Semester Credit: Five credits are granted each semester for every class successfully completed.

Competency Standards: A score of 350 on the Language Arts and Mathematics sections of the High School Exit Exam must be met prior to graduation.  Numerous opportunities are provided to take the Exit Exam, please see your counselor for more information.

Silver Cord: Students performing voluntary community service may earn recognition for their work by keeping a record of the hours they contribute.  Certificates are awarded to students who log 50 hours, 75 hours, 100 hours, 150 hours, and 175 hours of service.  Students earn a silver cord by accumulating 250 hours or more of service. 

Community service must be approved before it is undertaken and the hours must be documented and verified; forms are available from your counselor. If you begin early and add hours each year, it's easy and the rewards are many.  There are hundreds of things you can do and projects you can be involved in that qualify as community service hours.  See your counselor for ideas.

Gold Cord: A gold cord is awarded to graduates during the graduation ceremony who have maintained a 3.5 G.P.A. throughout four (4) years of high school.

White Robe: A student earns a White Robe to be worn during the graduation ceremony by becoming a life member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF). Students must apply for CSF every semester.  Students must qualify four (4) out of their last six- (6) semesters.  CSF also awards a gold stole for 100% membership, eight (8) semesters.  Check with Mr. Headrick for details.

Scholarships: There are a large number of scholarships given out to GVHS graduates each year. Over one million dollars of scholarships and financial aid were given out last year and the amount increases each year.  Monthly, the counseling office publishes an announcement entitled, “Counseling Cues” to inform students of available scholarships and deadlines. Please refer to the GVHS Home Page for all scholarship and testing information.     

Program Changes: Students and parents should make a special effort to carefully select a program of classes so that a minimum number of schedule changes will be required.  The district does recognize that some changes may be needed. Students who find it necessary to initiate a program change are strongly encouraged to do so within the first three weeks of each semester. Changes can occur only under the following circumstances: Changes resulting from improper placement and program errors will be corrected within the first three weeks of the semester.  Students presenting a valid need to change their program by dropping one course and adding another will be allowed to do so on a space available basis at any time during the first three weeks of each semester. A Request for Change of Program form must be signed by both the student and parent and submitted to the Counseling Office before a program change will be made.  Teacher permission to enter the new course may be required. Forms are available in the Counseling Office.

Requests for program changes to switch teachers will not be routinely honored.  Students wishing to initiate a program change to switch teachers must follow a three-step process.  Each step of the Teacher Change Procedure must be completed before such a program change can be made. A teacher/parent conference is required. Students who withdraw or are dropped from classes after the 30th day will not be allowed to enroll in another class for credit. Second semester course changes are granted on a space available basis. 

Requests for changes of program for the second semester should be completed and turned in to the Counseling Office during the last three weeks of the first semester.