Outcome
Graduates of Developing Virtue Secondary School have explored and developed their individual academic potential and talents in the humanities, sciences or arts. Have developed an enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge. Are prepared for success in college. Have the ability to think and write critically and analytically. Have developed their individual creative potential in thinking, expression and problem solving.
Faculty & Class Size
The approximately 40 faculty members include monastic and lay members of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, as well as teachers and professionals from around the world, who create a stimulating learning environment through a blend of Western and Eastern teaching philosophies and methods. The average teaching experience of the faculty is 13.5 years with approximately 55% holding master’s degrees and 40% holding doctoral degrees. The student/teacher ratio is 2:1, and Developing Virtue School’s average class size is 10 students. Interaction between teacher and student does not stop in the classroom. Teachers work as coaches, sponsors for clubs, and advisors to students. And many live on campus.
Academic Competitions
DVSS students compete in various competitions yearly: Poetry Out Loud, Scholastics Arts and Writing, Northern Association Chinese Competition, Model United Nations, Mock Trial, American Mathematics Competition, Mendocino County Science Fair, and others.
The Mock Trial team competes at the county level. High school students participate yearly in the Mendocino County Poetry Out Loud, a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and the California Poets in the Schools. Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to memorize and perform poems, helping them to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. In the past years, DVSS students have won the competition at the county level and move on to the state competition later.
Graduates
In the last 15 plus years, all graduates have gone on to college or university. Many go to community college and then continue to a four-year degree, others directly enter into a four-year institution. Some are accepted at prestigious universities, such as MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Northwestern, Univ. of Chicago, Stanford, Washington Univ., UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Scripps, Smith and Bryn Mawr.
The spirit of commitment, volunteerism and respect for life, dedication to the community and citizenship which the school seeks to instill and develop, are found in the return over the years of many graduates to teach or volunteer at the school and community here, as well as in their involvement in grassroots and other organizations wherever they live. Many remain lifelong vegetarians that actively pursue religious and cultural interests.
Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue School 