Accredited by the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges and the Vermont Agency of Education.
School and Community
White River Valley High School is located on the banks of the beautiful White River in the town of South Royalton. Royalton, Vermont is a small, close-knit community of farms and businesses with a focus on school activities and their importance in the development of its young people. Royalton is proud to be home to Vermont Law School.
White River Valley High School is a newly merged school involving the towns of South Royalton and Bethel. What used to be a Pre-K through 12 in two towns has been merged into one school two campuses. The Bethel campus houses an elementary school for Bethel residents and a middle school for Bethel and Royalton residents. The Royalton campus houses an elementary school for Royalton residents and a high school for Royalton and Bethel residents.
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
In the merger process, we are combining two senior classes with differing rules and guidelines for GPA, graduation requirements and weighted options. Students must meet the minimum of 22 credits:
4 credits in English 1 credit in the Arts
3 credits in Global Studies 1.5 credits in Physical Education
3 credits in Math 0.5 credit in Health
3 credits in Science 6 credits in elective classes
Students who were originally from South Royalton School do not have transfer grades, vocational grades, dual enrollment grades or early college grades included in their GPA. Students originally from Bethel have transfer grades, vocational grades, dual enrollment grades and early college grades included in their GPA.
Honors courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available in several areas. Many students participate in the programs offered at the Randolph Technical Career Center or Hartford Area Career & Technical Center, and some enroll in courses at Dartmouth College, Vermont Technical College or Community College of Vermont. We offer Community-Based Learning, a hands-on opportunity to earn elective credit while learning first-hand about careers of interest. Our French V and Spanish V courses are not offered as AP classes, but are weighted, and students may choose to prepare for the AP exams. We report weighted GPA and class rank. All AP courses, French IV, V, Spanish IV and V are weighted.
Students and Faculty
Cumulative G.P.A. Distribution, Class of 2015 as of June 2014
| 95+ |
90+ |
85+ |
80+ |
75+ |
70+ |
Below 70 |
| 2 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
The Grading System
A= 90-100 B= 80-89 C= 70-79 D= 65-69 Below 65 = No Credit
WD= Withdraw
Modified Block Schedule
We run a modified block schedule. A total of six block classes are offered twice a week with a fourth period class offered Monday through Thursday. Friday’s schedule runs a consolidated schedule of all six block classes. There is a learning block period every day with just one academic class offered at the same time, allowing for call backs for academic support and/or enrichment opportunities. Most students carry 7 credits per year with a maximum availability of 8 credits. We offer a wide variety of rigorous courses including several AP courses.
Courses offered 2019-20:
| Adventures in Music |
English Language, AP |
| Algebra I, II, Advanced |
English Literature, AP |
| Algebra Lab |
Environmental Science |
| American Literature |
Film Criticism |
| Band, Concert |
History in Film |
| Band, Jazz |
Human Anatomy & Physiology |
| Fitness |
Human Geography, AP |
| Forensics |
Integrated Science I – Earth & Space |
| Physical Education |
Integrated Science II – Biology |
| Physical Education, Advanced |
Integrated Science III – Chemistry |
| Biology, AP |
Integrated Research in Science – IRIS |
| Calculus AB, AP |
Intro. to Mechanical Technology |
| Ceramics |
Literacy Lab |
| Chemistry, AP |
Modern World History |
| Child Development I & II |
On Your Own |
| Chorus |
Personal Finance |
| Comedy Writing |
Spanish I, II, III, IV |
| Community-Based Learning |
Statistics |
| Creative Writing |
Studio Art |
| Culinary Arts & Nutrition I & II |
US History |
| Cultural Anthropology |
US History, AP |
| Digital Art & Media Production |
Vermont Studies |
| Drawing & Painting |
Woodworking I, II |
| Driver Education |
World Literature |
Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities
These activities enhance the academic environment and include music (band and chorus, plus regional, state, and New England festivals), sports (soccer, cross country, basketball, Nordic skiing, indoor track, bowling, baseball, softball and track & field), National Honor Society, Drama Club, Governor’s Institute, Student Council, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), student news writers, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference (HOBY), Active Leaders and Role Models (ALARM), robotics, and Ambassadors.
Colleges Attended by Recent Graduates
American University, Amherst, Bates, Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis, Colby-Sawyer, College of St. Joseph, Carnegie Mellon, Southern Maine, Castleton University, Champlain, Clarkson, Coastal Carolina, Dartmouth, Elmira, Emerson, Emory, Franklin Pierce, George Washington, Johnson & Wales, Johnson State, Keene State, Lyndon State, Middlebury, New York University, Northeastern, Norwich, St. Joseph’s College, St. Lawrence, St. Michael’s College, Sienna, Smith, Southern New Hampshire, Springfield, Stanford, SUNY (@ Albany, Buffalo, Cobleskill, Cortland, and Plattsburgh), Syracuse, Tufts, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, Universities of Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New England, New Hampshire, and Vermont, Union College, Vermont Tech, Wheaton
Future Plans For Our Graduates
The Class of 2019
College – 66%
Work – 32%
Military – 2%