Da Vinci RISE, the newest high school in the Da Vinci Schools family, was created alongside students for whom the traditional school setting had not worked. Three years of research and design culminated into the current model, which is aimed towards serving students who have historically faced obstacles to consistently accessing a rigorous, relevant education. RISE provides students the opportunities to meet with their teachers in small-group and 1:1 settings on a schedule that takes into account the other priorities and responsibilities they have in their lives. The curriculum is project-based, real-world, and culturally-relevant, and is ultimately individualized to each student's personal interests, academic goals, and comprehensive needs. Additionally, at the heart of RISE is a coalescence of wraparound service providers and restorative justice structures designed to guarantee that students are holistically supported and empowered to take on the world around them. Students, families and staff across the Da Vinci Schools have been essential contributors to building student support protocols and providing critical feedback on curriculum and structures. DV RISE has also been lucky to work alongside strong community organizations and service providers who have been working for years to support students in their holistic needs.These partnerships give RISE students access to counseling, case management, tutoring, job readiness training, career pathways, internships, extracurricular opportunities, leadership development, and more. Our commitment to students is that each of them will be prepared to be successful in college, and that they will be supported through whatever pathway best meets their needs as they work towards their personal and academic goals. This means that, through this program, students can recover credits, obtain their high school diploma, meet their A-G requirements, receive support in studying for their GED,and/or move through their academics at an accelerated path. Our ultimate vision is that DV RISE will graduate individuals who have a strong sense of self and value of community, who are able to think critically about the world around them, who possess the skills and passion to create change, and who feel empowered and prepared to do so.
