We tailor curricula to each students’ needs, abilities and interests. However, we offer evidence of our curricula in each subject so that parents and students can compare it to state standards and university requirements. We provide a challenging curriculum in a diverse, intellectual stimulating, nurturing environment that fosters ability, perseverance, and creativity. Parents can compare our curriculum and goals with public school curriculum. We believe that opportunity, diversity and a developmental approach along with high standards yield exceptional results. Students of all abilities and stages of development can achieve these goals, while maintaining a reasonable balance with recreation, family and social life.
We teach a classical curriculum using project-oriented methods. High school students in the "rhetoric stage" of development polish their skills and expand their knowledge until they are capable of specialization at high levels. Our AP classes allow as much project-based work as is compatible with passing standardized tests. We think these skills, exercised with this freedom, help students love learning for life.
Beyond meeting minimal state curricular standards, Valley International Academy pursues curricula adequate to maintain its WASC accreditation candidacy and we prepare students to pass the gates of SAT and SAT II. Our enhanced and accelerated curriculum enables students to take college level (AP) classes where applicable. Working in small classes in the friendly atmosphere of a small school, teachers can teach core curricula to the highest standards.
Many of students wish to attend one of the University of California's excellent campuses. We meet the A to G requirements, which both the University of California and Valley International Academy view as the minimal standards necessary for college entrance. The University of California believes that college freshmen who have met these standards can participate in their classes, majors and programs, and that they have gained critical thinking skills, study habits and knowledge adequate to: "provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced studies." The University of California summarizes its requirements as follows:
- History/Social Science: Two years required, including one year of world history, cultures, and geography and one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government.
- English: Four years of college preparatory English that include frequent and regular writing, and reading of classic and modern literature.
- Mathematics: Three years of college preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry.
- Laboratory Science: Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in at least two of these three disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Language Other Than English: Two years of the same language other than English.
- Visual & Performing Arts: One year, including dance, drama/theater, music, or visual art.
- College Preparatory Elective: In addition to those courses required in "a-f" above, one year (two semesters) of college preparatory electives are required, chosen from advanced visual and performing arts, history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and language other than English.
We expect students gifted in a curriculum area to take AP classes in that area as we are an AP-based school differentiated to accommodate students with varying abilities, but geared to teaching on the college level.