Apply to CREST

Before starting, please have the following ready to upload:

• Recommenders – Names and email addresses for 3 recommenders:

  • 2 teachers (1 Math/Science teacher + 1 other subject teacher, such as English or Social Studies)

  • 1 community member (coach, club advisor, music instructor, etc.)

• 8th Grade Grades – Current year grades in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science

Record your video using a personal device and upload it to your own Google Drive, OneDrive, YouTube, or another online platform. Submit the video link with your application (preferred) or email it to Pamela Fulk at pfulk@pvschools.net. Make sure the sharing settings allow the CREST Admissions Team to view it.

Video Guidelines

• Your video may be no longer than three minutes.
• Be authentic, genuine, and have fun. We want to learn about you, your interests, and what matters to you.
• Your responses should reflect your own ideas and words. Please do not use chatbot-generated or parent-created answers.
• Videos will not be evaluated on production quality. However, make sure you can be seen and heard clearly. Check the lighting and watch your recording before submitting it.
• We recommend casual professional attire, such as a polo or dress shirt.

What to Include

Begin your video by saying:

“Hi, my name is __________, and I am applying to the __________ strand.”

Then respond to the following four prompts. Your video must be no longer than three minutes. Please address all four prompts, but you do not need to give each one equal time.

1. Tell us about an academic subject, activity, or project that interests you and explain why it is meaningful to you.
2. Describe a time when you used critical thinking, creativity, communication, or collaboration to solve a problem or complete a challenging task. What did you learn?
3. Why are you interested in your selected CREST strand, and what do you hope to gain from participating in CREST?
4. What interests, qualities, or experiences would you bring to the CREST and Paradise Valley High School communities?

Important Information

• Your video will not be shared publicly. It will be viewed only by the CREST Admissions Team.
• Your video must be submitted before your application can be reviewed.

We are excited to "meet" you through video. Lights, camera, action!

The review team looks at a combination of current grades in English, Science, Math, and Social Studies, recommendations from teachers and community members, and the online interview the student completes. The review team is looking for leadership experience and interest, community service, a willingness to work in collaborative groups, and a growth mindset. See Portrait of a CREST student.

There are no requirements to apply to CREST and students do not need to be currently in honors courses. That being said, honors courses do a good job preparing students for the rigors of a four-year, honors and AP STEM program. Additionally, grades are a large factor in the review as performance in 8th grade is usually a good indicator of success in high school.

CREST is open to all students regardless of residence and students do not need to be currently enrolled in PVSchools. About 40-50% of CREST students come from outside the district. Transportation is not provided for students who live outside of the PVHS enrollment boundaries.

CREST typically receives about 300 applications each year for the 150 student spots: 50 in Bioscience, 50 in Engineering, and 50 in Computer Science.

Students may only apply and be accepted into one strand. Once accepted, students may take courses in other strands if there is room in the course and it works out with their schedule. 

CREST is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) elective program. Students generally take one or two CREST courses per year. Please see the CREST Program Strands.

CREST students are PVHS Trojans first, CREST students second. Students attend all non-CREST classes with other PVHS students. CREST students are athletes, student government leaders, mechanics, welders, club members, dancers, musicians, singers, actors and stage hands. CREST students do all the great things that other high school students choose to do.

Many of the AP courses taught at PVHS are dual enrollment. Some of the CREST courses are also dual enrollment or AP. Please see the CREST Program Strands. PVHS offers Honors, dual enrollment, AP courses, and an AP Diploma as well as the CREST Seal for those students who qualify.

PVHS is the only PVSchools high school with the block schedule. Students attend four classes of 86 minutes each day, earning four credits at the end of each semester. PVHS students can earn eight credits per year for a total of 32 credits by the conclusion of high school.

PVHS is on a block schedule so classes only last one semester. Students may switch strands at the end of the semester, provided there is room in the new strand and the student has worked to accepted standards. Students who find that CREST does not work for them may drop the program and take other courses.

The internship program is an integral part of the CREST program. In order to graduate as a CREST completer, students must complete a 120-hour internship*. This is one of the highlights of the program, providing students an opportunity to learn about working, apply their knowledge in the workplace, and make important decisions about their future.

*some specific internships require up to 250 hours

CREST students attend colleges all over the United States. CREST students have attended

• MIT, Stanford
• Carnegie-Mellon
• Oxford
• UC Berkeley
• University of Southern California
• Boston College
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Princeton
• Rensselaer Polytechnic
• Juilliard
• University of Texas
• Texas A&M
• Texas Tech

Majority of students tend to enroll in in-state universities because that is where scholarships create an exceptional return on investment, but in general, many students are accepted to their university of first choice.

CREST students are regularly recognized as National Merit Scholars (23 National Merit Finalists since 2020), Flinn and Baird Scholars,  Stamps Scholars, and often earn the ASU and UA Presidential Scholarship, and the NAU Lumberjack Scholarship.

Former students have earned prestigious awards at schools outside of Arizona such as the McDermott at the University of Texas. CREST students have also earned various medals at Career and Technical Student Organization (HOSA and SkillsUSA) National Conferences, served as President of both HOSA and SkillsUSA national organizations, won 1st place medals at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair, and consistently earn 1st place at the eCybermission state and regional competitions. CREST students have also been National CTE Presidential scholars.