Our Mission

Mission

Creative Arts Charter School engages K-8 students in an equitable and academically rigorous education through arts integrated and interdisciplinary study. Our public school community cultivates curiosity and joy. Students are empowered to develop a sense of self, responsibility, and advocacy to effect and create change in their communities and the world.

Past, Present, Future

CACS was founded in 1994 by a small group of families and teachers who shared a vision of an arts-rich, hands-on curriculum based on the best educational research and progressive teaching practices. They had seen other schools’ attempts to innovate falter when faced with bureaucratic obstacles and resistance to change. But they persevered in a national climate that alternately supported and rejected innovation in individual school settings. And today our students benefit from a challenging academic environment that includes dedicated dance, visual arts, and music teachers.

Initially focused on Kindergarten through 3rd grade, the school’s scope was extended through the 8th grade in 1997. Creative Arts’ first graduates, the Class of 2002, enrolled in a range of high schools throughout San Francisco. Building on our success, the Board of Directors voted in 2012, with the support of the staff and community, to expand the student body to 432 by 2016. To reach this goal, the school will admit two Kindergarten classes each year, as well as an additional sixth grade class in 2016. By 2016, each grade will contain two classes of students.

Creative Arts continues to evolve in breadth and scale. Originally run almost exclusively by our Board and a long list of volunteers, the school now benefits from an administrative team that includes the director, director of operations, director of arts programming, lower school administrator, middle school administrator, office manager, and administrative assistant. We currently employ 17 classroom teachers; music, dance, theater, and visual arts instructors; two PE teachers/athletic coaches, a counselor, and librarian. Our special education team is made up of a resource specialists, three paraprofessionals, and a speech therapist.

CACS is required to apply to the San Francisco Board of Education for charter renewal every five years. At our most recent renewal in November 2013, the school received a unanimous vote of approval. Please see our Charter Proposal and accompanying Appendices for more information on our recent successes as well as our plans for the next five years.

For a summary of last year, please see our School Accountability Report Card.