Curriculum Overview

Instilling Goodness Elementary School (K–6)

At Instilling Goodness Elementary School, our curriculum blends strong academic fundamentals with character education, cultural literacy, and whole-child development. Students build core knowledge while developing compassion, discipline, and curiosity.

  • The core of our elementary school curriculum consists of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, visual and performing arts, and physical education. At these early stages, students will be learning the basics of Buddhism and introduced to the Eight Confucian Virtues (kindness, filial piety, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, citizenship, integrity, and humility).

    In addition, Chinese language and culture will be introduced and developed through all the grades. Grade 5 through 6 is a critical transitioning period for students. Critical thinking skills, writing composition, integrated thinking skills, and logic are developed at this stage.

    Students will be learning more advanced levels of English, mathematics, science, social studies, and Chinese language and culture. In addition, more in-depth studies of Buddhism and the Eight Confucian Virtues will be incorporated. Our program is intended to prepare students for the rigors of secondary school as well as mastery of the basic skills


Developing Virtue Secondary School (7-12)

In grades 7 and 8, more advanced level of Buddhist studies, Virtue studies, Chinese language and culture, as well as higher levels of English, social studies, and science are integrated into our curriculum. Mathematics will include Pre-Algebra and Algebra. Visual and performing arts and PE are also required. Students will be prepared for college-preparatory courses in grades 9 through 12.

Grades 9 through 12 offers a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum that follows the suggested A-G Requirements set by the University of California. All of our 9-12 grade students challenge themselves to take honors and AP classes, and 100% of our alumni have received UC admissions each year. Some college acceptances include University of Minnesota Twin Cities, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, University of Tasmania, Stony Brook University, and more.

  • Our Developing Virtue Secondary School is a college-preparatory middle and high school aiming to provide a rigorous academic coursework with a balanced holistic learning environment that helps students cultivate a moral and ethical character of respect, benevolence, trustworthiness, empathy, and responsibility. We believe a well-rounded education should not only include rigorous academic discipline, but one that provides opportunities for students to take initiatives and become selfless leaders themselves to guide others towards goodness and benevolence in today’s interconnected world. A strong foundation in academics is not complete without a balanced foundation in cultivating a moral character.

    That’s why our 7-12 grade students not only take honors and AP courses, meditation, ethics and Buddhist classes, but they challenge themselves in engaging in activities outside the classroom such as community service, volunteering, assisting with community events for the city of West Sacramento and Sacramento, and more. Due to the strong foundation of both academics and character, all of our graduates have received UC admissions. 100% of our graduates go on to attend four-year universities.

Academic Core Curriculum

    • English (7–12, Honors options)

    • Mathematics: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Statistics

    • Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

    • Social Studies: World History, U.S. History, Government & Economics

    • Physical Education

    • Integrated Projects & College-prep coursework (9–12)

    • Ethics & Virtue Studies

    • Buddhist Studies

    • Meditation & Mindfulness

    • Chinese instruction (Elementary → Advanced)

    • Reading, writing, speaking

    • Cultural enrichment (festivals, calligraphy, history basics)

    • Music

    • Arts & Crafts

    • Photography

    • Woodworking

    • Cooking & Gardening (7–8 enrichment)

    • AP Biology

    • AP Calculus AB & BC

    • AP Precalculus

    • AP Statistics

    • AP Computer Science A

    • AP Chinese Language & Culture

    • AP Physics 1 & 2

    • AP Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

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