Sandra Demond

Da Vinci Schools is a TK-College public charter school network located in Los Angeles, California, United States. Da Vinci Schools are dedicated to preparing students for college completion and 21st century jobs through an interdisciplinary project-based, real-world curriculum. Ninety-eight (98%) of Da Vinci graduates have successfully completed the A-G subject requirements for admission to a University of California or Cal State campus (a rate 51% higher than the State Average). Da Vinci graduates have been accepted to every UC and CSU, and to Stanford, MIT, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Purdue, USC, LMU, and many other prestigious private and public universities across the nation. Da Vinci signature programs and practices include: project-based, real-world learning; career pathways: a small and personalized learning environment where every student is known, seen and valued; strategic public-private partnerships with many innovative industry, higher-ed, and nonprofit leaders; an Internship and Work Experience Program in which high school students gain on-the-job, work experience; and an Early College Program in which students take college classes for credit (at no cost to families) while they simultaneously earn their high school diploma. Dr. David Brown, the former executive director of the WASC Accrediting Commission, said "Da Vinci Schools are among the very finest I've seen."​ Former CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, said "Da Vinci Schools should be a model for other public schools in the state."​ The Los Angeles Times reported that Da Vinci Schools offer a teaching model that would make Leonardo da Vinci proud.