Intellectual Virtues Academy

Intellectual Virtues Academy is a Long Beach Charter Middle School based on an “intellectual virtues educational model,” - a model aimed at fostering growth in “intellectual virtues.” Intellectual virtues are the personal qualities of a good thinker or learner. They include curiosity, wonder, attentiveness, open-mindedness, creativity, intellectual rigor, intellectual humility, and intellectual courage. Intellectual virtues are sometimes described as “habits of mind,” “thinking dispositions,” or “non-cognitive skills.” IVA’s curriculum will be closely aligned with state academic standards. However, our teachers will take a reflective and thoughtful approach to these standards, the goal of which will be much more than good test scores. It will be the development of critical thinkers and lifelong learners. IVA is closely connected with a major grant project at Loyola Marymount University directed by IVA founding member and LMU professor Dr. Jason Baehr. The Intellectual Virtues and Education Project is devoted to producing and implementing cutting edge research on how to educate for intellectual virtues.