History of the School
Founded in 1910, San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) is located in the town of Danville, a Contra Costa County community approximately thirty-five miles east of San Francisco. By the 1950s and 1960s, Danville and the other agricultural communities of the San Ramon Valley began to experience extensive suburban development. In 1960, the population for the entire valley stood at 12,700; however, after significant growth, the current population of Danville alone is 43,574. SRVHS serves the upper-middle-class, suburban communities of Alamo, Danville, and San Ramon. Having earned the honor of being a California Distinguished School (1988, 1996, 2001, and 2009) and a National Blue Ribbon School (2002), San Ramon Valley High School has been, and continues to be, a source of pride for the community.
In order to help support students achieve our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results, parent support groups donate thousands of hours of time and raise over $300,000 annually to support school programs. Notable among these groups are the PTSA, the Wolf Foundation, Academic Boosters, the Fine Arts Association, Athletic Boosters, and the Wolftones. Community groups, including the Kiwanis Club, Rotary, Business Roundtable, and Soroptimists provide the school with services, awards, and scholarships. Through the efforts of parents and community members, SRVHS became one of the first schools in the state to provide a substance-free Graduation Night. The continuous support of parent and community groups helps San Ramon Valley High maintain its tradition of educational excellence. In turn, students give back to the community by providing volunteer services through a variety of programs.
School Purpose & Goals
The school provides an education that fosters the intellectual, physical, and social development of each student. Our strong tradition of excellence stems from a dedicated staff, responsible students, committed parents, and active community partners. Through a comprehensive system of support programs, San Ramon Valley High School works to fulfill its mission:
The San Ramon Valley High School community empowers students to achieve their educational potential.
The school’s staff works to ensure that all students will be successful, whether they are entering the workforce directly after graduation or they are enrolling in institutions of higher learning. Over 99% of our students graduate and 98% continue their formal education at two-year and four-year colleges. Based on data for the class of 2011, 74% of the graduates enrolled at a four-year college, and 24% of the graduates enrolled in a two-year college. The remaining students enlisted in the military or joined the workforce. The school’s vision is to produce graduates who will reflect the Expected Schoolwide Learning Results.
Expected Schoolwide Learning Results
1. San Ramon Valley High School students will demonstrate curricular knowledge and skills. Students will be able to…
● meet or exceed the current high school standards in all curricular areas.
● comprehend reading material in a variety of content areas.
● produce written work that is grammatically correct, has logical structure, and includes supporting evidence.
● develop and utilize effective study skill strategies.
● effectively use technological resources.
2. San Ramon Valley High School students will demonstrate creative and complex thinking. Students will be able to…
● analyze and synthesize information from a variety of sources to make predictions, draw logical conclusions, and produce a finished project.
● solve complex problems with critical thinking skills.
● produce work that reflects creativity and original thinking.
3. San Ramon Valley High School students will demonstrate effective communication. Students will be able to…
● listen, speak, and write effectively to demonstrate clarity of ideas and expression.
● give oral and written presentations that demonstrate clarity of ideas and expression.
● collaborate with others to solve problems and produce quality work using appropriate technology.
● communicate using appropriate technology.
4. San Ramon Valley High School students will demonstrate integrity and responsibility. Students will be able to…
● exhibit positive citizenship through active participation at school and in the community.
● adhere to district, school, and classroom policies.
● actively respect diverse cultures, lifestyles, and ideas.
● take personal responsibility for educational goals.
● display academic integrity and honesty.
Since 2006, SRVHS has changed physically and professionally. Physically, we have added five new buildings as well as improvements to our sports fields. Professionally, we have implemented Professional Learning Communities (PLC). This has been an ongoing process with some successes and some complications. However, the PLC process has fundamentally changed how SRVHS uses collaboration time. Subject-level teams pursue specific performance goals and use formative assessments to make subsequent and appropriate adjustments to curriculum and instruction.
In an effort to have more transparency with students and parents, we have adopted a web-based data and communication system with the implementation of School Loop, an online grade book and communication platform that enables greater parent and student communication through the knowledge of everyday assignments and grades. Additionally, Infinite Campus, a new student management software system implemented by the district, is enabling greater understanding and communication of tardies and absences.
In the 2009–2010 school year, we changed our school schedule to allow for a freshmen study hall and to implement a systemic intervention program for the rest of the school. This program met with some successes and some difficulties, and after a staff-wide vote at the end of the year, it was decided not to continue the intervention program or the freshmen study hall the following year.
