Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) begins the school year on August 25th.
In March 2004, I was on the PTSA Board of the Carmel Valley Middle School and the topic of discussion was the new Carmel Valley high school that would help with the over-crowding being experienced at Torrey Pines High School. David Jaffe, the principal of the "new" school, who was working out of a small room at the middle school, was excited and eager to fill the new school's 400 slots by the 8th graders from Carmel Valley and other area middle schools. The plan was that the students would not only be freshman, but also the only class of students in the school. Imagine, not worrying about upperclassmen! The classes would be smaller; the students would have the opportunity to establish many of the traditions at the school from mascot (Ravens) to school colors (red & black).
In August 2004, 342 students began their freshman year in portable buildings and despite their surroundings, they flourished at an incredible pace academically, athletically, creatively, and socially. By March 2005, the local and statewide accolades earned by these focused and motivated students attracted applications for the upcoming school year from over 400 incoming freshmen and over 50 incoming sophomores. In addition, in 2007, the College Board announced that CCA's class of 2008 led the nation in AP World History scores for schools of its size. There are approximately 1,831 students attending Canyon Crest Academy. The current student to teacher ratio (overall) is roughly 34:1. The school's 2007-08 API score was the highest in San Diego County.
Canyon Crest Academy's first graduating class was in June of this year (2008). These graduates have achieved many honors during their high school careers and have been accepted into many top universities including Harvard University, Stanford University, UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, USC, UC Los Angeles, and others.
One unique aspect of Canyon Crest is Envision, an arts program with 7 divisions: Digital/Fine Arts, Theater, Video/Film, Dance, Vocal Music, Audio Editing (new for the 2008-09 school year), and Instrumental Music. The program regularly sponsors shows & performances, and interacts extensively with professionals & teachers in the North County creative community. The Envision program also trains students in their particular field of interest, allowing unique opportunities such as being able to publish student work. Students also have the option of taking classes from Mira Costa Community College on the CCA campus, available after school. CCA also offers a variety of elective classes not traditionally taught in public schools including American Sign Language, Japanese, Film and Society, Advanced Topics (math theories and phenomenons), Anatomy and Physiology, Science and Research, Environmental Science, Stage Craft, Music Theater production, Rock Band, Surf and Lifesaving, Recording Arts, Interior Design, and Fashion Design. Although Canyon Crest Academy sponsors many sports teams, there is no football team, and there are no plans to add one. Students wishing to be involved in high school football typically enroll in nearby Torrey Pines High School.
Canyon Crest Academy is located at 5951 Village Center Loop Road, in Carmel Valley and is a member of the San Dieguito Union High School District. Students come to Canyon Crest Academy from middle schools such as Carmel Valley Middle School, Rancho Santa Fe Middle School and Earl Warren in Solana Beach.
Below are links to the following:
About Canyon Crest Academy
Canyon Crest Academy Incoming Student Information
Canyon Crest Academy Academic Calendar of Events
Canyon Crest Academy Daily Bulletins & News
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Copyright © 2008 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved.
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