At our Montessori-inspired high school, we love to watch our students’ creativity fly by planning events for the school. This spirit day was no exception. The Leadership Club took on planning a fun, fancy day complete with decorations, props, and games for everyone to enjoy. These students were able to exemplify their wonderful collaboration, innovation, and organization skills to create a memorable event for the whole CCPA community.

Embark on a transformative experience at the 3rd annual Counselor Spring Institute: C.A.R.E. – The Counselor’s Compass. This event is not just a conference; it’s a unique opportunity to Connect, Advocate, Relate, and Educate. Join us in this dynamic space where we aim to foster unity, advocate passionately, build supportive relationships, and continuously develop skills. Don’t miss this opportunity where counseling becomes a force for positive change, inspiring limitless possibilities for students.

The event will be held at Sacramento State University. The cost is $329, which includes the conference, continental breakfast, lunch, and parking. To register, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit BIT.LY/25CSIREG.

At CCPA, our students are always finding creative ways to work together, and our Ping-Pong Club recently showcased their teamwork in an unforgettable way! Rather than submitting individual entries for the school talent show, part of the club decided to join forces and create a group video submission. Their submission combined their shared love of ping-pong with humor and some impressive trick shots. This decision reflects the strong sense of community we’ve built at our Montessori-inspired charter high school, where students genuinely enjoy collaborating and supporting one another.

To make their vision a reality, one of our teachers stepped in to film and edit the submission video, ensuring it was polished and fun. This kind of teamwork between students and staff is what makes our hybrid high school in El Dorado Hills so special. At CCPA, we believe learning extends beyond the classroom, fostering relationships and creativity through activities like this. We’re so proud of our Ping-Pong Club for showcasing their talent and spirit in such a fun and collaborative way!

Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of student agency, where students take an active role in their education through intentional choices, responsibility, and reflection. A CCPA embodies this philosophy through its Student-Led Conferences, which set our charter high school apart from other high schools by giving students the opportunity to showcase their growth and independence. These conferences allow students to take ownership of their learning and demonstrate their ability to lead and reflect.

Student-led Conferences at our College Prep Academy High School are a celebration of individual progress and achievement. We are excited to see students take the spotlight and share their hard work, perseverance, and aspirations for the future, embodying the essence of student agency in action.

The results are in, and the winning name was revealed on Tuesday! If you haven’t already, head over to our Instagram (@cottonwoodcollegeprep) to see which name came out on top. Trust us — you don’t want to miss it. This whole campaign has been such a blast and just one of the many ways we love keeping our school community engaged and excited. Thanks to everyone who voted, and stay tuned for even more fun events coming your way!

Our Leadership Club brought superhero-level creativity to CCPA with their amazing photobooth for Marvel vs. DC Spirit Day! Students transformed a corner of our school into an epic photo zone, complete with handmade props featuring iconic superhero symbols, masks, and speech bubbles. The team also set up professional-style lighting and a camera to ensure everyone’s superhero poses looked their best. Throughout the day, students gathered in the booth with friends, striking heroic poses and creating fun, unforgettable memories that captured the excitement of Spirit Day. It was a true community moment, filled with laughter and a lot of superhero flair.

At our Montessori-inspired charter high school in El Dorado County, we love seeing our Leadership Club take charge of events like these to bring students together. By organizing creative, hands-on activities like the photo booth, our students develop teamwork, project management, and event-planning skills — all while having fun. Whether you’re rooting for Marvel or cheering for DC, the day was all about celebrating creativity and school spirit. Thanks again to our Leadership Club’s efforts! Our students left with fun memories and silly pictures to look back on for years to come!

Charter schools are known for their adaptability and student-centered focus.  This flexibility allows for the integration of diverse educational models, such as Montessori and project-based interdisciplinary studies. Charter schools foster innovation, giving educators the freedom to implement cutting-edge teaching strategies that keep students engaged.

As you explore options for high school this innovative mix might just be the key to unlocking your student’s full potential. Come explore CCPA, a charter high school that incorporates Montessori strategies and interdisciplinary studies while ensuring all students are college and career-ready upon graduation.

“The Cottonwood College Prep Academy (CCPA) is a Charter High School with Montessori-inspired education as the foundation for project and student-based learning. These principles empower the learner by fostering independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning- qualities that build a strong foundation for CCPA high school graduates and ensure a successful transition to college and beyond.”

– Norman Lorenz  (The Cottonwood School Board President)

At the heart of this project is an essential question: “How can raised bed gardens be used to promote community engagement, environmental stewardship, and food security?” By tackling this question, our students are learning how sustainable practices can strengthen communities and create a connection to the environment. This garden project embodies our commitment to interdisciplinary learning, blending science, design thinking, and social sciences to help students develop a deeper understanding of their impact on the world around them. We’re excited to watch them dig in — literally — and bring their thoughtful plans (and plants) to life!

On Wednesday, our 9th and 10th-grade students took part in a Model UN Conference as part of their semester-long “Growing Solutions” project. The conference focused on food security in Venezuela, with each student representing a country and engaging in thoughtful debate on the issue. Students were challenged to propose solutions aligned with their country’s perspective. In preparation for the event, they conducted in-depth research on various aspects of their assigned nations, including past food crises, their country’s role within the United Nations, and its voting history on global issues. Students thoroughly enjoyed debating the issue of food security and collaborating to develop group solutions to address the challenge. 

This is what CCPA is all about! As a school grounded in project-based learning, we constantly seek innovative ways to immerse students in hands-on experiences. Whether they’re hosting a mock election, building garden beds, or engaging in a Model UN conference, our students are committed to creating meaningful work and turning their ideas into reality.

This kind of hands-on, immersive project is exactly what we strive for at CCPA. We believe that learning should be engaging, dynamic, and thought-provoking, and this criminology activity showcased just that. By incorporating interactive assignments like this, we’re able to cultivate a passion for learning that goes beyond traditional methods, encouraging students to think critically, collaborate, and have fun while mastering new concepts. It’s all part of how we create a learning environment that brings subjects to life and prepares students for success.