A History of Da Vinci RISE (2016-2026)
Founded in 2016 through a partnership between Da Vinci Schools and the Wiseburn Unified School District, Da Vinci RISE was created to reimagine high school for students whose life circumstances often made success in traditional schools difficult. Designed to serve students experiencing homelessness, foster care, housing instability, involvement in the justice system, and other significant challenges, RISE was built on a simple but powerful belief: schools should adapt to students—not the other way around.
Rather than defining a school by a single campus, RISE reimagined education as a countywide campus characterized by geographic and academic flexibility. The model recognized that for students experiencing instability, continuity is essential. Through seamless transfers across multiple learning locations, students could remain connected to their teachers, coursework, and graduation pathway even when life circumstances required them to relocate.
In 2018, the Los Angeles County Board of Education authorized Da Vinci RISE as a countywide charter school under the oversight of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), allowing the school to serve students throughout Los Angeles County. RISE was intentionally designed around the “Three R’s”—Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships—through project-based learning, competency-based progression, authentic assessment, and trauma-responsive, restorative practices that prioritized belonging, growth, and student well-being.
A defining feature of the RISE model was its co-location strategy. By embedding learning sites within trusted community organizations such as A Place Called Home and Richstone Family Center, RISE integrated education with wraparound supports including counseling, mental health services, case management, and other essential resources. This holistic approach broke down traditional barriers between education and social services, creating environments where students could access the support they needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom.
RISE’s innovative approach quickly gained national recognition. In 2016, it was selected as one of only 10 schools nationwide to receive the prestigious $10 million XQ Super School grant. Over the following decade, RISE earned numerous distinctions, including becoming the first alternative school in the nation to be named a Teach For America School to Learn From, while serving as a model for innovative, student-centered alternative education.
The impact of the RISE model is reflected in the success of its students. By creating stable, personalized learning environments for young people facing extraordinary challenges, RISE dramatically improved student outcomes. Between 2023 and 2025, the school’s one-year DASS graduation rate increased from 23.9% to 72.7%—a remarkable 48.8 percentage-point gain. During the same period, the graduation rate for students experiencing homelessness reached 81%, while the five-year graduation rate for foster youth increased from 38% to 51%. Beyond academic achievement, RISE fostered exceptional social-emotional growth. According to the 2024-25 A-GAME Scorecard, students reported 95% positive Growth Mindset, 94% Self-Management, 93% Self-Efficacy, and 93% Social Awareness—earning the highest performance level on the state index.
From 2016 to 2026, Da Vinci RISE transformed the lives of hundreds of students while helping redefine what alternative education can be. Today, that legacy continues to shape Da Vinci Schools’ commitment to innovation, equity, and personalized learning as the organization seeks renewed authorization from the Wiseburn Unified School District to continue serving students through the Da Vinci RISE model.