Geffen Academy at UCLA
Geffen Academy at UCLA is a university-affiliated secondary school that opened in 2017 with a mission to provide a transformative college-preparatory education. Situated on the UCLA campus, the Academy serves more than 600 students in grades 6–12, drawing from nearly 90 zip codes across the greater Los Angeles area. The school was established through a $100 million gift from David Geffen, designed to foster a diverse community where approximately 30–40% of families receive need-based tuition assistance.
The curriculum is built on an academic philosophy that values "deep learning as a difficult pleasure," encouraging students to become persistent inquirers and creative thinkers. By leveraging its unique partnership with a world-class research university, Geffen Academy integrates rigorous disciplinary mastery with 21st-century skills. The school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 10:1, ensuring that students are supported as they develop their unique voices through academics, athletics, and the arts. The following photographs document this intentional practice as students engage with the classical tradition of Chinese Brush Painting.
