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Design Thinking
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Cottonwood College Prep Academy
An Innovative Public High School in El Dorado Hills
Cottonwood College Prep Academy (CCPA) is a free public charter school located in the Buckeye Union School District in El Dorado Hills.
CCPA’s Montessori-inspired high school offers a hybrid educational program that provides students the experience of learning in a classroom setting while also offering the personalization provided by online learning. Students will take the Concentration’s Course of Study in a classroom setting on the high school campus while taking the other courses using an online platform, all with the support of the school’s teachers and staff.
CCPA Mission and Vision
MISSION (The HOW): CCPA, influenced by Montessori principles, provides an innovative, rigorous, self-exploring education through experiential learning, design thinking, and meaningful interdisciplinary studies cultivating a growth mindset.
VISION (The WHY): CCPA’s vision is to guide our student community to love learning, to profoundly contribute to our diverse world, and to lead lives of achievement.
What’s Happening
Our students craft engaging “PR Package Slides” each week, often using one of our Student Learner Outcomes (SLOs) as a framework for content, to spotlight the vibrant happenings within our school community and keep everyone updated on current events. These slides serve as a visually captivating platform, illustrating the richness of our educational experiences!
Step into the vibrancy of CCPA’s new school facility that we proudly unveiled at the beginning of 2024. Students, faculty, and guests gathered to celebrate this monumental occasion with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony and exploration of state-of-the-art facilities. The photos featured here highlight some of our brand-new spaces designed to encourage creativity, collaboration, and innovation amongst staff and students.
Yearbook Club
Our students at CCPA have taken the initiative to establish a yearbook club after school! This student-led endeavor is a testament to their dedication to capturing the essence of their time together and meaningfully preserving their high school experience. Through the...
Virtual “Ask an Expert” Session hosted by Cal-SOAP
California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) is hosting a series of three "Ask an Expert" sessions. These virtual workshops are open to students, families, and educators who have FAFSA/CADAA questions and want to ask an expert. These sessions are from...
The Roaring 1920s
In an engaging exploration of the past, the 11th and 12th-grade students at CCPA have embarked on an interdisciplinary project delving into the 1920s. Immersing themselves in the sights, sounds, and cultural nuances of this iconic period, the students have chosen...
CCPA Promotional Video
This week marks an exciting milestone for the Video Production students at CCPA, as they embark on the journey of creating the school’s promotional video for enrollment. With creativity, dedication, and teamwork at the forefront, students are poised to showcase the...
The Puppeteers of CCPA
This past week in our English class, students engaged in a creative and hands-on project. They took on the task of creating unique characters, crafting scripts, and bringing their stories to life through puppetry. The classroom was enthusiastic as the kids transformed...