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Student to
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Hey Prospective Students,
So… You’re looking at The Davidson Academy, huh?
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. Aside from the option to take advanced classes on the University
of Nevada, Reno campus, there are many chances to learn.
One of my friends was offered an internship in a lab on the Campus; as it turns out it was an exclusive internship accepting only two students each year .
. . I’m not sure what program it was, but he was one of eight university interns working in the artificial intelligence lab on campus. (Yes, I’ve been there, and yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.)
I myself am interested in teaching, and have offered my services as a student tutor for the past three years. Two years ago, I was given the option to be a teachers’ assistant for some of our classes. I was interested, but had no idea what it would be like;
in most schools, being a TA means that you pass out readings or something. Not here; TAing for Composition One was hard work, but I loved it. I was given the chance to work with the students in the classroom, helping them develop their writing and watching them grow. This year I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to co-teach a Friday Elective (Science Fiction & Fantasy) with one of my favorite teachers, Alanna Simmons.
I’ve come a long way since my first year here. I was a nervous little kid who had been homeschooled all his life; I wasn’t sure how well I’d fit in with other kids.  The biggest factor in my decision to come to the Academy was a good friend of mine, Kelsey. We were both
Davidson Young Scholars, and thus were on the mailing list when the news came around about this new school. Both of us were interested enough in the school, but had reservations about leaving what we knew behind. (Her more than I; most of my closest friends had moved away long since.) Going to a strange school in an unfamiliar place can be disconcerting, but we agreed that if we both got in, we could move there together and have someone we knew at the school.
The 36 of us that first year had quite the time. The school was brand
new, rough around the edges, and needed some polishing.
Around halfway through the school year, our current
Director, Colleen, arrived. She’s an amazing lady who works extremely hard to keep things running smoothly. Some teachers were changed, some policies were abolished, and since then, the students have always had a say in the school. Know why? Because
The Davidson Academy is about its
students; we are the primary concern of the staff and faculty.
~ Nick Vienneau, Sixth Year Davidson Academy Student
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Get to Know Us |
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 With the 2011-2012 school year having recently begun, it’s a very exciting time at The Davidson Academy! Our enrollment has increased from
123 students last year to 140 this year, resulting in a more diverse student body and allowing us to offer interesting new options. Although we continue to grow on a yearly basis, small class size and a focus on the individual student remain a priority.
New students are quickly acclimating themselves to
their surroundings and for many, this is their first
experience being around intellectual peers in a
stimulating academic environment. Returning students
are doing an excellent job welcoming these new
students as they themselves continue to grow. All
students are taking advantage of the Academy’s close
relationship with the University of Nevada, Reno.
Students have FREE access to online journals,
articles and eBooks through the University’s
extensive library system. We hope you will consider
applying for the 2012-2013 school year, or attend
one of our tours (details below)!
~ Colleen Harsin, Director of The Davidson Academy of Nevada
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EXPLORE Test to be offered at Academy
Next Month |
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In conjunction with the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS), The Davidson Academy will serve as a test site for the two-hour
EXPLORE® test on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. The EXPLORE® test, developed by ACT for 8th graders, is an effective above-level test for younger students (grades 4-6), and provides the opportunity to demonstrate their advanced abilities. An EXPLORE® test score can be used in the context of eligibility criteria for the
Davidson Young Scholars program as well as
The Davidson Academy. Parents or teachers of students who are very talented in mathematics can use the EXPLORE scores as part of
IDEAL Solutions for Math Acceleration, which is a web-based system for making decisions about math acceleration.
The goal of BESTS is to discover students who need further educational challenge to fully realize their academic talent. To register, visit
here and click on “Register” under the EXPLORE menu on the left side of the screen. The cost is $58 per student and the deadline to register for this specific test location is Monday, Oct. 3.
Also, The Davidson Academy will be hosting a
public tour the day before the Explore Test, on Friday, Oct. 21.
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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. If you are looking for an environment to better fit your social and academic needs,
The Davidson Academy may be the place for you!
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 recently updated
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
 Hear from current students and Academy parents, familiarize yourself with faculty and staff, network with others and ask specific questions at one of our
upcoming
school tours. Everyone is invited to attend one of the following tour dates below and
RSVPs are required. If you would like more information, please
contact us at
outreach@davidsonacademy.unr.edu.
- Friday, Sept. 23, 2011
- Friday, Oct. 21, 2011
- Friday, Nov. 18, 2011
- Friday, Dec. 16, 2011
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Student
Activities |
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Davidson Academy
students Dylan Bowman, Anthony Dyer and
Addison Cram continued the University of
Nevada, Reno Police Services and Davidson
Academy Pedestrian Safety Project through
the summer and into the new school year.
(Pictured here with University President,
Dr. Marc Johnson, at the 'dorm storm' campus
move-in day after he signed the pledge to
use safe practices when crossing the
street). |
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Davidson Academy student Ian McKeachie has self-published his first novel, Idols of Dust, which is available on
Amazon. For families in the Reno area who wish to purchase Ian’s book, it is also available at
Sundance Bookstore, and Ian will do a book-signing on October 29 at
Zephyr Books.
Congratulations, Ian! |
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In the News |
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Ten Davidson Academy
of Nevada students were recently
named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists! Brendan Beemer, Martin Boren, Samuel Crognale, Claire Evans, Anthony Fidaleo, Daniel Hickox-Young,
Justin Otor, Mihalia Powers, Nick Vienneau
and Chloe Williamson
were featured in the Reno Gazette-Journal article, 33 Washoe students advance in scholarship competition.
The amount of semifinalists is a
record for the Academy. Congratulations to all!
Davidson Academy student Taylor Wilson was recently
featured in the Mental Floss article,
Mad Scientist of the Month: Who’s Afraid of Taylor Wilson? Taylor recently set the world record for being the youngest nuclear scientist, according to
the
World Records Academy.
 The Davidson Academy was featured in two
Christian Science Monitor articles.
Back to school: Are we leaving gifted students behind?
focuses on the Academy and the overarching issue of
how to improve gifted education in America.
A public school for the brightest spotlights how the Academy works with gifted students to get the most out of them.
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“It's a living laboratory for educating the profoundly gifted – a place where teachers constantly study the students to keep pace with their academic and emotional growth spurts; a place that raises questions about how much more talent could be harnessed if some of its approaches were incorporated more broadly in education.”
Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, in the
Christian Science Monitor
article, "A public school for the brightest"
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