Davidson Academy (Reno, Nevada)

Davidson Academy
Address
Map
1164 N Virginia St

Reno
,
Nevada
89503

United States
Coordinates39°32′20″N 119°48′59″W / 39.538830°N 119.816432°W / 39.538830; -119.816432
Information
TypePublic school
Established2006
DirectorColleen Harsin (Reno campus)
Grades5-12
Enrollment172 (2023-24)
Color(s)Maroon and gray
MascotPhoenix
Websitewww.davidsonacademy.unr.edu

The Davidson Academy is a public school for gifted middle and high school students located in Reno, Nevada on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.[1] The school, founded in 2006, is the first university public school in the nation for profoundly gifted (high IQ) students, a unique classification in Nevada legislature.[2][3][4] As of the 2023-2024 school year, 172 students are enrolled in the Davidson Academy Reno campus and 95 students are enrolled through the online campus.[5][6] The Davidson Academy groups students by ability, rather than age, and allows students to take curricula at any level, including university classes as part of a dual-enrollment program with the University of Nevada, Reno. The school was designed with the purpose "to provide profoundly gifted young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests."[7] Eligible candidates must score in the 99.9th percentile on accepted intelligence and/or achievement tests (about 145+ on traditional IQ tests); perform at a required academic level; exhibit intellectual and academic achievement; be, or intend to be, residents of Nevada; and pass other criteria such as an in-person assesment.[8] As listed by the Washington Post's Jay Mathews, the Davidson Academy is one of the nation's "Top-performing schools with elite students."[9] The academy was ranked as the #1 Best Public High School in America by Niche.com in 2024 [10] and has the highest average ACT score in the nation.[11]

The average class ratio of students to teachers is currently about 4:1.[12] The academy's directors are Colleen Harsin (Reno campus) and Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D. (online campus).[13][14]

In 2017-2018, the academy launched an online option. For the most-up-to-date information, see the online campus section of the academy's website.[15]

The school is a division of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a national 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.[16]

  1. ^ "Davidson Academy Admissions"
  2. ^ "Are We Failing Our Geniuses?" Time, August 16, 2007
  3. ^ "No genius left behind? Reno academy caters to smart students". USA Today, August 4, 2009
  4. ^ "New academy for highly gifted students opens at UNR". Archived 2007-08-27 at the Wayback Machine Las Vegas Sun, October 4, 2005
  5. ^ "School Profile"
  6. ^ "Online School Profile"
  7. ^ "Mission & Goals"
  8. ^ "Davidson Academy of Nevada Overview"
  9. ^ "Top-performing schools with elite students - 2020" Jay Mathews Challenge Index
  10. ^ ""2024 Best Public High Schools in America" Niche.com". Niche.
  11. ^ "The Best Public High Schools in the U.S. by SAT & ACT Scores". Brainly.
  12. ^ "Explore the Davidson Academy".
  13. ^ Davidson Academy - Colleen Harsin Bio
  14. ^ Davidson Academy - Stacy Hawthorne Bio
  15. ^ Davidson Academy - Online
  16. ^ Oh Baby! Look Who's Reading the Paper". NBC's Today Show. 2009-4-22. http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/22/1903068.aspx Archived 2009-04-25 at the Wayback Machine