Curriculum

PVOnline is an online school within the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Students can attend PVO full time, have a blended schedule (a couple PVO classes with brick and mortar classes) or take a PVOnline class at their brick and mortar school in a lab setting. Taking an 8th hour PVO class, off campus, is available to juniors and seniors.

PVOnline is asynchronous, meaning that students can log into the learning management system, Canvas,  available 24/7, and work on their course. There is not a live teacher teaching the course, but a live, highly qualified subject area teacher is available for help and assistance via ichat, email, a scheduled google meet or phone.

Canvas is the platform in which all the PVO classes are housed. Canvas is also used by Maricopa Community Colleges, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Having the student take a PVOnline course will prepare the student for the use of Canvas for post-secondary online education.

PVOnline offers a variety of classes to include, AP, Dual Enrollment, Honors,  Credit Recovery and unique electives. Click here for the list of courses: PVO Courses 2024-2025

To successfully complete a PVOnline course, it is highly recommended that the student log into the class(es) on a regular basis and complete assignments. The student must log 112.5 hours per each PVOnline course taken, complete the assignments in the course, and take the required assessments in the class, which includes the common final exam. Please know that 112.5 hours is approximately 6 hours per week, if the student begins the course at the beginning of the semester. Keep in mind that students have the ability to complete course(s) early.

There are a number of reasons to take a PVO course.

1. If a student has failed a course the student has the opportunity to take a credit recovery PVOnline class. Taking the entire class over is not mandatory. Instead, the student can  “test out” of modules in which the student knows the material, and the student can retake modules the student did not pass.

Once the student has successfully completed the remediated modules, the student will take the common final. If the student passes the common final, the student will receive a grade. Keep in mind that the F on the transcript from the original course will remain on the transcript, but the new course grade will factor into the GPA.

2. PVOnline classes follows the district’s Guaranteed Viable Curriculum (GVC). Meaning, the classes cover state standards and are aligned with courses taught at the brick and mortars throughout our district. The GVC prepares students for success with both district and state mandated testing.

3. Flexibility. If a student needs to take class(es) on their own schedule for whatever reason, the student is able to do so.

4. PVOnline is an accredited institution and all teachers are highly qualified in their subject area.

Yes. Every class a student takes, whether taking the online class on or off the campus, the grade in the online class matters for athletic eligibility. Meaning, the student needs to be passing their online class

If a student  enrolls in the course at the beginning of the semester and decides not to take the course in the first 20 days of the semester, the student can be withdrawn from the course with no penalty. 

If the student decides to drop the course after the 20 day mark, the student will withdraw from the course with an F. 

If the student  does not log into the online platform and complete work for 14 consecutive days, the student will be automatically dropped from the course with an F. 

Yes. Students cannot roll the course over from semester to semester. If the student earns an F for the course, that grade is posted on the transcript. The student may take the course over in the spring using the “test out” option mentioned above for credit recovery courses. 

All students must take final exams in-person.

If the student wants to take a PVOnline course at the brick and mortar, the student may do so. Every school has a lab in which an Academic Technician is there to help guide students through the online program.

If you want to enroll your student in a PVOnline course, at the student’s brick and mortar school, you need to contact your student’s counselor. 

Phone Numbers for the Counseling Offices:

• Horizon: 602-449-6015
• North Canyon: 602-449-5015
• Paradise Valley: 602-449-7015
• Pinnacle: 602-449-4015
• Shadow Mountain: 602-449-3015
• Sweetwater: 602-449-2300

If you are interested in enrolling your student full time with PVOnline, please contact PVOnline directly at  602-449-2450.