Children’s Creative and Performing Arts Academy

I’m a recent graduate of this school and I feel that some of these reviews don’t do the school justice so I’d like to clear some issues presented in these reviews.
CCPAA has been open since 1981, and was forced to move from a beautiful unused school campus by the city in 2005 into it’s current location, a small building in North Park, San Diego, which some deem as an «unsafe» area. When I was little perhaps it wasn’t the safest, but North Park has improved dramatically in recent years and I feel there are no safety issues at this school.
There is more emphasis on academics than arts, especially once the student moves up to middle and high school, but the school director, Janet Cherif, makes sure that every student is taken care of, has a good balance of artistic knowledge and academic knowledge, and are prepared to move onto college.
The middle and high school is mostly comprised of international students, which some complain about because it makes the classes «slower», but all students are there to learn and they all work very hard and the classes stay at a fast pace. Furthermore, teachers always make a bond with all of their students, no matter what grade. I don’t think I’ve ever had a teacher at CCPAA that I wasn’t good friends with; that is, I would always feel comfortable talking to them if I had a problem and I formed pretty good bonds with my high school teachers and could always go to them for help.
Anyway, at first glance, the school may seem quite disorganized, but I honestly think the school is still trying to get settled into it’s new and nontraditional location and campus. It is mostly up to the students and the ASB to make the most of it, from events to school traditions, such as fundraising, dances, etc.
My best suggestions and tips when considering this school for your child–
Preschool/​Elementary
–the preschool is separate from the main campus, as in across the alley, and is a great place for your child to have an educational and fun starts. It’s definitely worth the tuition and the teachers are very good.
–the elementary is also good for a great academic foundation if you would like your child to improve and move ahead in the main subjects: math and language arts. It also is a good place for your child to make friends. Students have uniform after third grade, but it is, well, uniform. No child is favored over another when it comes to school dress code. Most children dislike dress code, but even from a young person such as myself I would agree that it does more help than harm for your child and teaches them a sort of discipline they need later in life for the workplace, etc.
Middle School/​High School
–If you want a more social focus in your child’s schooling, then I would perhaps suggest another school. It’s very small and the majority of students are elementary schoolers. The middle school is especially small. If you send your child here for elementary and would like to see more of a social setting, I would suggest sending them up to 8^th grade so they have a better academic foundation and then send them to a larger high school to prepare them for college.
–The school director was a graduate of music theory from Juilliard, so if your child has a talent in music or would like to pursue something of that sort, then this is a great school to attend. The director is very intelligent and will definitely help your child excel in their reading/​singing/​playing/​composing skills.
–For the most part, the child does not choose their classes. The director creates their schedule to give them all their required a-​g courses (for the UC system) plus some extra credits, which students can usually choose (i.e. afternoon electives).
–As mentioned above, the student population is LARGELY international students, mostly from Asia and a few here and there from Europe. I think this gives students a chance to gain a more diverse perspective in life and help them learn skills to work with those who are still learning English, so I really see this as a plus. If this bothers you for some reason, then this school is probably not for you.
–Every student is expected/​required to be accepted to at least one 4-​year college or university to be able to graduate, so going to college is almost guaranteed. Janet sits down one-​on-​one with each student and helps them with applications and counsels them so they can succeed after high school. This is a MAJOR advantage as Janet has a lot of experience helping students get into college or university.
Other than that, I would say that my education at CCPAA was very satisfactory, and I was able to graduate in 3 years very easily, whereas it’s much harder in public school. I would have never been able to succeed without all the teachers and Janet. I find this school a very good alternative to public school, especially if your child is struggling with emotional/​behavioral issues that require more attention e.g. time away from school.
Okay, sorry, I’ll wrap this up. I loved CAPA!

Parents of special needs children be warned!
I am writing a review of the schools director, Janet Cherif, who was not only incredibly unprofessional in her handling of our situation, but her actions were actually illegal. My child and I toured her school. She told me they had openings at that time and would love to take our son. We were very excited to enroll. I informed her that my son has epilepsy and, in a very rare and unpredictable circumstance, MAY need the teacher to administer diastat (a life saving medication) should a seizure continue for more than 5 minutes. I assured her this had never happened before but because there was always the risk, my child does not go anywhere without this medication. She told me she would have to talk to her insurance company and get back to me. Which she did not. All attempts to contact her, either through email or phone, were not returned. She was more willing to deny my child an education than to administer a life saving medication. Which is illegal by the way. My child has a protected RIGHT to a preschool education. It was beyond heartbreaking to have to tell my child that he couldn’t go to preschool after all. It felt horrible to be cowardly dismissed and DISCRIMINATED against.
Incidentally, my son did NOT have any seizures at all, much less one over 5 minutes, during that time. Not that that’s the point. I certainly hope nobody at her school ever needs CPR or an epi-​pen.

Only worth one star solely because of the horrid director Janet! Which unfortunately you have to deal with a lot. I have a son in preschool there and I’m about to take him out even though he has made some great friends. I’ve been very pleased with his teachers and his overall education. Which is why I added the second star. He’s been in a full year, but once a month I have to step in to the main office (separate from where the pre school is) the office is dingy, unorganized, dirty and manned by the worst possible Cruella Divile type Director. She is not customer service focused, or «what’s best for the child» focused. She only cares of what’s easy for her.
I don’t know how they have kept their doors open. Their website is archaic. You can’t pay the pricey tuition online. Or in person with credit/​debit card. Only check or cash is accepted, since I don’t use checks I had to walk around carrying $ 1,000+ once a month. Their receipts are hand written and they’re books are kept in actual notebooks with scribbles.
I’ve overheard her speaking to other kids and have been appalled. My hope is that she never has talked to my little four year old like that!!!
I’m sure there are better schools out there, good luck! I’m searching for one now!

My daughter went to CAPAA for 5^th and 6^th grades.
At first everything was fine, although the teacher was marginal at best. While there was heavy emphasis on wearing school «uniforms», my daughter quickly learned that certain kids were treated more favorably by the director and never wore school uniforms. The students were apathetic, parents unfriendly. The teachers were kind, however, and always readily available to visit.
In 6^th grade, my daughter had an experienced, quality teacher, yet the director didn’t like her and was always complaining about her and threatening to fire her.
By this time, the kids who were favored by the director felt it was fine to berate and bully my daughter, to the point of throwing dirt in her face at PE. Nothing was done. I met with the director and she only gave me excuses. My daughter loved her 6^th grade teacher, was learning and happy, yet the rest of it was too much stress for her on a daily basis. At the end of it all, my daughter got nothing out of these two years except a hatred for dance.
We left in the middle of the year without so much as a Good-​bye from the director.
Janet is good to the favorite families and children but only seems put up with the other children for the money they bring into her pocket.
Teacher turnover here is constant. If the director doesn’t like you, you are relieved of your job.

I came here after dealing with public schools and hearing the whole «attention disorder» garbage.
When I came to met headmistress Janet Cherif, she gave me a tour during school hours. We discussed issues we had with the previous school. It was obvious that she and the teachers get to know the students, as I noticed the interaction between the faculty and students. We liked everyone and were comfortable immediately. My dad was helping me out with transportation etc., thus has come to know the school and remarked «They’re very hands-​on with the kids here.»
The environment and people are diverse, the curriculum includes art, ballet and tap classes (they also begin jazz in 4^th grade) and recitals and drama productions. Students are allowed to progress faster, and we saw tremendous improvement. The kids are remarkably nicer and culturally of a higher calibre than those of public school.
I recommend bringing lunch because buying lunch (they’ll get take-​out: Crazee Burger, Subway etc.) here is expensive. All students can stay in the aftercare until 6p.m. The website information usually needs updating. Spending goes to the whole program and students before the school’s looks.

Stimulating environment with strong empahsis on both academics and the arts.
I spent countless hours researching preschools and Kindergartens for my daughters that would accomodate working parents (i.e., after-​care until at least 6 pm) and finally settled on CCAPAA. My older daughter attended Kindergarten and 1^st grade here, and my younger daughter attended 2 years of preschool here a year ago (Fall 2008 — Spring 2010), and we had a very good experience, so thought I’d write a review.
Lots of positives: small class sizes; strong emphasis on learning (reading, poetry, math, geography, science, etc.), but also strong emphasis on the arts: dance, music, drawing/​painting, theater, language; accomodating to working parents (before/​after care until 6 pm, offer camps for winter/​spring/​summer break, etc); and reasonably priced (especially w/​the sibling discount). Students are able to progress at their own pace, so they don’t get bored.
Ms. Frania Cruz (Kindergarten) and Ms. Renee Price (1^st grade) were amazing teachers, and it was great to have such a small class (9 – 12 kids). I was really impressed by how much my daughter learned and accomplished and the quality of the teaching. I felt it had a «Fame» type vibe — very stimulating, lots of activity (sometimes a bit chaotic); lots of interaction w/​older kids who are doing positive things (learning languages, playing violin, dancing, chess, etc.).
Of course every school has its negatives, but for me they were outweighed by the positives. We have since moved on to our local public school, but I’m very glad my girls had the experiences they did at CCAPPA.