Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at hp@davinciacademyva.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Yes! Da Vinci Academy proudly holds 501(c)(3) status, ensuring your donations are tax-deductible and support our mission to make a positive impact on children.
No! We accept non-gifted students as well, provided they meet other entrance requirements. Students who will do well at Da Vinci Academy are those who are curious and interested in learning, as well as kind and supportive of their peers.
To apply to Da Vinci Academy, students must submit an application form, an observation form from a current teacher (if applicable), and, if available, recent results on a standardized test such as the COGAT, MAP assessment, Renaissance STAR, iReady, etc. Admissions for each school year take place on a rolling basis. We are looking for students who are either academically gifted or those who are talented (hard-working, high-achieving students). Community matters, so we prioritize finding students who are kind, empathetic, and supportive of their peers.
We are located in the Byzantine Catholic Church at 114 Palace Lane, Williamsburg, VA.
No; we are a secular educational institution. We welcome students of all faiths!
No; in the Code of Virginia §22.1 -254, compulsory attendance can be exempted by having a " ... child taught by a tutor or teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education [also called a "certified tutor"] and approved by the division superintendent." The Da Vinci Academy has been approved by the division superintendent as meeting all criteria to serve as a certified tutor.
At Da Vinci Academy, class sizes are always small, so that students can thrive and receive individualized support from their teachers. The maximum number of students in a class is 12 students, with 2 teachers, for a maximum ratio of 6:1.
For our grades K-3 students, we have found that students are supported best by using the same curriculum for the core subject times. As children become more confident with foundational skills, we encourage more independent learning. Upper elementary learners can either use our curriculum or choose the online learning or homeschool curriculum that works best for them. Our micro school guides provide individual attention and support for each child and learning style.
We employ a combination of programs, to ensure each learner's needs are met. These programs include Right Start Math, Moving Beyond the Page, Beast Academy, Logic of English, IXL, STMath, and Lexia, as well as enrichment programs and instructional components such as Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop.
To ensure that we provide the best possible service to our families, we are limiting enrollment for the 2024-25 school year to rising first through fifth grade students only. This will allow us to focus on fully serving our students. Measured growth also means we can be very selective about the teaching staff, ensuring that all teachers meet our very stringent criteria for serving gifted students, individualizing education, and providing hands-on, joyful learning opportunities. In addition, as first grade students have experienced a year of kindergarten, we can better understand students' academic capabilities and social needs, to ensure a good fit for the Da Vinci Academy learning environment.
Yes! Though the Da Vinci Academy is beginning as a micro school, in successive years, we plan to expand to eventually serve students in grades 1 through 8.
Leonardo da Vinci was the quintessential Renaissance man, exhibiting a lifelong curiosity and love of learning. His areas of interest were very diverse, just like those of the students we serve. Our philosophy is that schools should cultivate intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills in students, to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow's society. Gifted students often experience deep interests, and our responsibility in educating them is to provide them with broad exposure to a variety of topics that could catch their interest and possibly provide a direction for a future career or a lifelong hobby.
In the elementary grades, students will receive instruction in mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts (reading, writing, and spelling). In addition, we offer enrichment including art, music, robotics/coding, and Japanese. Our students also have a chance to participate in a weekly maker space, where they are free to build and create, using a variety of materials.
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The Da Vinci Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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