Valencia High School is a public secondary school located in the neighborhood of Valencia in the city of Santa Clarita, California, United States. It is a part of the William S. Hart Union High School District. Valencia High School is ranked in Newsweek's 2012 list of America's Best High Schools. The list is based on six components provided by school administrators: graduation rate (25 percent), college matriculation rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and AP courses offered per student (5 percent). History Valencia High School opened on September 9, 1994. The school received its first full accreditation from WASC in 1998. In 2001, Dr. Paul A. Priesz was named California Principal of the Year. This was the year that Valencia High School's student population reached over 3,500 students. 2002 - Valencia High School's API test scores were the highest in the district. The boys’ volleyball program secured the first CIF Championship in the school's history. The co-ed cheer team placed first in the state competition. 2004 - Valencia High School dedicated a stadium to Dr. Paul A. Priesz. Valencia High School received a full accreditation from WASC. 2006 - The boys’ volleyball team won its 3rd CIF championship. Valencia High School was recognized for its state model School-to-Career program. The softball team won the school's first official national championship. 2008 - The boys’ volleyball team won the national championship. The school's softball team went on to clinch another CIF Championship. Valencia High School's Speech and Debate team won local, state, and national awards. The Valencia High School dance team won a National Championship. Valencia High School scored above 800 on the Academic Performance Index (API). This achievement placed Valencia High School among the top achieving high schools in both the state and the nation. 2009 - The Valencia High School dance team brought home another national championship. Principals In chronological order: Dr. Paul A. Priesz John Costanzo Stephen Ford Dr. Pete Getz (since 2020) Activities VTV VTV is an early morning news broadcast to the school. Valencia High School's video program has entered their productions into competitions such as STN, NFFTY, All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF), and the Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival. Choir The Concert Choir has repeatedly achieved the ratings of "Gold Choir" and "Choir of the Festival". Band The band performs