Davidson Academy

Davidson Academy serves profoundly gifted middle and high school students and students age 18 and under. It is a public school serving grades 6-12 with classes grouped by ability rather than age. The program also includes Davidson Academy Online for students across the U.S. and Canada, plus THINK Summer Institute for ages 13-16, Davidson Summer Programs for ages 8-13, Davidson Summit, and Davidson Family Retreat.

Programs

• Davidson Academy — Profoundly gifted middle and high school students; students age 18 and under · $0 · A third type of public school (not a charter school) in Reno, Nevada, designed for profoundly gifted students; no tuition for Nevada residents.
• Davidson Academy Online — Students across the U.S. and Canada · An online campus added in 2016.
• THINK Summer Institute — 13-16 · A three-week academic summer camp for students to earn college credits.
• Davidson Summer Programs — 8-13 · Academically challenging residential summer camps designed exclusively for Davidson students, hosted on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.
• Davidson Summit — The Davidson Institute's annual flagship summertime gathering for Davidson youth and their families.
• Davidson Family Retreat — Provides Davidson families with an on-site overnight weekend experience.

At a glance

• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Price range: $0

About the provider

The Davidson Academy Reno campus opened in 2006 as the first free public school of its kind for profoundly gifted middle and high school students. A fully accredited online campus was added in 2016. Its mission is to provide profoundly gifted young people an advanced educational opportunity matched to their abilities, strengths and interests. It has been ranked #1 Best Public Middle School in America by Niche.com, #2 Best Public High School in America, #1 Best Magnet High School in America, #1 Best Public High School Teachers in America, #1 Best Public Middle School Teachers in America, and 4th best high school in the United States in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools.

• The 2027-2028 Davidson Academy Application — now open; apply by September 4th to secure a spot in an upcoming assessment

Classes group students by ability rather than age. The Academy is a public school serving grades 6-12 and does not issue 1098-T forms. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or any other category protected by applicable law.

What families say

“The social environment here is very warm and accepting of different people and viewpoints, and it’s collaborative instead of competitive. If a friend asks me how I did on an assignment, it’s not because they want to know if they did better than me; it’s because they care about my academic growth and want me to succeed.” — Nathan M. Davidson Academy Graduate

“Academically, the Davidson Academy is a paradise. The teachers only care about their students succeeding. They are some of the nicest people that you will ever meet in your life, and they are quite open-minded to helping you change your homework load if needed. If you need help with anything, you can always ask your teacher to help you understand it, and they will help you.” — Alex Davidson Academy Student

Last updated August 18, 2026.