| Davidson Academy of Nevada | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Reno, Nevada, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | public school |
| Established | 2006 |
| Director | Colleen Harsin |
| Website | www.davidsonacademy.unr.edu |
For the Davidson Academy in Tennessee, go to Davidson Academy.
The Davidson Academy of Nevada is a public school located in Reno, Nevada. The school, founded by Jan and Bob Davidson, is for profoundly gifted secondary students, and is the first public school of this kind in the United States.[1] It is located in the newly renovated Jot Travis Building on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. As of the 2011-2012 school year, the Davidson Academy is attended by 140 students; future plans call for between 200 and 300 students to eventually attend the school.[2] The Davidson Academy provides each student with a personalized learning plan, designed to give them an education specifically catered to their individual, unique needs. Eligible candidates of the school must have SAT, ACT or IQ scores in the top 1/10th of 1%, and perform academically at the middle or high school level. Ranked by the Washington Post's Jay Mathews, The Davidson Academy is one of the nation's "Top-performing schools with elite students." [3] [4]
Students may use laptops to assist with standard school tasks. The average class ratio is currently about 15:1.[5] The Academy's current director is Colleen Harsin.[6] The school is a division of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a nationwide nonprofit organization established by the Davidsons to support the needs of profoundly gifted children through information resources, networking and educational opportunities, family support, advocacy, and scholarships.[7]
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The Academy was created following state legislation in 2005 that designated it as a “university school for profoundly gifted pupils.” The Davidsons decided to create the Academy as an outgrowth of the THINK Summer Institute, upon learning of the interest shown by many of the parents of the students who attended the summer program.[8]