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Donda Academy

Donda Academy was a private Christian school in California founded by Kanye West in 2020 and opened in 2021.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Donda Academy was a private Christian school in Simi Valley, California, founded by Kanye West in 2020. It opened on November 18, 2021, and served students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school was unaccredited and closed on June 30, 2024.

History

Donda Academy was founded in late 2020 and opened for instruction on November 18, 2021. It was created as a private Christian school associated with Kanye West and named after his late mother, Donda West.

Operations and curriculum

The school served students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and was described as a private Christian academy. Public reporting identified it as unaccredited, and details about its curriculum and staffing were limited.

Closure

The academy temporarily closed in 2022 amid controversy and later remained closed. The California Department of Education lists it as closed, with a closure date of June 30, 2024.

Public attention and controversy

Donda Academy drew significant media coverage because of its founder, its secrecy, and later disputes involving staff and parents. Reporting also connected the school to lawsuits and criticism over its management.

Key facts

  • The school was founded by Kanye West in 2020.
  • It opened in 2021 in Simi Valley, California.
  • Donda Academy served pre-kindergarten through grade 12 as a Christian private school.
  • The school was unaccredited.
  • It closed on June 30, 2024.

Frequently asked questions

What was Donda Academy?
Donda Academy was a private Christian school in California that served students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
Who founded Donda Academy?
It was founded by Kanye West, also known as Ye.
Was Donda Academy accredited?
No. It was listed and reported as unaccredited.
When did Donda Academy open?
The California Department of Education lists its open date as November 18, 2021.
When did Donda Academy close?
The California Department of Education lists it as closed effective June 30, 2024.
Where was Donda Academy located?
It was located in the Simi Valley area of California, with school-directory records also listing an address in Chatsworth.

References

  1. California Department of Education — https://www.cde.ca.gov/SchoolDirectory/details?cdscode=19647336162788
    Supports: Official school-directory record showing Donda Academy status, open date, closed date, school type, and contact/location details.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donda_Academy
    Supports: General background on the school, including its founding, location, grade range, and closure information.
  3. Los Angeles Times — https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-04-02/kanye-west-and-the-story-of-donda-academys-spectacular-spiral
    Supports: Narrative reporting on the school's history, controversies, and closure.
  4. NBC News — https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanye-west-donda-academy-lawsuit-kids-cages-shave-heads-rcna145966
    Supports: Reporting on litigation and allegations involving the academy.
  5. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/27/kanye-west-donda-academy-school-closes
    Supports: Contemporary reporting on the school’s temporary closure and unaccredited status.