The school campus is situated on flat land in the rugged mountains of eastern Kentucky.

The school has excelled in sports for both girls and boys, including basketball, football, soccer, cross country, track, various academic teams, marching band and volleyball.

In 2014 the football team with a 11–3 record advanced to the KHSAA 2A State Semi-finals (https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kyfb14/tournament_134002) marking their highest yearly win total.

In 2010, the school won the 2010 PNC Bank/KHSAA Boys' Sweet Sixteen basketball championship.

The next season Shelby Valley returned to the Sweet Sixteen but lost in the first round to Christian County.