Original Research by School Decision on Da Vinci Connect District
Da Vinci Connect District is a small, single-school district in Los Angeles County serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates one charter school, Da Vinci Connect, which expanded from a transitional kindergarten-through-eighth-grade program to a full K-12pathway in 2020 when Da Vinci Connect High School launched.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic and Black students together make up more than half the enrollment, with substantial representation from students identifying as multiracial and white. Asian students also attend. The enrollment is small overall, with the full district at under a thousand students spread across grade levels.
The hallmark of Da Vinci Connect is its early-college model at the high school level. Starting in ninth grade, students take dual-enrollment college coursework at no cost to their families through partnerships with Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and El Camino College. These courses meet California's A-G college-entrance requirements. The model allows students to pursue an Associate degree or Bachelor's degree while still in high school and beyond, with a partnership through Rivet School that remains free to students who need time beyond twelfth grade to complete a degree. The high school combines on-campus and remote instruction.
State testing data was not available, so a parent cannot see how the district performs academically relative to California benchmarks or peer districts. The district's TK-8 program was named a California Distinguished School in 2023 for closing achievement gaps and student performance, and the district was highlighted statewide for bringing personal finance curriculum to schools. That recognition signals sustained academic standing at the elementary level, though it does not cover the newer high school program.
Chronic absenteeism in the district sits in the top quartile among Los Angeles County's districts, a point of strength. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared with other county districts, which may reflect the charter model or district size; a parent considering the school would want to ask how that spending level translates to classroom resources, program breadth, and staffing.
The district does not report free-or-reduced-price lunch rates, counts of students with individualized education programs, or English learner populations, so a parent seeking detail on those populations should contact the school directly. The hybrid learning model at the high school appeals to some families and may not fit others; prospective families should understand how the on-campus and remote balance works and whether it aligns with their student's needs.
For families drawn to a full K-12 pipeline, early-college access at no cost, and a small, intentional school community, Da Vinci Connect offers a distinct pathway. The early-college component removes a significant financial barrier to degree completion and begins college-level work early. Families prioritizing traditional classroom settings or seeking detailed academic performance data across all grade bands may want to look further into the school's offerings and results before deciding.
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