Who We Serve
Da Vinci Connect is a TK-8 public independent study charter school located in Hawthorne, California, that connects homeschool families seeking a community partnership for their children in a project-based, constructivist school environment.
Our History
Da Vinci Connect is part of Da Vinci Schools, an independent charter school network serving close to 2,100 students from 89 different zip codes across Los Angeles. In an ideation workshop, students named the schools Da Vinci Schools after Leonardo da Vinci who was accomplished in both the arts and sciences, and who learned by doing. This integrated approach to learning was the vision for Da Vinci Schools.
Authorized by the Wiseburn Unified School District, Da Vinci Schools opened in August 2009 with the launch of two charter high schools: Da Vinci Science and Da Vinci Design. Da Vinci Innovation Academy (DVIA) was successfully launched in August 2011 to serve Kindergarten through 8th grade students. DVIA became its own charter in the fall of 2013, and renewed its charter in 2018 as Da Vinci Connect.
Da Vinci Communications high school opened in August 2013 and is the recipient of a prestigious Next Generation Learning Challenges grant funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundations.
In 2015, Da Vinci Schools launched Da Vinci Extension, an affordable, flexible college pathway program leading to degree completion.
In 2016, Da Vinci received a $10 million XQ ‘Super School’ grant to develop and scale RISE High for homeless, foster, dropout, probation, and other youth who have struggled in a traditional school setting. Students at RISE receive ongoing support to help them tackle their academic, social/emotional, and personal needs.
Our Mission
To develop college-ready, career-prepared and community-minded individuals. Da Vinci Connect exists to provide a family collaborative instructional model that supports children to become caring, confident learners in a compassionate learning community that respects and values different interests, abilities, learning styles, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.
