Da Vinci Academy Expands Curriculum with Acquisition of Magic Garden Property in Tucson

TUCSON, ARIZONA – Da Vinci Tree Academy purchased 6 acres and a 3,000-square-foot building recently for campus expansion. The proper including 1102 S Sherwood Village Drive and the Magic Garden Nursery & Landscaping at 7909 E 22^nd Street in Tucson sold for approximately $1.8 million.

Da Vinci Tree Academy is a K-8 school moved into its permanent location in 2018 at the former KinderCare Day Care Center at 8055 E 22^nd Street, now known as Da Vinci Tree’s  George Washington Carver Building.  Principal, Matthew Rolls says the site was chosen for its future growth potential at the time.

The school has grown rapidly since its inception and this year will reach 200 students, the school’s desired maximum in order to keep small class sizes, typically 1 to 13 students per teacher/TA ratio.

In 12-18 months, the additional land area acquisition will be transformed into more classrooms and some super exciting projects. There will be a new playground, soccer field and volleyball court added. The new playground is to include a 3+ foot deep sand box with buried fossils and artifacts where students can try their hand at being paleontologists.

The school has also partnered with Starizona to build an observatory on-site for Astronomy classes and student’s space exploration.

The existing arroyo will have a flowing stream for lessons in hydrology. There is already a koi pond on the property that attracts birds of prey. Water from the stream will be stored when school is not in session to avoid evaporation of our most precious resource in the desert. There will also be two full size green houses for each student to have their own plot of land.

Precious Plastics, a European company, and a machine shop in Seattle, have partnered together with Da Vinci Tree Academy to provide the machinery for plastic recycling. Students will be able to learn about plastics and recycling uses for the shredded chips to be resold at the former Magic Garden location.  This building is being renamed The Latimer Lab after Lewis Howard Latimer the American inventor.

With a focus on STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math this school also has tech classes for students to take apart and rebuild and repair computers. This program is in partnership with the University of Arizona.

“Da Vinci Tree’s rigorous K-8 curriculum helps prepare all students for high school and their future careers,” says Matthew Rolls, Principal. “Da Vinci Tree was approved with the highest rated charter plan in Arizona history! Our team comes from a variety of different places and industries, and we are excited for equipping our students for what’s next in this dynamic and fast-paced world.”

Learn more about Da Vinci Academy’s exciting 2021 expansion here:

To learn more, see RED Comps #5722, #8759 and #8761.