Da Vinci Connect and Da Vinci RISE Granted Full, Six-Year Accreditation by WASC

We are thrilled to share that both Da Vinci Connect and Da Vinci RISE have been granted six-year terms of accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). The six-year accreditation is the highest accreditation level granted by WASC, reaffirming Da Vinci’s dedication to providing high quality education and fostering student success.

WASC accreditation is a voluntary process that institutions undergo to demonstrate they meet certain standards of quality and integrity in education. The accreditation is highly respected and can affect things like the transferability of credits, eligibility for federal financial aid, and more.

The Commission granted accreditation for Da Vinci Connect and Da Vinci RISE through June 30, 2030 with a mid-cycle visit during the 2026-2027 school year. Each school underwent a rigorous evaluation process that included a comprehensive self-study, peer review, and the successful completion of an on-site, three-day accreditation visit by a team of experienced educators.

“We are deeply proud of Da Vinci Connect and Da Vinci RISE for achieving this highest level of accreditation. So many team members played an important role in contributing to this positive result and in ensuring high quality Da Vinci programs and services every day,” said Dr. Matthew Wunder, Da Vinci’s CEO/Superintendent. “I wish to extend my deep appreciation to all the staff, faculty, and student leaders at Da Vinci Connect and Da Vinci RISE and especially to the Da Vinci leaders who led the WASC accreditation process, including Michelle Rainey (Da Vinci Connect) and Naomi Lara and Larry Simonsen, In Memoriam (RISE).”

Visiting team members identified the following school-wide strengths about Da Vinci Connect:

• Both campuses reflected a high increase of students meeting/exceeding standards in English Language Arts.
• Strong commitment, from all educational partners/stakeholders, to the school’s mission and vision of student voice, agency, and success. This has led to students taking ownership of their learning and advocating for and seeking help when support is needed.
• Connect has a whole-child approach and all programs are student centered.
• Connect extends learning beyond the textbook and classroom through real world experiences such as internships, college courses/dual enrollment, independent learning, and time management at the high school and connecting learning for TK-8 through equity and inclusion.
• Strong schoolwide social-emotional learning focus, which leads to a school culture that is open, compassionate, and accepting of the school’s vast diversity of learners. This sense of culture is demonstrated from leadership to teaching and support staff, students, and families.

Visiting team members identified the following school-wide strengths about Da Vinci RISE:

• Students at Da Vinci RISE feel included, connected, safe, and advocated for at all three partner sites.
• Da Vinci RISE offers a consistent, skilled, trauma-informed array of services to its target student population at all three partner sites.
• Da Vinci RISE offers various real-world learning experiences to its students in order to expose them to industry partners, career pathways, and job skills.
• Da Vinci RISE has established thriving, collaborative, site-based partnerships to bring a humanizing high school option to at-promise students in their own neighborhoods. This was clear through the clean, safe, and inviting environments that students come into.

Each school has identified areas for growth in their self-study, and look forward to continuing to focus on supporting students and families well everyday.

Da Vinci Communications, Da Vinci Design, and Da Vinci Science will be undergoing WASC re-accreditation next school year.