Da Vinci Schools: Parent Guide to Project-Based, Design-Thinking Charter Schools

Da Vinci Schools is a network of free public charter schools headquartered in El Segundo, California, serving students from transitional kindergarten through postsecondary levels. Founded in 2009 as part of a district-charter partnership with the Wiseburn Unified School District, Da Vinci was created to provide a neighborhood high school option and has since expanded across multiple campuses and grade levels ¹. The network reports approximately 2,819 students from over 120 zip codes during the 2025-26 school year, with 34 to 80 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals ⁸.

What distinguishes Da Vinci from traditional public schools is its core instructional approach: project-based learning (PBL) grounded in real-world problem-solving, design thinking, and industry partnerships ³. Rather than learning through traditional lectures and standardized tests alone, students work in teams on interdisciplinary projects, present their work publicly, and progress through a mastery-based grading system ⁴. The network operates both fully in-person and hybrid models, and extends beyond high school graduation through a postsecondary bridge program called LifeLaunch ⁹.

Snapshot facts

Field	Detail
Official name	Da Vinci Schools
Operating status	Active network; one campus (Da Vinci RISE) recorded as closed
Founded	2009
Founders	Matthew Wunder, Steve Wallis, Don Brann, Nicole (Tempel) Assisi
Current leadership	Matthew Wunder, CEO and Superintendent
Primary location	El Segundo, California
Grades served	Transitional kindergarten through grade 12, plus postsecondary programs
Public/charter/private status	Public charter schools
Tuition or funding model	Tuition-free (tuition $0); nonprofit
Admissions model	Public lottery with priority preferences 510
Educational model	Project-based learning, design thinking, career pathways 3
Evidence confidence	School-reported outcomes 7

What it is

Da Vinci Schools is a nonprofit public charter school network authorized primarily by the Wiseburn Unified School District, with Da Vinci RISE formerly authorized by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) ⁶. The network currently lists five active school programs plus LifeLaunch, a postsecondary college and career bridge program. The number of schools is disputed: some sources, including the school's own website and Wikipedia, count six schools (including Da Vinci RISE), while the verified block records RISE as closed and no longer operating as an independent charter ².

Educational model

Da Vinci's educational model centers on Gold Standard Project-Based Learning, a framework developed by the Buck Institute for Education (now PBLWorks) ⁴. Teachers design interdisciplinary projects around real-world problems, and students work in collaborative teams to produce final products that demonstrate mastery of academic content standards. Key design elements include sustained inquiry, student voice and choice, critique and revision, and public presentations ⁴. All students from transitional kindergarten through grade 12 participate in Presentations of Learning (POLs) and Exhibition Nights, where they share their work with families and community members ³. The network employs mastery-based grading across its schools, assessing students on demonstrated proficiency rather than traditional letter-grade averages ¹². Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles are integrated to support diverse learners, including special education students ⁴.

Student experience

Students at Da Vinci's three flagship high schools, Communications, Design, and Science, each follow distinct career pathway tracks ². Da Vinci Communications offers pathways in computer science, multimedia journalism, marketing, and media production. Da Vinci Design offers architecture, graphic design, entrepreneurship, and fine arts. Da Vinci Science offers mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering ^{2 12}. Students collaborate with industry partners such as Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Boeing, and Gensler on authentic projects ². Da Vinci Connect schools offer hybrid learning models combining on-campus and remote instruction, with Da Vinci Connect High allowing students to begin college coursework in ninth grade ². The network reports that 1,128 students participated in real-world learning experiences in a recent twelve-month period ⁷.

Curriculum, assessment, and progression

Da Vinci aligns its graduation requirements with the University of California and California State University A-G admission requirements, meaning every course a student takes counts toward UC and CSU eligibility ¹¹. The school describes this as a strategic design choice to ensure students cannot make a wrong choice that would limit their postsecondary options ¹¹. Assessment combines project rubrics, public presentations, mastery-based grading, and Student Led Conferences ⁴. Dual enrollment with El Camino College allows students to earn college credit during high school, particularly through career pathway courses ¹². Students also have access to seminars that allow exploration outside the A-G framework without affecting transcript quality ¹¹.

Public, charter, private, nonprofit, program, network, or platform status

Da Vinci Schools is a nonprofit public charter school network. Its schools are tuition-free and open to all students through a public lottery ⁵. The primary authorizer is the Wiseburn Unified School District, which provides oversight and compliance monitoring ⁶. Da Vinci operates as Wiseburn's high school program under a district-charter partnership model that began in 2009 and continued when Wiseburn unified as a K-12 district in 2014 ⁶. The network's 2025-26 budget is approximately $49.4 million ⁸. Da Vinci is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools and participates in Project Lead The Way. The network has been recognized as a California Distinguished School and by the California Charter Schools Association.

Locations and availability

Da Vinci Schools operates campuses in El Segundo and Hawthorne, California. Three high schools, Communications, Design, and Science, share a single four-story campus at 201 N. Douglas Street in El Segundo, each occupying one floor ¹. Da Vinci Connect TK-8 is located at 12501 Isis Avenue in Hawthorne. Da Vinci Connect High School is at 550 Continental Boulevard in El Segundo, where a facility called the Levitt Lab is announced to open in Fall 2026. Da Vinci RISE, formerly located at 555 S. Aviation Boulevard in El Segundo, is recorded as closed. LifeLaunch operates at the LifeLaunch Campus at Belkin in El Segundo and utilizes local field sites ⁹. The network reports serving students from 122 zip codes ⁸. Da Vinci Connect High and Da Vinci Connect TK-8 offer hybrid learning options ⁸.

Tuition, admissions, and eligibility

All Da Vinci Schools are tuition-free public charter schools. Admissions are conducted through a weighted public lottery administered via SchoolMint ⁵. The application period opens November 1, with a priority deadline in late February and a lottery in early March ⁵. Admission priority is given in the following order: Wiseburn Unified School District residents, children of Da Vinci and WUSD staff and board members (capped at 10 percent of enrollment), students currently attending Wiseburn K-8 schools on permit, students currently attending Da Vinci Connect, siblings of currently enrolled students, and all others ¹⁰. Wiseburn residents are exempt from the lottery and guaranteed a spot at one of the high schools ⁵. No interdistrict permits or releases are required to attend ⁸.

Credits, transcripts, diplomas, certifications, and accreditation

• All Da Vinci Schools are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC).
• Students who complete high school receive standard California high school diplomas.
• Through dual enrollment with El Camino College, students can earn college credit during high school.
• Through a partnership with Rivet School, Da Vinci graduates can pursue associate and bachelor's degrees from Southern New Hampshire University at no cost to the student or family ².
• LifeLaunch offers industry-recognized certifications in healthcare (Certified Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Phlebotomy) and aviation (FAA-Certified Remote Drone License with progress toward a Private Pilot License) ⁹.

Evidence and outcomes

Da Vinci reports the following school-reported outcome data: 94 percent of graduates completed A-G requirements (compared to a 44 percent state average), 82 percent of graduates enrolled in college immediately after high school (20 percent above the state average), and 91 percent of graduates persisted into their second year of college (15 percent above the national average) ^{7 8 11}. The network reports that 71 percent of graduates received four-year university offers from 2012 to 2023 ². Da Vinci also reports that 4,694 alumni have collectively earned 73 certificates, 382 associate degrees, 592 bachelor's degrees, 38 master's degrees, and one PhD ^{2 8}. All outcome figures are school-reported and have not been independently verified through standardized state data comparisons in this profile. Da Vinci was one of 10 schools nationally to receive a $10 million XQ Super School grant and one of eight nationally to receive a Next Generation Learning Challenges grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundations ¹.

Best fit

Da Vinci Schools may be a strong fit for families seeking a tuition-free public education that emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning over traditional lecture-and-test instruction. Students who thrive in collaborative environments, benefit from real-world connections to industry partners, and are interested in career pathways in STEM, design, communications, or healthcare may find the model engaging. The hybrid options at Da Vinci Connect schools may suit families seeking flexible scheduling. LifeLaunch may appeal to graduating seniors who want to pursue certifications or degrees debt-free. Families should consider whether mastery-based grading, public presentations, and interdisciplinary projects align with their child's learning preferences.

Questions parents should ask

1. What is the current status of Da Vinci RISE, and does it operate in any form?
2. How deep are current waitlists at each school, and what are realistic chances of admission for non-Wiseburn residents?
3. How does mastery-based grading translate to transcripts for college admissions officers unfamiliar with the system?
4. What specific industry partner engagements are available at each high school, and how are they scheduled?
5. Is LifeLaunch fully operational, and what are the enrollment criteria for the healthcare and aviation pathways?
6. How does the hybrid model at Da Vinci Connect balance on-campus and remote learning days?

Sources

[1] "Our Story," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/about/our-story/, accessed July 22, 2026. [2] "Da Vinci Schools," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da_Vinci_Schools, accessed July 22, 2026. [3] "Signature Programs + Practices," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/about/signature-programs/, accessed July 22, 2026. [4] "Why Project-Based Learning?," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/why-project-based-learning/, accessed July 22, 2026. [5] "Enrollment Process," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/enroll/enrollment-process/, accessed July 22, 2026. [6] "Da Vinci + Wiseburn USD Partnership," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/the-da-vinci-wiseburn-usd-partnership/, accessed July 22, 2026. [7] "Outcomes," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/impact/outcomes/, accessed July 22, 2026. [8] "Da Vinci Schools Fact Sheet (Aug 2025)," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DV-fact-sheet-aug-25.pdf, accessed July 22, 2026. [9] "LifeLaunch," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/lifelaunch/, accessed July 22, 2026. [10] "Enrollment FAQ," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/enroll/enrollment-faq/, accessed July 22, 2026. [11] "Setting the Bar High: 94% of Da Vinci Seniors Eligible for UC and Cal State Admission," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/most-ca-high-school-seniors-have-not-met-the-a-g-requirements-to-apply-to-the-states-public-universities/, accessed July 22, 2026. [12] "Da Vinci Design," Da Vinci Schools, https://www.davincischools.org/schools/da-vinci-design/, accessed July 22, 2026.