of the school day or in a self-contained Special Day Class (SDC) where they spend more than 50% of the school day in the special program.
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