Annual Impact Report
2021-2022
A Message from Chief Executive Officer
and Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wunder
As we look back on the past year, we have been reminded each day that our students, families and staff are truly remarkable. The 2021-22 school year began with a return to in-person learning. We joyfully reconnected with each other and with our physical spaces while learning how to safely manage Covid. As a school community, we continue to focus on students’ social-emotional well-being alongside their academic learning as we emerge on the other side of the pandemic.
Da Vinci has stayed true to our vision of preparing students to lead, innovate and thrive in the modern world, while expanding our impact where it is needed most. We launched new initiatives around student success, education-to-employment, and equity to address our community's needs.
We have embraced our role as a hub for innovation as we’ve responded to the broad and evolving needs of our students, families and extended community.
We are filled with excitement and anticipation as we embark on the year ahead. We look forward to serving students with the finest educational opportunities Da Vinci has to offer to help prepare them for college, career and life.
About Us
315 Da Vinci Team Members
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2,504 Students
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Student Ethnicity
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Asian/Pacific Islander - 6%
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Black or African American - 18%
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Hispanic or Latino - 52%
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Two or More Races - 6%
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White - 15%
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Other - 3%
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6 Schools
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3,047 Da Vinci Alumni
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122 Zip Codes Served
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Located 2 miles from LAX and minutes away from leading tech, aerospace and creative neighbors.
"Da Vinci Schools are among the very finest I've seen."
- Dr. David Brown, former Executive Director of Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC)
"Da Vinci Schools is recognized as one of America's Most Innovative Educational Organizations"
-The Yass Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Education Reform and Forbes Media
Signature Practices
Small Schools with Unique Identities
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Caring & Compassionate School Cultures
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Project-Based, College-Prep Curriculum
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Real-World Learning
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Mastery-Based Grading
Presentations of Learning
Exhibition
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College Classes in High School
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DA VINCI COMMUNICATIONS
Computer Science
Multimedia Journalism
Marketing
Media Production
DA VINCI DESIGN
Architecture
Graphic Design
Entrepreneurship
DA VINCI SCIENCE
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Campus Learning + Career Pathways
Hybrid Learning Programs
DA VINCI CONNECT
Grades TK-8: Homeschool and on-campus instruction using project-based and social emotional learning.
Grades 9-12+: College degree completion along with a high school diploma, for free.
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DA VINCI RISE HIGH
Personalized learning that meets the academic and social emotional needs of youth navigating disruptions in their academic journeys.
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DA VINCI EXTENSION
A college and career program where students complete transferable college courses or earn an associate's degree or bachelor's degree with personalized support, all at no cost to students.
2021-2022
HIGHLIGHTS
Using Real-Time Data to Improve Student Outcomes
Our Data and Accountability team developed a central Data Hub with dashboards that analyze student and whole school performance in real time. Metrics in the Data Hub include academic achievement, college, career, and social emotional interactions with counselors, attendance tracking and outreach, and more.
The Data Hub provides teachers and leaders with a snapshot summary of information as well as with the ability to dive deeply into patterns and root causes within each area. The process of reviewing and reflecting on the current state of our schools using one or multiple data sets facilitates a proactive approach to ongoing student needs to improve individual and school-wide outcomes.
95% of Class of 2022 graduates completed the A-G college entrance requirements, a rate 51% above the 2021 state average.
Strengthening Education-to-Employment Pathways
100% of students gained exposure to career-relevant curricula through real-world projects, career pathways, internships, project consults, mentoring, job shadows, field trips, service learning projects, and much more.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Boards for each of our career pathways were established to advise on the skills, competencies, and labor market trends needed by local employers.
Work began with our partner El Camino College to expand the number of dual enrollment courses (college classes in high school) that are offered across our CTE pathways.
Joint activities brought all Da Vinci schools and our local community together at CARnival, Da Vinci Winterfest, school dances, Robotics team competitions, WDV Athletics, Summer Camp, Da Vinci's STEAM Day, and more.
Wiseburn Da Vinci Wolves moved to the Pioneer League this year!
Da Vinci Connect High and
Da Vinci Extension moved to a beautiful new campus at 550 Continental Blvd. in El Segundo.
We added student board members to the Da Vinci Schools Board of Trustees who provide their unique perspective and monthly updates.
As a result of Da Vinci’s role as an education innovator, staff were invited to present at major events sponsored by SXSW EDU, California Charter Schools Association, and Charter School Growth Fund, and featured in Forbes, LMU Stories of Impact, Next Generation Learning Challenges, Getting Smart, and more.
CULTURE MATTERS
Da Vinci Schools have caring and compassionate school cultures. We survey staff, students and families annually to solicit critical feedback and to assess how we are doing.
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Our Fall 2021 Net Promoter Score (NPS) is 71.4*, an exceptionally high score.
By comparison, Apple has a NPS of 52 and Amazon's is 51.
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2021 student and parent/guardian surveys went out in the Fall and feedback revealed students and families think we’re awesome!
*Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a measure used to gauge customer loyalty, satisfaction, and enthusiasm with a company that’s calculated by asking customers one question: “On a scale from 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this product/company to a friend or colleague?” Industry NPS benchmark for the education & training sector is 71.
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PEOPLE MATTER
Da Vinci Schools continue to attract some of the best and brightest educators in the region.
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An organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all students and staff.
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More than 60 percent of public-school students in California are Black or Latino, but only 20 percent of school administrators reflect these demographics. At Da Vinci, 65% of school leaders are people of color who reflect the identities of the students we serve.
Come As You Are
We believe all people should feel safe, welcome, and understood, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all.
What Our Students, Families, and Staff Are Saying
"I have a lot of great friends who love and accept me, and great teachers who support me completely. I love this school so much."
"I am grateful for this option for school for my child. He is thriving and developing confidence to try new things. He feels included and is able to demonstrate his unique strengths. Thank you!"
"I have worked at three different schools, and Da Vinci has been the best experience so far! Everyone I work with, from the top down, is kind, flexible, and professional. All of my colleagues care deeply about one another and their students."
PARTNERSHIPS MATTER
Our industry, higher education and nonprofit partners support every facet of teaching and learning at Da Vinci, from providing project planning and career pathways support, to hosting interns, field trips, job shadows, teacher professional development, and much more.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, COLLEGE ACCESS & COMPLETION MATTER
95% of Da Vinci graduates completed the A-G college entrance requirements, 51% above the 2021 state average
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70% four-year college acceptance rate (2012-2021)
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80% of Da Vinci graduates enroll in college immediately after high school, 17% above the most recent state and national averages
85% of Da Vinci students persist in second year of college,
9% above the national average
38 A.A. degrees and 6 Bachelor degrees attained to date, debt-free, at Da Vinci Extension and Da Vinci Connect
58 Certificates, 331 A.A. degrees, 483 Bachelor degrees, 29 Master degrees, and 1 PhD earned by Da Vinci grads since our inception
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Where Do Da Vinci Graduates Go?
Da Vinci’s 422 graduates from the Class of 2022 were accepted to a wide range of right-fit colleges and universities across the nation, including:
UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, USC, Loyola Marymount University, Howard University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, El Camino College, Southern New Hampshire University, and many more! For a complete list, click here.
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With the Class of 2022, Da Vinci Schools has graduated 3,047 students!
Fiscal Responsibility Matters
Da Vinci Schools practices sound financial policies that support the long term overall health of the organization. Philanthropic contributions help support services and opportunities that we cannot provide with public funding alone. The 2021-2022 overall operating budget was $31.0 million.
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Supporters ($25K+)
We couldn’t do it without you:
Ballmer Group
The Boeing Company
California Community Foundation
California Community Schools Partnership Program
Charter School Growth Fund
Chevron
CTE Facilities Program
CTE Incentive Grant
Joseph Drown Foundation
K12 Strong Workforce Program
New Schools Venture Fund
Northrop Grumman
The Pipkin Family Foundation
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
XQ Institute
Da Vinci Champions
Da Vinci Schools is governed by an independent Board of Trustees comprised of seven distinguished community leaders. We are deeply grateful for the leadership, expertise and commitment of all our board members:
Da Vinci Board of Trustees
Don Brann
Board President
Jo Webber
Board Vice President
Brian Meath
Board Treasurer
Derrick Boston
Board Trustee
Retired Superintendent
Founder & CEO
Pod Network LLC
Principal
Nigro Karlin Segal & Feldstein
Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel
Virgin Orbit
Ray Santiago
Board Trustee
Raul Ochoa
Board Trustee
Leslie Heimov
Board Trustee
Chief Engineer for Thermal Products
The Boeing Company
Manager of Mechanical Engineering
Teledyne Controls
Executive Director
Children’s Law Center of California
Da Vinci Schools Fund Board of Directors
The Da Vinci Schools Fund (DVSF), a 501(c)3 non-profit, operates as Da Vinci Schools’ Education Foundation. Its vision is to secure funding and resources to support Da Vinci Schools as an architect and leader in advancing innovative educational practices that transform teaching and learning.
Gary Wayland
Board President
Cindy Smet
Board Vice President
Don Brann
Director
Ken Brown
Director
Nick Galano
Director
Principal
Wayland & Vukadinovich
Independent Philanthropy Professional
Retired Superintendent
Art Lofton
Director
Chet Pipkin
Director
Ilia Terrazas-Dickey
Director
Operations Manager Northrop Grumman
Jo Webber
Director
Director, Starlink Sales SpaceX
Nichol Whiteman
Director
Retired VP Global Mission Excellence
Northrop Grumman
Founder and Executive Chairman
Belkin
Founder/CEO
Centerpeace
Founder & CEO
Pod Network LLC
Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation