Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Davidson Academy, applicants must:
- Meet or exceed the minimum testing criteria (see below), documented through the online application process
- Exhibit an academic level of advanced middle school or higher in core course subjects that meets placement requirements for Davidson Academy curriculum
- Demonstrate motivation, social and emotional maturity, and overall readiness for an accelerated educational environment; and
- Are, or intend to be, residents of Nevada.
The Davidson Academy is a middle and high school level school. It is recommended that applicants at minimum have 6th grade in progress at the time of application. Any student who is under the age of 18, meets eligibility criteria, and who can perform at an academic level of advanced middle school or higher in all subjects may apply to the Davidson Academy.
General Testing Submission Requirements
- Include an official, complete testing report with all pages included in a single attachment. Reports for individually administered IQ and achievement tests often include the tester’s observations, tests administered, test scores, explanation of findings, and recommendations. For talent search/college placement tests, a copy of an electronic or paper official score report from the talent search organization, College Board, or ACT can be submitted.
- In order to obtain a current snapshot of the applicant’s intellectual and academic abilities, IQ testing must have been completed within the past five years and achievement testing must be no more than three years old.
- Individual testing reports should meet or exceed the accepted tests for the grade level the applicant was at the time they took the test for the talent search/college placement testing options. Information provided by the parent or tester regarding the student’s testing experience or extenuating circumstances will be considered, although it will not override test scores that fall significantly below the scores listed.
- Applicants who are Grade 6 or below or who are 12 years or younger and being homeschooled at the time of application are required to submit scores from one of the following:
- Kaufman Test of Education Achievement (KTEA)
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT)
- Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ)
- PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 & PSAT/NMSQT
- ACT OR SAT test
IQ testing submitted will be considered as supplemental information. Applicants must meet or exceed at least two of the PSAT scores listed.
- Applicants who are Grade 7 or above or are homeschooled and over 13 may submit an SAT, ACT, PSAT or one of the Individually Administered IQ Tests to meet the testing submission requirement.
- Applicants who have previously applied and were declined admission are asked to submit updated testing and/or grade reports. Applicants who were declined admission and wish to reapply will need to complete the current online application and upload an ACT or SAT testing report administered within the past three years.
- The published testing criteria were established in consultation with national academic talent search organizations and other professionals in gifted education.
- Following initial review of an application, additional testing may be requested of applicant.
- Detection of omitted or falsified information may result in terminating the application review process or revoking acceptance and/or enrollment.
For questions not addressed on these pages, please email applications@davidsonacademy.unr.edu. Emails will be answered within three to five business days.
