Academics

Upper School

CA’s program for Grades 9 through 12 features an innovative and dynamic liberal arts and sciences curriculum full of stimulating electives, special programs, independent studies, and advanced courses to prepare students for lifelong intellectual engagement and success as global citizens.
Small classes and an exceptional Upper School faculty—80 percent of whom hold master's and/or doctoral degrees—produce a learning environment that values and rewards intellectual curiosity, originality and authenticity, critical thinking, problem solving, self-advocacy, and collaboration. We place a premium on the development of resilience and resourcefulness—21st century skills that help prepare our students for an ever-changing world—and we are intentional about those practices that encourage integrity and responsibility in students.

The breadth and depth of Upper School course offerings are enriched by the REDI Lab program for Juniors and Seniors. CA also has a dedicated Computer Science/Engineering & Design department with an array of courses that engage students in hands-on problem solving and design thinking projects. Raether Library is a a hub for reading, research, and curiosity.

Exceptional opportunities in arts, athletics, and experiential education enhance the rigorous academic curriculum. Theater and dance productions, art shows, and music recitals all provide creative outlets that encourage our students to cultivate their own sense of artistic expression. A wide range of athletic options helps students build stamina, skill, and confidence while learning teamwork and sportsmanship. Experiential education offers students greater insight into themselves and others, as they venture into the outdoors, engage in service projects, and travel and connect with others around the country and the world.

We offer a diverse range of courses oriented around our Six Cs, and a curriculum designed to provide opportunities for deep learning that allows students ever-increasing ownership over their education as they mature. CA guides 100% of graduates to four-year colleges and universities, covering the U.S. and some of the best institutions abroad.

At CA, academic excellence is not defined by the volume of work a student can manage but by the depth with which they’re able to explore, their ability to apply newfound knowledge in novel ways, and the agility of knowing what skill to use when. We treasure intellectual curiosity and the development of critical thinking.

The student-teacher relationship is at the heart of all our academic endeavors; our students thrive in an intellectually inspiring, warm culture shaped by educators who understand that authentic learning happens best when students feel genuinely connected to the adults who teach them.

Max Delgado

Upper School Principal

Upper School Principal Max Delgado joins CA having most recently served in the same capacity at Saint Paul Academy and Summit School, an independent school in St. Paul, Minn., where he had the pleasure of working on the design and opening of a new science and math wing and a renovated humanities wing, along with the more recent challenge of coordinating and implementing his division’s response to COVID-19. Prior to that, he had served as Dean of Students at SPA, and was the Executive Director of LearningWorks, a breakthrough program at The Blake School, for high-potential Minneapolis middle school students, that also served as a professional development program for aspiring student teachers. At Blake, he also served as a Dean and was active in organizing and supporting various affinity groups for students and families of color. Delgado holds a BA from Fordham University in New York and an MFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco.

Upper School News

CA Mission Statement: Creating Curious, Kind, and Courageous Learners and Leaders

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