Valley was Elk Grove's second comprehensive and traditional high school.

The new school was built to serve the northern part of the huge 320-square-mile (830 km2) district, which covered a large portion of south Sacramento.

The name chosen for the high school was intended to reflect the Valley Hi community, which was then one of the newer subdivisions in the south area.

The number of Valley High School students who successfully completed CSU applications rose by 56 percent from 2005 to 2007.

In 1997, a student won second place in the Senior Individual Exhibit category.