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Loftier School Contour – The Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts Community

Burnham Wood Lease School District serves the educational needs of the city of El Paso. Located in i of the state'southward fastest growing areas, the district enjoys a diversified economical base. Currently, the Commune has 1 elementary, centre and loftier school utilizing K-iv, 5-7 and 8-12 models. The pupil body is culturally diverse with a population that is 82.3% Hispanic, 3.0% African American, 10.6% white and iii.4% Asian.

School

Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts is a comprehensive four-twelvemonth public high school enrolling 440 students in grades 5-12. It is function of the award-winning Burnham Wood Charter Schoolhouse District, which opened the first El Paso lease school in 1998. Admission to Da Vinci is gratis and by lottery. Da Vinci School for Science holds membership in the College Board and the National Association for College Admission Counseling. An innovative four-yr engineering curriculum was adult by the Da Vinci Stalk leadership under the management of Professor Shamsnaz Virani from Penn State.  This Innovative Engineering Curriculum for Loftier School [ICE-HS] has been recognized by engineering professionals on both national and international levels. Da Vinci teachers and leaders, along with Dr. Virani, take been invited to present this curriculum at ASEE conferences over the by ii years. Da Vinci is designated by the Texas Education Agency as a Distinguished T-Stalk Academy. This laurels is based on the school's strong commitment to Stem pedagogy, as well every bit a rigorous curriculum that includes four years of high school engineering, applied science, and the Arts for all students.

Curriculum

The Leadership designed a ground-breaking teaching model that focuses on Stalk education: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The arts are also integral to our daily curriculum and include classes in music, trip the light fantastic, drama and the visual arts.

Da Vinci began operations in August 2006. Since our inception, Da Vinci students have out-performed traditional district public schools on statewide exams.  Students are enrolled in Dual Credit with University of Texas at Permian Basin.  All students are also expected to participate in all Pre-AP and AP courses offered.

The post-obit AP® courses are offered: Calculus AB and BC, Chemical science, English III and English IV, United States History, Government, Statistics and Environmental Science.  AP globe language and culture courses offered are Spanish Literature and Culture. AP is an open-enrollment program.

Competitions

Da Vinci students participate in a number of academic competitions including the Academy of Alabama at Huntsville'south InSpiress Programme — a NASA-sponsored design competition. In 2012, one of Da Vinci's four participating teams was awarded second place.

FIRST Robotics and Offset Technical Robotic Competitions are offered every year. Da Vinci teams accept been cited for their blueprint and operational attributes.  In add-on, several student Arts and Performance competitions for band, strings, choir and the visual arts are offered annually, bringing recognition for their quality work.

The Da Vinci School'southward philosophy states that all students tin can learn, and that high schools must have responsibility for the students' learning rather than lowering expectations which ultimately leads to lower standards at the college level and higher dropout rates.

Grading

  1. Excellent, 90-100%, 4.00
  2. In a higher place boilerplate, 80-89%, iii.00
  3. Average, 75-79%, 2.00
  4. Below average, 70-74%, 1.00
  5. Failure, 0-69%, 0.00

Rank

All high school students are ranked on college 4.0 scale.

GPA is computed using the in a higher place quality points. Kickoff with class viii, all high schoolhouse subjects, whether passed or failed, are included in the ciphering. A minimum of 26 credits are required for graduation. In addition, each student must consummate a 30-hour community service and 40-hr internship every bit not-credit graduation requirements. In add-on, every senior must apply and be accustomed to a four-yr baccalaureate-granting establishment in lodge to graduate. Successful completion of AP courses result in additional GPA weights.

Students are awarded:

  • three points if the AP students have test toward GPA
  • 6 points if they score three or higher, on AP Examination, toward GPA
  • Test fee refunded if educatee passes test
  • 80 or in a higher place, in classroom grades will earn 10 points toward GPA

Course of 2012 (First Graduating Class )
There were 17 graduates in the Class of 2012.

  • five earned a four.0+
  • 11 earned three.5–three.99
  • one earned iii.0–3.49

Advanced Placement Results

  • In May 2012, 11 took AP Exams
  • A full of nineteen exams were taken in 6 subjects

Post High Schoolhouse Placement

  • 100% matriculation to a 4-year university

Da Vinci Schoolhouse for Science and the Arts Graduates from 2012 were accustomed to the following Colleges:

  • Austin College
  • Central Texas College
  • Colorado Schoolhouse of Mines
  • New Mexico Country Academy
  • New United mexican states Tech
  • Northern Arizona Country
  • Park University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Rice University
  • St. Edwards
  • St. Johns
  • St. Mary'due south University
  • Southwest Assembly of God
  • Swarthmore Higher
  • Renssalear Polytechnic Plant
  • University of Incarnate Word
  • University of Texas Austin
  • Academy of Texas El Paso
  • Academy of Texas San Antonio

Cumulatively, our seventeen 2012 graduates received more than $450,000 in scholarships and grants.