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DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts is a public, charter school located in Ogden, Utah. DaVinci Academy serves grade K-12 (onsite) as well as K-6 (distance/flex). 

Background

DaVinci Academy is located in downtown Ogden and serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Drawing enrollment from across Northern Utah—including Salt Lake City, Box Elder County, and the Ogden Valley—the school benefits from a distinctive and diverse culture. While DaVinci reflects the character of an urban school in the heart of Ogden, its demographics are unique: approximately 80% of students identify as white, about 40% come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and 25–30% are students with special needs, representing a higher-than-average population of students with disabilities.

To meet the needs of families, DaVinci Academy offers flexible elementary options. Parents may choose between a traditional on-site program or a distance learning program, where students attend school two days a week and learn from home the rest of the week—allowing parents to play a more active role in their child’s education.

The secondary program serves approximately 515 students in seventh through twelfth grade. A distinctive feature of this program is the integration of middle and high school students in many elective courses, creating opportunities for deeper learning and advanced skill development in both the arts and sciences.

Serving such a wide range of learners—from gifted and talented students to those developing foundational skills—is both DaVinci Academy’s greatest challenge and greatest opportunity. Meeting these needs has strengthened our staff as educators and inspired the development of stronger systems to support teachers, parents, and students. With innovative uses of technology and a commitment to flexibility, DaVinci Academy strives to ensure that every student feels supported, challenged, and connected.

Purpose

MISSION: DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts is dedicated to developing competent, inventive, ethical, and divergent thinkers who are able to apply their knowledge, skills, leadership and problem-solving abilities to become productive citizens of the dynamic world.

We offer programs that promote enthusiasm, exploration, and academic excellence in an interdisciplinary curriculum that involves real-world experience and application.

We serve as a laboratory school to examine and develop new methods and materials in curriculum innovation/reform, including, but not limited to, traditional, online, and distance educational programs. We serve as a model for private sector/public education partnership, including mentor and internship opportunities.

VISION: DaVinci Academy strives to create an academic institution where everyone can learn, develop their talents, hone their talents, acquire appropriate social and cognitive skills, and master all their academic goals – Uniquely Dedicated to Each Child's Success.

Core Values & Desired Results for Student Learning

COLLABORATION – Learning is a social activity, involving students, families and educators working together as a team. 
Collaboration will help me develop the necessary skills to learn from others and reach my personal and academic goals.

COMMUNICATION – Communication skills are essential in reaching my full potential and in helping others reach their goals.
All ideas are respected and valued at DaVinci.

CITIZENSHIP – I pledge to practice good citizenship by respecting shared values, rules, and rights of DaVinci Academy, my community, my state, and my country. All DaVincians will act in ethical, responsible, and civic-minded ways for the betterment of the community.

CONTEMPLATION – Daily reflection on my actions, learning, and community involvement will increase my ability to progress and meet my academic goals. Contemplating my own ideas and processes of thinking will allow me to form opinions based on and supported by my own analyses, evaluations, and reflections

COMPETITIVENESS – I strive to surpass yesterday’s accomplishments, and prepare diligently to excel in every arena. I have the confidence to compete when success is not assured. 
I persevere in the face of challenge, and view every failure as the basis for a future success.

CURIOSITY – I hunger to know more, and remain committed to continuous learning. I embrace high standards of expertise. 
I am driven to learn, to teach, to uncover the secrets of the natural world, and to expand the body of knowledge. embrace.

CREATIVITY – I encourage and reward innovation. 
I greet new ideas openly and optimistically.

COMPASSION – I want all who attend DaVinci Academy to feel accepted and appreciated. I actively look for ways to uplift and inspire. Everything I say and do should uplift and inspire those around me.
I assume the best of everyone.

CONSERVATION – I strive to meet our core values through sustainability.
I am the steward of not only our school facilities, but also the ecological community, which I preserve through education and service.

Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement

PROGRAMS:

  • Nationally recognized Theatre Arts Program
  • Academic Decathlon National Champions
  • Team America Rocketry Challenge National Placers
  • Cross Country State Champs
  • AVID Recognized
  • STEM School Gold-Status Recognition
  • ACT Scores
  • Heroes in the Community
  • Retention rates
  • School-wide MTSS system in elementary

STUDENTS:        

  • Utah High School Theatre Musical Best Actress
  • HOSA National Qualifiers
  • Young Playwrights for Social Change National Award Winner
  • American Alliance for Theatre and Education Broadway Bound Program 2019
  • American Theatre Wing & National Endowment of the Arts Musical Theatre Song Writing Composition; National 2nd Place Winner $10,000 Scholarship
  • Best high school photograph published in Best of High School and College 2016
  • Students selected to play side-by-side with the Utah Symphony              

FACULTY           

  • Reba R. Robertson Excellence in Theatre Education Award      

FACILITIES

  • Finished the third floor by adding 4 more classrooms
  • Expanded high school science labs by completing state-of-the-art chemistry and physics labs     
  • Purchased our third building and transferred our traditional onsite elementary
  • Expanded our distance elementary building in Ogden and Kaysville

 

Additional Information

DaVinci Academy was founded 20 years ago as one of Utah’s first charter high schools. From the beginning, our mission has been to serve as an integral part of downtown Ogden, instill the value of community service, and enrich students’ lives through the integration of science and the arts in project-based, real-world learning.

We first opened our doors to high school students, but soon realized that earlier interventions in literacy and math could help students thrive even more. Listening to our community, we expanded into a K–12 model, giving students the opportunity to grow with us from kindergarten through graduation. This change has had a lasting impact:

  • Skills once taught in seventh grade are now introduced as early as kindergarten.
  • High school students mentor and serve younger learners.
  • More graduates are leaving with certificates, job-ready skills, and college credits—making them highly sought after in the workforce and well-prepared for advanced degrees.

At DaVinci Academy, we believe all students can succeed, regardless of challenges such as poverty, learning differences, or behavioral struggles. Over the past 15 years, we’ve refined our academic and extracurricular programs to engage students and restore their confidence in learning. Many who once felt hopeless about education have found acceptance and success here.

Our community is rich with collaboration and creativity: science students perform in theatre and ceramics, art students excel at science fairs, robotics team members help build theatre sets—and then take the stage themselves. Cheerleaders cheer for one game, then suit up to play in the next. Our students are multifaceted, compassionate, and motivated learners, ready to meet challenges with resilience and innovation.

Six years ago, we expanded once again by creating a distance learning elementary program. This option allows families to play a more active role in their child’s education while still receiving support from highly qualified teachers. It bridges family involvement, choice in education, and the resources of a public school—helping even more students succeed.

Of course, challenges remain, particularly with funding programs like Academic Decathlon, CTE pathways, foreign language courses, and STEM-related afterschool clubs such as TARC and Robotics. These opportunities are expensive but invaluable, and our students are eager for them.

Looking forward, DaVinci Academy remains committed to preparing students for both college and career success. Our goal is for every graduate to leave with a college certificate, college credits, or job experience that leads to higher wages or greater access to higher education. Through carefully designed Advisory and Flextime classes, service learning, internships, and strong community partnerships, our students gain the skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences to thrive after high school.

At DaVinci Academy, expectations are high—and our students rise to meet them every day.