Improving the Lives of Children & Familes

Valley School District is located in rural Stevens County, forty miles north of Spokane, Washington, in a pastoral valley hugged by thick forests. We are an innovative school district with four distinct student programs, including an Early Learning Center and Daycare; K-8 elementary/middle school; small K-8 cooperative high school; and Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) online program. Additionally, VSD operates a transportation cooperative located on Highway 395 that serves surrounding school districts.

Valley School District strives to provide educational services that cover the full spectrum of ages, learning needs and circumstances. Below is a brief overview of the district programs.

Valley Early Learning Center

The Valley Early Learning Center (VELC) offers preschool programming for children 3-5 years old, Transition To Kindergarten (TTK) class, and a year-round, learning-rich childcare program for children 1-12 years old. VELC also offers Special Services, an Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), a food services program and transportation on district buses. VELC has earned the highest Quality Rating of Level 5 from the Washington Dept. of Children, Youth & Families, meeting all state licensing requirements through rigorous program audit and review processes, and passing with enthusiastic commendations. At VELC, children learn and grow through program strategies that focus on strengths, encourage natural curiosity and build on what they already know. The program aligns well with Valley School and nearly 100% of families choose to have their VELC students attend the Valley K-8 school program.

Valley School

Established in 1884, the K-8 school at Valley takes students on an academically rigorous journey through the Core Knowledge curriculum while emphasizing citizenship and creativity. Time is intentionally built into the daily schedule to provide one-on-one instruction and learning assistance when and where needed. Student progress is gauged by the student’s own work rather than his or her classmates. Intrinsic motivation strategies are incorporated through the ‘S.O.A.R.’ program, advancing citizenship through the core values of Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. Engaging in learning opportunities with students from other grades is encouraged and supported through enrichment activities such as sports, ASB leadership and activities, art, choir and drama. 

Paideia High School

Paideia High School is a public school program offering an academically challenging learning environment for grades 9-12 with small class sizes and unique opportunities for individualized growth and achievement. PHS students can earn college credit through College in the High School courses and acquire skills through career and STEM labs to prepare for job opportunities. Students will learn a world language, develop a keen musical sense in choir or advanced ensemble, and gain confidence through archery and monthly “seminar,” where they are challenged to think critically, ask insightful questions, and speak eloquently on a wide variety of subjects. PHS was made possible by special legislation which allows two or more non-high school districts to form an inter-district cooperative high school. As the first one of its kind in the state, PHS was established in 2010. Though PHS is a small school, it’s like a big family where students and staff are encouraged to have fun while pursuing their individual educational interests.

Columbia Virtual Academy

Columbia Virtual Academy offers families an alternative approach to educating students outside of the traditional brick and mortar classroom. CVA is an accredited online public K-12 program available to any Washington State resident, provided through a partnership between Valley (grades K-8) and Kettle Falls (grades 9-12) school districts. With the guidance and expertise of a state certified teacher, each student’s learning plan is tailored to their unique learning style and needs. CVA offers well-evaluated curriculum options and resources that are customizable and delivered to each enrolled student’s door, as well as a full line-up of quality online courses. CVA’s personalized approach provides flexibility to accommodate diverse family circumstances and support student engagement while meeting state educational standards. Through CVA, families enjoy the benefits of being highly involved in their child’s learning while accessing the resources made available to all public-school students in the state. CVA was established in 2006. 

VL Transport Center

The VL Transport Center provides operational and fleet management services for the Valley, Loon Lake, Evergreen and Summit Valley school districts. In addition, the Center provides fuel to a number of partner districts throughout the region. Established in 2006, the transportation cooperative saves districts money through bulk purchasing of fuel, and its fully equipped maintenance shop, complete with bus lift, offers maintenance services to keep buses in top running order. This attention to quality helps to ensure student safety and makes the best use of our fleet by minimizing instances of out-of-service buses. Maintaining and repairing buses locally also saves time and money that would otherwise be expended by sending buses to a regional repair shop. VL Transport Center also has a training facility, equipped with audio/visual equipment and an attached kitchenette and public bathrooms. The training facility is used by the district, regional and state agencies, and community groups.