Alumni
"Da Vinci's environment was unique to every other
institution I have attended. The school's community is so
close and tight-knit that I always felt supported by my peers and
teachers to do well. I could feel each teacher and faculty
member put a true effort into investing in my education and
personal development, which was a display of genuine caring that I
have rarely felt anywhere else."
- Stephanie Klein, Class of
2005
Because a Da Vinci education ends after eighth grade, an
important question is what happens to our graduates in high school
and beyond? The short answer is that our alumni are
well-prepared for any path they choose. Their success and
achievements in high school and college reflect the long-term value
of the education and experience at Da Vinci.
Pictured above are four alumni from the Class of 2009 currently
attending IMSA, as well as a group photo of the Class of 2010.
Update April 2012: Check out some
terrific recent DVA alumni news:
- Alex P. (Class of 2008) will graduate from Lake Forest Academy
and attend Brown University to study mechanical engineering.
Alex participated in the Lego robotics program as a Da Vinci middle
school student, and in high school he has coached robotics in the
Chicago area.
- Lissa M. (Class of 2008) will graduate as the salutatorian of
Lake Zurich HS and then attend the University of Miami (FL) after
being named a Stamps Scholar, the school's most prestigious merit
award that includes four years of full tuition, fees, books, room
& board, and a $12,000 stipend. Lissa plans to double
major in biology and Spanish. You can see Lissa talk about
her DVA experience toward the end of our school
video.
- James B. (Class of 2008), a senior at Geneva High School bound
for Princeton University, won the 18-22 year old age category
in the Union League Jazz Improvisation Competition in
Chicago. Here is an article about
James from the Kane County Chronicle.
- Jake M. (Class of 2008) will graduate this spring from
IMSA and study engineering at the University of Illinois -
Chicago
- Sarah Beth R. (Class of 2007) made the Dean's List at
William & Mary, the nations's second oldest college and a
cutting-edge research institution.
- Sabrina R. (Class of 2010) has already accepted a
softball scholarship to Northwestern University...and she doesn't
even graduate from high school until 2014!
- Edward M. (Class of 2007) has been studying Russian,
linguistics, international relations, and Latin at Carleton College
in Minnesota. He is involved in music, several student clubs,
and has working on a fantasy novel.
- Alex S. (Class of 2007) is majoring in
international business at Illinois State University and plans to
spend his junior year studying in Germany.
- Stephanie Klein (Class of 2005) was awarded a fellowship
from the American Society of Plant Biologists to fund her
undergraduate research this summer at the University of Illinois
(Urbana-Champaign)
- Anne D. (Class of 2004) is a junior at Northern
Illinois University majoring in art illustration with a
concentration in Medieval Studies
What does a Da Vinci graduate look like?
- Academically well-prepared in the core subject areas
- Has read high school level literature and text books
- Often tests into higher levels as a first-year student,
especially in math and Spanish
- Is accustomed to high writing standards
- Knows how to research and organize long-term assignments
- Has good study habits, time management, and organization
skills
- Is experienced with public speaking , presenting, and actively
participating in classroom discussions
- Is accustomed to participating in a variety of activities at Da
Vinci, which helps in finding social groups in high school
Where do Da Vinci Alumni attend high school?
High schools attended by Da Vinci alumni from the most recent
Classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011: Aurora Christian, Bartlett HS,
Batavia HS, Burlington Central, Elgin Academy, Geneva HS, Glenbard
North, The Hotchkiss School, Illinois Math & Science Academy,
Larkin HS, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, St. Francis,
Sycamore HS, Wheaton Academy.
As a relatively young school with intentionally small classes
(16 maximum), Da Vinci Academy has graduated 81 students since its
founding in 2000. The graduating classes during the school's
first several years were quite small as the school was growing, but
the last five graduating classes (2007-2011) have averaged 11
students, including 14 in the Class of 2009. The current
eighth grade Class of 2012 has 15 students, which will push our
alumni total to almost 100. With larger recent graduating
classes, we will gather more stories of our graduates' success to
share with current and prospective families to show the long-term
value of a Da Vinci education.
Da Vinci graduates attend a variety of high school programs, but
they are well-prepared academically for any environment. Many
alumni attend public high schools in towns such as St. Charles,
Geneva, and Elgin. While there is a social adjustment going
from Da Vinci to a large public high school, our graduates have
made the transition smoothly. Many are excited to embrace the
larger social and extra curricular opportunities in public high
school, while maintaining a high academic level through honors
classes, AP classes, or testing into higher levels as first-year
students.
A good number of Da Vinci graduates have remained in independent
or private schools for high school. Over the last several
years, our graduates have attended schools such as Elgin Academy,
Marmion Academy, Lake Forest Academy, Rosary High School, St.
Edward, St. Francis, and Wheaton Academy. Three have attended
college prep boarding school at Culver Academy in Indiana, Taft in
Connecticut, and Hotckhiss in Connecticut.
The other high school option for some of our graduates is the
Illinois Math & Science Academy in Aurora. IMSA is a
state boarding school for grades 10-12 with a highly selective
admission process. While earning admission to IMSA is
difficult, Da Vinci alumni have a record of success. Two Da
Vinci alumni, one from the Class of 2004 and one from the Class of
2005, graduated from IMSA and are now in college. There are
six Da Vinci alumni currently attending IMSA: one from the Class of
2008, four from the Class of 2009, and one from the Class of
2010.
Where have Da Vinci Alumni attended college?
Over half of our alumni are currently in high school, but here
are some of the colleges that Da Vinci graduates have attended, are
currently attending, or will be entering in the fall of 2012:
- Columbia University
- Princeton University
- Brown University
- Harvey Mudd College (IMSA graduate)
- Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan (IMSA graduate)
- Wellesley College
- College of William & Mary
- Carleton College
- University of Miami, FL
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois - Chicago
- Illinois State University
- Northern Illinois University
- Bradley University
- University of Massachusetts
- Grand Valley State University
Staying Connected with our Alumni
Da Vinci Academy remains connected with alumni and their
families. Each year we host an alumni lunch that is well
attended by graduates from all eras of the school's history.
Many alumni return to campus for special events such as the Fall
Festival, and some just stop by on their own to visit the
teachers. Da Vinci also has a wonderful tradition of inviting
alumni to speak at the graduation ceremony each year.
The school surveys its alumni after their freshman year of high
school to gather feedback on how prepared they were coming from Da
Vinci. Our recent alumni report that they are extremely
well-prepared for high school, as shown by their success and
achievement in high school and matriculation to some of the best
colleges and universities in the country.