Valley Middle School is an environment where staff members model habits and behaviors that inspire all students to become goal-directed, organized and respectful individuals. In addition, the staff helps students to listen, to understand, and to work together to solve problems. Students learn to make healthy choices, thereby promoting the resilience, persistence, and positive self-worth necessary to achieve measurable improvements in their lives.
Valley Middle School is the oldest of three middle schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District. It currently serves 1,002 students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Since its inception in 1966, the facility was designed to facilitate “team teaching", an operating model which has placed the school on the cutting edge of instructional innovation and academic excellence. Reflected in this academic excellence are the numerous awards and achievements. Valley, a four-time California Distinguished School (1990, 1996, 2001, 2009), received nominations as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1993 and 2002 and was selected a National Blue Ribbon School in 2002.