My daughter is in 7th grade and very happy here. I have been so impressed with IVA since my daughter started last year. The communication from the school and the inclusiveness has made it a great experience for us. Students are respected, their voices are heard and they are made to feel like their opinions matter. The virtues are there to make them feel empowered as students. The weekly advisory meeting they have once a week for all students is great because it helps them understand and know the virtues and how to apply them to their work. Sixth grade is a learning curve and IVA gets that. One thing to know about the school is that since kids are coming from all different schools and school settings it's easier to make friends. There are no clicks in place. This year they also made it phone free. No phones at school. However, they can use them after school. I have read past reviews that said the school is not diverse and not for people of color. This from our experience is not true at all. Maybe in past years this was the case but it is no longer this way. IVA is very racially and socioeconomically diverse. It is a true representation of Long Beach in that regard. If you are a parent who wants to volunteer and see what is going on at the school there are plenty of opportunities, field trip opportunities, dances every year, a chili cook off, and family breakfast/lunches hosted by the school. There is a weekly newsletter, outlining all events coming up. How you can get involved, sports info, field trips etc... They make it very difficult for you to miss something. My daughter loved the dances last year. They are more like a fun party. There is no pressure to have a date or anything like that. They make them very low pressure like come in your PJ's etc... It's just an opportunity to hang out with friends outside of school. The staff and teachers will all know your child's name. I think this matters to my daughter. We live in Belmont Heights and had an opportunity to send her to Rogers as well. It's not quite our home school but it is a lot closer to us than IVA and I wanted her to go there. She would have had friends closer and I wanted that for her. However, after my daughter toured IVA in 5th grade, she made her mind up that she wanted to experience the smaller school and smaller class setting. She loved seeing students laughing in class with the teachers and sitting at little tables. The teachers were young and they didn't look miserable. The principal, Mrs. Bryant who led our tour was very dynamic and genuine. My daughter noticed these things and pushed for us to let her try IVA out. Her experience so far has not disappointed her. She has liked or loved almost all of her teachers. This is so important and this is coming from a student who struggles in school. She has an IEP for a reading disability. School is not easy for her. This is another reason I was hesitant on IVA. I wanted to her to have more options concerning her IEP and a bigger school can provide this. So far, her accommodations at IVA are working for her. She has also made friends with a great group of girls who are from all over Long Beach. In truth this is something I was also dreading but it's ok! She is happy! The parents of her friends are the type of parents who want the best for their kids. They will drive. This is how most of the parents are at this school as well. When volunteer sign ups come out for some event, the list gets filled up fast! Most of the parents at the school care. So far my daughter has joined Track and Cross Country. She also wants to play soccer this year. They do have team sports at IVA but it is on a smaller scale than a larger school. It's great for kids that want to try sports but might be intimidated at a bigger school with a lot of talented athletes. Not to say that there aren't some talented athletes here but it's not the focus of the school. If you're wondering about academics. I have heard wonderful things from parents who have had older siblings that graduated from IVA. One parent in particular shared with me that when her son started at his private High School (Bosco) after IVA, he was placed in honors classes which surprised her because her son was a B/C student at IVA. She felt the education he received at IVA was top notch, taught him how to be a student and actually engage in what he learned. Lastly, I just want to give a shout out to Mrs. Gordon, the dean of students and Mrs. Bryant the principal. These women care about your student. The love and dedication they put into their job is truly impressive. read more

its not the best school in the world but not the worst. The students are sort of rude to my child. If you really want your kid to go there so be it they have really good state teat results though. Try it for ur self read more

Iva i love this school so far it has taught me to be open minded and have a great mindset i have goals and i always get help when i need it there is not fights and the drama is helped with school consolers. read more

Intellectual Virtues Academy - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Fantastic school. IVA provides a great education while also shaping the children's character. I've had three children attend IVA and they've learned valuable skills needed for high school and beyond. The entire staff cares deeply about the students wellbeing. During covid they pivoted very quickly to distance learning and have provided engaging ways for the students to learn during distance learning. read more

I have to start by saying I love and appreciate IVA Middle school, it's staff and it's principles for teaching children to live and learn well. So much so, that my son will be attending their sister school for his high school education next year. My son started at IVA in 6th grade and will be graduating 8th grade this year. He has grown as a student and as individual these past few years and often refers to his intellectual virtues at IVA in his studies and personally. He has definitely grown in his intellectual carefulness, thoroughness, curiosity and courage. He has grown in his confidence to ask tough questions and give his opinion as well. I know this is in part to his education at IVA. Even through Covid, IVA did a great job in shifting and trying to meet the needs of students. Compared to what our local public schools were doing, they really had the ability to make the changes needed to help make this crazy time more manageable for everyone, including the families. It was very frustrating to see some of the negative comments made about IVA, especially during the craziness of 2020. Some grace should be given. They do offer sports and art and other programs and clubs at IVA. My son was on the soccer team for a couple of years and enjoyed it very much. Many of those things weren't possible the last year but they are definitely part of the school. In regard to testing into high schools; that is based on the students state test scores and their cumulative GPA's, whether they attend IVA or any other school. When my son applied for school of choice at LBUSD for high school, he had the state test scores and GPA to qualify for all of the programs and pathways we wanted to including at Poly. He did qualify and get into his top three choices but has decided to continue with the IVA Academy. The teaching staff at IVA has been wonderful. Yes, my son did not agree with or maybe was frustrated with a teacher here or there but that's part of life and growth. You learn to work through situations that you are not comfortable with and grow. That is something they will face at school, at home, in their careers and beyond. I believe the staff at IVA was supportive through it all and helped him learn from his experiences. We are a family of color and we have always felt included and supported at IVA. And lastly, the principle, Jacquie, is a gem of a person. Truly a beautiful soul and wonderful part of our community. She is always supportive, thoughtful, genuine and has the brightest smile on her face. I believe she truly has the best interest of her students and staff at heart. I would recommend IVA middle school to any parent who asked. I would check it out for yourself and talk to staff, students and current families when considering it and not read too much into the negative reviews posted here. Peace read more

Let me just start by saying if you're a person of color this isn't the place for you and or have a IEP you will be racially targeted on a daily basis, called racial, slurs, belittle, watched, humiliated, and whenever you try to tell or reach out to staff and teachers in regards to this, nothing will be done they do not provide accommodations for special needs, and or make things very difficult the only time the principal step into intervene, or contact you when your child is in trouble, they don't know where to start to provide the proper discipline or how to deal with children of color or even how to educate the kids that are not the school needs to be closed down indefinitely. read more

I would not recommend IVA of Long Beach due to lack of diversity both in faculty and staff as well as in perspective. The Social Science and Science department does a good job of representing various thoughts and contributions of individuals; however the school as a whole does not celebrate it--even when called out for it. The exclusivity of the school is its selling point, but that's where the advantages stop compared to public schools in the area. There is no music, no art programs, nor sports program which is a missed opportunity for students at a prime age can explore and enjoy enrichment activities. Instead, there are clubs that parents must be the head of, which is bizarre as such clubs are allocated in every school's budget. Communication is all virtual which is a breeding ground for passive aggressive, subpar, and delayed communication. I've been to the school for parent observation and was shunned and told that my family's expectations of our child were too high. Instruction is all done on Google Classroom and there are no textbooks. Family functions are planned at the convenience of staff and faculty not working parents. Ed Code with regard to parental involvement is not followed. Lastly, teachers are not held accountable for differentiating instruction nor for keeping up their gradebook. Assignments go missing often and theirs letting to no feedback on assessments less Illuminate. Rubrics and grading methods are not shared which breeds ground of bias grading. Since entry, it has been a constant battle to get an answer to our family's most straightforward answers to the point we've had to involve the Board of Directors and the district. I was going to reserve my comments for the end of the year, but because my family's experience has been more than horrendous, I decided to share as previous remarks are from more than a year ago. It would benefit families to have their whole child's need meet at a public school like Stafford or other in the surrounding area. This one misses the mark on all the areas that count. read more

My daughter found her feet at IVA. She liked her elementary school well enough but was a little ambivalent about school in general until she got to middle school. The entire staff (I mean every. single. person.) made her feel seen, heard and cared for. Faculty responded to every question/concern I had, responded to my daughter when she had anxiety, praised her every time she did something brave...in short, they got to know her and gently guided toward growth. She grew! Not just in height, but in confidence and skill. She started high school knowing how to approach hard questions and with a solid base in academics, physical fitness and emotional intelligence. If you ask her now, she'll tell you that her middle school were the best years of her life. I think that's rare, and I think this school is rare. Smart, hardworking faculty, diligent staff, and a principal who leads by example. A couple of specific things I liked: Students aren't sorted by their speed or performance; they all learn together. It's a diverse school drawing from neighborhoods all over Long Beach. The class size is significantly smaller than other public schools. The atmosphere is bright, cheerful and secure. My second child couldn't wait for her turn to start at IVA and she's there now. They take distance learning seriously and are extremely organized. They communicate constantly. They keep smiling, are kind, endlessly patient and overall I can happily say they care about the students, every last one. read more

IVA has some positive aspects with regard to teaching metacognition. Unfortunately, unaddressed student conduct issues, racist and biased administration and inconsistency in application of policies plagued my child's last two years at IVA. My kid wasn't getting in trouble but watched their black and brown friends being punished for the same behaviors my white child did. On more than one occasion, my child who has a medical condition wasn't allowed by the office staff to call me when requested. When I addressed my concern with the principal, she "encouraged" me to speak directly to the staff rather than addressing it herself. On the rare occasion that a physical fight happened, the principal would watch and cry and attempt to enlist other students to help break up the fight. The teachers are caring and supportive despite the chaotic administration and ever changing rules. IVA Administration needs to get it together--they are getting in the way of the great educational experience that the dedicated and talented teachers offer. read more

No flag salute, teaches history as the constitution is nothing more than a license to harm women and slaves. Hard to say much about math. It might just be common core thinking. Many are not qualified to test into CIC or PACE at LB Poly. I have seen really bright kids be fouled up by the lax conduct policy that makes class disruptions more important than learning. They tolerate misbehavior so if your child needs a more disciplined environment this school will not meet your kid's needs. We were ecstatic when my girl won the lottery and got in. But now I think it was a waste of 2 years. I took her out early in 8th and she is thriving at another place. It is hard to say if a school will meet one's needs, there being so many variables, but this school is sub par on so many fronts it makes it very special if your kid fits. I am sure if the kid fits the school will be OK. But mine didn't. Each class is 2 hours and there is no discipline so the two hours are pure agony for someone who needs quiet and structure. One other person referenced IEP's When we started my girl was GATE who never saw less than a 3 (and few of those) on any subject from 1-5. She started getting F's at IVA. I thought counseling might be something to look into. They really don't have a counselor. Their idea is to sit in the office and do more homework. Scary! Set my girl back 2 years. I wish we never went. Bad fit. Just beware. If your kid does poorly at this school, they will not get better. Little effort is wasted on them and falling behind is all their fault. read more

I cannot begin to say enough good things about IVA. When my son was in about 4th grade I started researching middle schools and I loved their philosophies and principles, but wondered if they really held true in practice. We lucked into a spot after a brief stint on the waitlist, and we could NOT be happier. My son is in an upper extreme on the IQ scale, and he has been challenged and also his "outside the box" thinking celebrated at IVA. They truly care about and educate the WHOLE child and make them think in ways I never had to in school. I can't wait to see what the next two years of middle school bring. They have done phenomenally in terms of communication and education through Covid-distanced learning. My son loves his classes, and they offer meaningful activities, not busy work. Whenever I look at his work, it's never just a "worksheet." Everything is applied to the real-world and to the intellectual virtues outlined in their mission. He is getting a fantastic education, he feels cared for and understood, and anytime we've needed anything, the principal is there to help us problem solve. It's a caring, small community and as a university professor, I would recommend IVA highly to any and all types of students! read more

I have an 8th and 6th grader at this school and have loved the last three years of community, great teaching, and positive impact on my children of this great school. My children are loving their middle school experience which is so different from what some of us remember from our middle school years. The principal ( Jacquie) is amazing- so caring and approachable and gifted at leading groups and creating culture. One of my favorite aspects is the Advisory Groups that meet once a week. 8 students and one adult gather to investigate any topics the students are interested in while demonstrating the habits of lifelong learners. I'm happy to chat with anyone who has questions about the school and want to talk to a parent who's been through the process. read more

We started at the school with high hopes. Very quickly we realized we were so wrong. Some of the teachers do not follow IEP's and the school as a whole does not support or follow IEPs. The principal Jacquie is very judgmental and condescending. She tried to prevent my child from receiving any services at their school and was not supportive at all. Great in theory but the principal is not very effective and her distain for my child's needs was evident to him. Switched to a new school and from day one, my child was given all the support that was denied to him at this school. Terrible school and terrible and unprofessional attitudes that start with Jacquie. read more

A rare gem in education. This small middle school, of approximately 200, allows for connection amongst the students and staff rarely seen in a public school. Their focus on virtues of academic character brings a new depth to learning beyond standard curriculum. Classes include your general ELA, Math, etc, and also include Social Justice, History visiting alternative perspectives, Coding, Art History and "Home Thinking" that encourages deep understanding of each subject matter. In addition, Jacquie Bryant values student and parent input into the community of IVA. When kids want a new club the staff encourage it. When my son wanted a sleep-away camp experience, Jacquie cheered an enthusiastic "Yes!". I am grateful both my kids have experienced IVA. read more

First year in this school, my daughter is in 7th grade and they have a great program and love how much the teachers and staff care for the kids. read more

My daughter is a 6th grader at IVA this year. She has always loved school, but this year we have seen her come alive with her learning in such powerful ways! You know when you ask your kid, "How was school today?" and they grunt something like, "Good." Now, she is overflowing with excitement and elaboration about what she is learning about and the ways they are learning. She loves her teachers and frequently tells us how easy they are to talk to. To be honest, I was wary of taking this "different" path to middle school, but for our kid, it has been the absolute "right" choice. I encourage anyone who is in that difficult place of choosing middle school to check out this hidden gem. It's a beautiful place where an adolescent's WHOLE self is honored and supported in such beautiful ways. read more

This school personally gave my kid severe anxiety and severe depression. He no longer attends here but principal never did anything physically to help my kid out. He'd go to her with his issues and how he was being bullied, but nothing changed. Shut this school down. read more