Our Story & Our Mission
Da Vinci High school opened in 2004 with a small-school grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was originally located on the Davis Senior High School campus (DSHS). As one of the earliest members of the New Tech Network, Da Vinci founded itself on the core principals of Project Based Learning (PBL), and creating a collaborative and inclusive school community. In 2009, the school became a Dependent Charter of the Davis Joint Unified School District and was renamed Da Vinci Charter Academy (DVCA). Da Vinci High School moved to the Valley Oak Campus and shortly after that, the Da Vinci Junior High program was added on the Emerson campus. Today, DVCA serves approximately 600 students in grades 7-12 at the two sites and offers an A-G, WASC accredited, college preparatory program.
Da Vinci remains a unique and progressive school that is committed to deeper learning. In addition to showing competency in course content areas, Da Vinci students demonstrate their learning through our school-wide learning outcomes which include: Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Curricular Literacy, Professionalism, and Learning Mindset. Students and families have continual access to course content and course progress through Echo, our school’s Learning Management System. Now in its 14th year, Da Vinci remains committed to its core mission of graduating students that are prepared for college or career in the 21st century.
Vision Statement
Da Vinci Charter Academy envisions a learning environment uniquely able to prepare students to excel in a diverse, technologically advanced society and to craft their own valued educational experience.
Mission Statement
Da Vinci Charter Academy seeks to engender and elicit in students the characteristics, skills, and dispositions embodied in the Da Vinci Graduate Profile in order to prepare them for college, career, and life, in the rapidly changing 21st Century.
Guiding Principles
When making decisions that affect individuals or groups within DVCA, we will ask, “Does this advance….”
- Sense of community
- Concern and respect for others
- Trust
- Healthful living
- Autonomy
- Adaptability and resilience
- Problem-solving
- Personal integrity and ethical behavior
- Dynamic problem solving
- Lifelong learning
Schoolwide Learner Outcomes
Written Communication: The ability to effectively communicate knowledge and thinking through writing. This is demonstrated by organizing and structuring ideas, using discipline appropriate language, and utilizing proper English Language conventions.
Oral Communication: The ability to communicate knowledge and thinking through effective oral presentations.
Collaboration: The ability to be a productive member of diverse teams through strong interpersonal communication, a commitment to shared success, leadership, and initiative.
Curricular Literacy: The State of California and DVCA have identified key knowledge that students should have when they graduate from high school. This grade reflects the student’s knowledge and understanding of the concepts included in Content standards (Common Core, NGSS, etc.)
Learning Mindset: Students build intelligence and skills through effort, practice, solicitation of feedback, revision, and seeking challenge. Students are given feedback and growth in their capacity to “learn how to learn” and monitor their own progress to be successful in tasks, school, and life.
Professionalism: Students show the ability to submit complete and timely work that meets the expectations of academic and professional settings. Additionally, students demonstrate the ability to meet dress and communication standards required for a professional setting.
Critical Thinking: This grade reflects the student’s ability to perform higher order thinking skills including evaluation, synthesis and problem solving. Thinking analytically and creatively, using logical reasoning and interpreting information.