Cottonwood College Prep Academy: A Hybrid High School Pathway of The Cottonwood School

We pride ourselves on being an interdisciplinary, project-based, Montessori-inspired pathway of TCS that encourages
exploration, collaboration, and creativity. We serve El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Cameron Park, Granite Bay, Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, and Placerville.

School Information

Learn more about what makes Cottonwood College Prep Academy a great place to get an education.

College and Career Center

Get the information and tools to apply to college or prepare for a career after high school.

Design Thinking

Design thinking in a high school involves a problem-solving approach where students empathize with users, define issues, ideate solutions, prototype designs, and test them iteratively, fostering creativity and innovation within the educational setting. It encourages students to tackle challenges collaboratively, think critically, and apply interdisciplinary skills to address real-world problems effectively.

Montessori quote

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.

CCPA Calendar of Events

Fall Break

CCPA

Fall Break, no school.

Fall Break

CCPA

Fall Break, no school.

Cottonwood College Prep Academy:

A Hybrid High School Pathway of The Cottonwood School

Cottonwood College Prep Academy (CCPA) is an optional hybrid high school pathway of TCS located in the Buckeye Union School District in El Dorado Hills. CCPA is a hybrid pathway that includes in-person instruction in English, Science, Social Science, Video Productions, and mandatory online courses in Mathematics and World Language. Our pathway incorporates Design Thinking, emphasizing the creation and testing of innovative solutions to tackle complex, unfamiliar challenges. Students will actively participate in hands-on activities such as prototyping, robotics, Model UN simulations, and theater as well as engage in mentorships and internships to further develop their skills and real-world experience. 

What’s Happening

Our students craft engaging “SLO Down” slides each week, by each selecting one of our Student Learner Outcomes (SLOs) as a framework for the content of their slide. Each slide spotlights the SLO as it relates to a current event or a personal interest. These slides serve as a visually captivating platform, illustrating the richness of our educational experiences!

Step into the vibrancy of daily life at CCPA. In our state-of-the art facility students engage in interdisciplinary projects that are designed to assist students in developing their collaborative and critical-thinking skills. These photos highlight the collaborative nature of student projects and our facility. 

CCPA is open for tours

CCPA is thrilled to announce that we are now offering personalized tours to families with children of qualifying ages who are interested in enrolling in our school. These tours are designed to provide prospective families with an immersive experience, allowing them to...

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New Episode Alert!

Tune into the new episode of the Cottonwood Counseling Podcast to learn how to enroll in college courses as a high school student! The link to the podcast can be found under the "Counseling" tab.

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Introducing Video Production

Introducing CCPA's latest addition to our dynamic curriculum - the Video Productions class! Launched in January 2024 after winter break, this exciting course is already making waves under the guidance of CCPA’s newest member, Jessi Chapman. With a fresh perspective...

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CCPA Swag Store Year-End Sale

The CCPA Swag Store Year-End Sale is live! The sale runs from January 30 until February 13. Use the discount code SPIRIT213 at checkout to receive 25% off all merchandise and free shipping on orders over $60. To access the store, click on the “Swag Store” link under...

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