Prospective Families
School & Community
Built in 1976, Apple Valley High School is located in the city of Apple Valley in northern Dakota County and is 15 miles south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. There are four comprehensive high schools, two specialized smaller high schools, six middle schools and twenty elementary schools which serve the families and communities within the 110 square mile area of Independent School District 196. A member of the prestigious South Suburban Conference, AVHS has a total enrollment of 2,000 students in grades 9-12 and over 115 full-time/part-time faculty members.
STEM Pathway & Programming
Apple Valley High School is a STEM school dedicated to arts, academics and athletics. Part of the District 196 STEM pathway, Apple Valley High School is the only District 196 high school that is a certified Project Lead the Way (PLTW) site and offers a Fabrication Lab and Multi Media Maker Space available to all students. At AVHS students have the opportunity to take Cisco networking, IT Essentials, music production, video production and two levels of computer science courses. Students in our E3 STEM program also receive individual career counseling, have access to professional mentors, and participate in STEM employer partner field trips in an effort to help students gain educational and exploration opportunities in our community. STEM programming at Apple Valley High School emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving and prepares students to pursue a post-secondary education and career in a STEM-related field.
Our Learning Facility
Our state-of-the-art digital classroom design includes built-in LCDs, SMART Technology; a 1:1 student iPad program, and student mobile computing labs. Apple Valley High School also has a fully-equipped television and digital editing studio, a 650 seat Performing Arts Center with a fly loft and scene shop; a dedicated dance studio and full-time, curricular dance program; four gyms with a running track; a 4,000 square foot fitness center which is adjacent to 200 acres of playing fields, recreational facilities and competition stadiums.
Co-Curriculur Activities
Apple Valley High School has a strong tradition of co-curricular excellence. We are ranked #1 in Fine Arts State Championships and #5 in Athletic State Championships in Minnesota. Students are able to pursue their interests in 28 athletic activities and over 30 fine and performing arts activities. In addition, there are many clubs which challenge the academic and interest areas of the students such as Math Team, Academic Quiz Bowl, and Science Olympiad. Intramural athletic programs are available all three trimesters.
Awards and Recognition
- One of America’s Top High Schools 2016 - Newsweek Magazine
- Blue Ribbon School of Excellence - U.S. Department of Education
- Award for Excellence in Content Rich Arts - National Endowment of the Arts
- “140 Best High Schools” in the U.S. - Redbook magazine
- Twelve Schools That Succeed - Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation
- “One of Eight Best High School Athletic Programs” in the U.S. - Scholastic Coach and Athletic Journal
- “Minnesota Model Music School” - Minnesota Music Educators Association
- “Grammy Signature School” - National Academy of Recording Arts and Science
- Speech and Debate National “School of Excellence” Award (Top 5 in Nation)
- Emmy Award for EaglEye - National Academy of Arts & Sciences (Upper Midwest Chapter)
AVHS School Profile
LEARN MORE AND ENROLL
We encourage families to tour our wonderful school so you can see our staff, our students and our facilities in action. Contact us for a tour or more information about enrollment. Email Chris.Borman@district196.org or call 952-431-8212. We look forward to seeing you at Apple Valley High School!