The Honors Program

At

South Valley Junior High

Honors courses

Are designed and implemented to demand more challenging involvement on the part of students. The coursework is significantly more rigorous than their standard course counterpart and provides students multiple opportunities to take greater ownership of their learning.
The Honors program is a rigorous endeavor most appropriate for highly motivated students with advanced intellectual, academic, and/or creative capabilities that span across the entire curricular spectrum.

Honors courses

Are designed for students who have demonstrated a high level of interest and academic achievement in a given subject area.
​Students and parents should understand that Honors courses are more demanding and have requirements beyond typical grade-level courses.
Indicators of Honors Level ​Student Readiness
*  Consistently completes and submits assignments on time.*  Demonstrates interest and curiosity in the subject area.
*  Previous attainment of prerequisite skills and vocabulary in the subject area.​
*  Motivation remains high in face of challenges. (High frustration threshold.)
*  Reads above grade-level​
*  Self-motivated, well-organized, and apt to work independently for extended periods.​​
​*  Demonstrates ability to self-advocate, seeking help and guidance when needed.​​​​​*  Actively participates in class activities and discussions with appropriate peer interactions.
*  Extends learning by voluntarily going beyond the parameters of the assignment.
*  Enjoys learning, making connections between subjects and with the larger world.
There are four areas in the junior high curriculum that offer Honors courses:  

Honors MAth

Honors Science

Honors English

Honors Social Studies
Placement in the Honors program is based on
priority and space availability 
To be considered for placement in the Honors program, you must submit documentation of eligibility in ONE of the two categories below.

- Option 1 -

- Option 2 - 

Any student with gifted eligibility (scoring in the 97th% or above on approved test) is eligible for immediate placement in the Honors program. 

Proof of qualifying score must be provided on official letterhead at the time of enrollment.
  • Scoring HIGHLY PROFICIENT on AzMERIT​​​ 
  • HIGH MOTIVATION, ORGANIZATION, INDEPENDENCE and ABILITY to PROBLEM-SOLVE in the classroom.​
  • HIGH ACHIEVEMENT and STRONG WORK ETHIC (earning A's & B's in subject area the last 4 consecutive semester marking periods.)
This form must be completed and provided, along with supportive documentation, at the time of enrollment.
Concerns regarding placement decisions are directed to the school principal.
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The guiding principles of our Honors Program are based on the expectation that all students can perform at rigorous academic levels, and that students should be continuously challenged to expand their knowledge and skills to the next level.
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The emphasis with Honors courses is that students and parents make the commitment to the additional effort required.  Therefore, it is an expectation that students complete the year in the level (standard or Honors) in which they enroll.  Based on instructional best practice and the limitations of the master schedule, we do not support midterm changes in course level.

Honors Courses Offered at South Valley

HONORS EN 7

HONORS EN 8
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills using a thematic based program to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. It is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary for the accelerated classroom and who are ready to more deeply connect writing and reading. Advanced writing skills and reading strategies will be emphasized through the use of a Pre-AP 
​curriculum, including formal writing workshops and independent reading of multiple literary genres.


​HONORS MA 7

This course covers the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards for 8th grade. The domains are Number Systems, Equations and Expressions, Functions, Geometry and Statistics and Probability. This class is for the able and ambitious with first priority given to identified honor students. The next class in this sequence is Honors Algebra IA/Algebra IB.


​HONORS SC 7

This advanced course is designed to teach a selection of Earth and Life Science topics. Students will use inquiry as a discovery method in order to explain the relationship among objects in the solar system, describe the properties and composition of the Earth’s structure, explain the Earth’s geological processes, and analyze the interactions of living organisms within ecosystems. Scientific persona and events of historical significance will be integrated. The course will be accelerated and students will learn additional depth of content through the study of a supplemental curricular resource.



​HONORS SS 7

This course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skill levels necessary for the honors classroom. Advanced reading strategies and writing skills will be emphasized through the use of a Pre-AP curriculum, focusing on the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards for reading and writing (AZCCRS). Students will also go more in depth with a focus on activities that involve analysis, reasoning, debate, higher-level discussion, evaluation, and synthesis of content.  
This course integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening and language skills using a thematic based program to teach the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards. It is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skills necessary for the accelerated classroom and who are ready to more deeply connect writing and reading. Advanced writing skills and reading strategies will be emphasized through the use of a Pre-AP 
​curriculum, including formal writing workshops and independent reading of multiple literary genres.


​HONORS ALGEBRA IA/IB

This course has an in-depth focus on measurement, geometry, data analysis, algebra patterns and relations, and analytic reasoning with an emphasis on communication, problem solving, and application through the use of technology. This course will be comparable to a first-year high school algebra course. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive one math credit on their high school transcript. The letter grade received in this course will be documented on the high school transcript and will be factored into students' high school GPA.


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​HONORS SC 8

This advanced course is designed to teach 8th grade students basic fundamentals of chemistry, physics, and biology. The chemistry section will begin the study of the atom: physics will be focusing on motion and Newton’s laws, the genetics component of biology and the structural and behavioral aspects of adaptations. This inquiry-based course will teach hands-on laboratory skills and methods as a means to learning the content curriculum. This course will reflect on the nature and history of science as well as looking into the impact science has on modern society. The course will be accelerated and students will learn additional depth of content through the study of a supplemental curricular resource.

​HONORS SS 8

This course is designed for those students who possess the motivation and skill levels necessary for the accelerated classroom. Advanced reading strategies and writing skills will be emphasized through the use of a Pre-AP curriculum, focusing on the college and career readiness anchor standards for reading and writing (CCSS). Students will also go more in depth than regular education social studies, with a focus on activities that involve analysis, reasoning, debate, higher-level discussion, evaluation, and synthesis of content.