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Student to Student |
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Hello Prospective Students,
When I was 10, my parents and I heard about a new school opening up in Reno through the Davidson Young Scholars program. I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on with this new school – its building wasn’t even done with construction when we visited, but it had to be better than what we
had tried so far. I started out in public school, skipped a grade, switched to private school, and finally started homeschooling, although I was quickly advancing beyond the level where my mom could teach me. So we put our house on the market, found another in Reno, and made the move.
While I didn’t understand why another school change would make a difference, I soon realized it was so worth it. The school started out with thirty-ish kids and three full time teachers along with part time teachers and visiting University
of Nevada, Reno professors. The school was a small community where everyone knew everyone else’s name.
It’s insane how much the Academy has changed since that first year. It’s quadrupled in size, for one thing. None of the full time teachers are the same. I have to say, it’s a weird feeling to have been at your school longer than your teachers. But all those changes have been for the better. The Davidson
Academy seeks out teachers who are passionate both about their subject area and about teaching. Our teachers are way different from your standard public school teachers. The environment is closer to a good university. Our teachers are innovative about their teaching and they treat you like people. Classes are ability grouped, so if you’re struggling in, say, Calc I/II, you can switch to the year long Calc I course. Or if you’re bored, vice-versa.
Speaking of ability grouping, some of you might start thinking about that one kid who’s a supergenius at math or chemistry or nuclear physics. There’re certainly plenty of those kids here at the Academy. They’re passionate about one particular thing, and they excel and accelerate at it. That’s not me, though, and while I might not make headlines, the Academy is a great place for me. I haven’t had a specific career goal since elementary school like some people, and I’ve scorned having a favorite subject because I want to learn about everything, but going to the Academy has helped me discover my strengths and weaknesses and what I might want to do in the future.
The Academy offers a great variety of advanced-level core classes and related electives, and they do their best to provide options for students who are interested in other electives. It’s a small school, so they can’t offer everything, which can lead to some interesting experiences. For instance, I play in the school jazz band on my violin. There are a lot of opportunities to participate in the arts in Reno outside the school. The Reno Philharmonic has three levels of youth orchestra, and I know of at least three community theater programs that students here participate in.
I think the greatest part of the Academy is that everyone has such a multitude of interests. Only at the Academy do you use a series of mathematical concepts to explain your view of Plato – and everyone else in the class understands exactly what you’re saying. Only at the Academy do people draw a series of comics about various philosophical concepts explained by cartoon animals on your English teacher’s whiteboard. I’m a fan of the Existential Elephant.
I’ve heard some parents worry that it might be a shock (and an unpleasant one) for students to go from being at the top of their class to somewhere in the middle, but I haven’t really seen that happen. Instead you get thrown into a community where people get you: strange analyses, humor that involves a smidgen too much math, hallway discussions that range from farcical to philosophical, and the rest. Classroom discussions are rarely dominated by only a few people. The shock of being in an environment where everyone loves and is good at learning is anything but unpleasant.
~ Claire Evans, Sixth Year Davidson Academy Student
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Program Updates |
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2012-2013 Application Available
If you think The Davidson Academy of Nevada may be the right fit
for you, consider applying for the 2012-2013 school year! Visit the
How to Apply page to download the application PDF files.
The Academy is specifically designed to meet the needs of profoundly
gifted middle and high school students who score in the
99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance tests, such
as the SAT or ACT. Please review the
Qualification Criteria page of our website as these scores are mandatory for student eligibility. On the
Application Review Process page, you will find
detailed information about the on-site assessment.
Upcoming Tours for Prospective Students
Each month during the school year, The Davidson Academy hosts a tour for prospective students and their parents. At these tours, visitors meet current Academy students, parents, faculty and staff and ask specific questions about the school. Our upcoming school tours will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the following Fridays:
- Dec. 16, 2011
- Jan. 27, 2012
- Feb. 24, 2012
- March 30, 2012
- April 27, 2012
For details, including directions to The Davidson Academy and RSVP information, please visit our
Tours page. If you would like more information, please
contact us at
outreach@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
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Davidson Academy Residential Option |
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The deadline for The Davidson
Academy's Residential Program
for the 2012-2013 school year is fast
approaching! Residential
students live with local host families
during the school year so their families do
not have to move to Reno in order for them
to attend the school. All residential
students are required to pay room and board
fees. Tuition will also be required for
out-of-state students. However, in-state
students will be able to attend the Academy
tuition-free. To apply, a completed
Davidson Academy Application along with
a
Residential Interest Form are due by the
Dec. 1, 2011 deadline.
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Student
Activities |
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Davidson Academy
students recently participated in a Fall
Festival to help raise funds for Academy
clubs. The event, organized by the Student
Council featured mini-golf, Dance Dance
Revolution, a dice game, a beanbag toss and
more! It was a fun way to help support the missions of the Academy clubs. |
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Students also
wore a wide variety of costumes to the
Academy's first-ever DECA Monster Mash
Halloween costume ball! |
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Academics |
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One of the most unique aspects regarding academics at The Davidson Academy is the development of a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) for each student. Each student – along with their parent(s), the Academy Guidance Counselor and the curriculum team – create this PLP, designed to deepen and strengthen his or her learning experience. The PLP is an adaptable document that is used to guide students through a rigorous core curriculum and help them make elective decisions based upon their interests and commensurate to their levels of ability, achievement and motivation. Please see our
Personalized Learning Plan page for more information.
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Meet Mr.
Braik, Science Instructor |
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 What subjects do you teach at the Academy?
I teach Introduction to Biology, High School Biology, and Environmental Science.
What is your favorite part about working with Academy students?
I love the sharp, quick-witted interactions I have with my students. Not only are they academically gifted, most of them are well-traveled and well-read. Because of this, I can employ teaching strategies and discuss concepts that I would not otherwise be able to do. I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work here. True, other teaching jobs may require less time, but I love the challenge of working with such talented people. Everywhere I’ve worked, I’ve had high expectations for my students. Now, it is great that my students have high expectations of me as well.
How do you make studying science both interesting and fun?
Science is inherently interesting, but it is most fascinating when students make the link between what they are studying in class and their own lives. I continually emphasize that the processes we study are the very same processes that allow our bodies to function. The academic interests of DA students are diverse, so I can’t promise every student will find science to be “fun”. However, I do strive for students to understand that science is a powerful tool for understanding the world, and it is well worth learning, no matter what their goals in life.
Why did you want to become a science teacher?
I’ve always been interested in science. Everything about the natural world intrigues me. Although my academic strength is Biology, as a child I experimented with other sciences. Once, while fiddling with a toy chemistry set, I managed to cause the contents of a test tube to explode, resulting in a purple splatter on my bedroom ceiling. My mom’s response: Were you wearing goggles? Early experiences like this (and the time I nearly electrocuted myself while trying to fix a radio) convinced me that I should perhaps avoid the laboratory and focus on the classroom. More than that, I find teaching to be fun. I get a real charge from engaging students with complex ideas, and working with such great students and staff is a dream-come-true.
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In the News |
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Davidson Academy student
Dylan Bowman was interviewed in a recent
KTVN News segment.
Dylan discussed efforts by The Davidson Academy Pedestrian
Safety Project in conjunction with University of Nevada,
Reno Police Services, to make the roads around the
University safer for both drivers and pedestrians.
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“I’ve got to tell you, it’s an amazing place. This is my sixth and senior year here, and I’ve never been happier. The opportunities are like nothing else; from the incredible teachers to the
University campus, you are given no boundaries - just the ability to let your mind explore.”
Nick Vienneau, Sixth Year Davidson Academy Student
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