Welcome to the Best High School Program

My name is Dana Moen, Principal of Classical Academy High School (CAHS). I am honored to serve as principal of this distinguished high school. I want each student to know they are loved and belong at CAHS. We are passionate about partnering with parents to provide the best education possible so that students become successful thinkers, communicators, and achievers. We offer a rigorous and flexible academic program that meets the University of California A-G requirements. As a Distinguished, Gold Ribbon, California public charter school, CAHS provides a nurturing environment teaching students to work hard, live pure, lead with courage, and honor each other while preparing students for college, career, and citizenship. CAHS has been recognized by Newsweek magazine as the 136th best school in the nation for preparing students for college and number one in San Diego as the best high school for homebuyers. Classical Academy High School is located in downtown Escondido, is one mile from the 78 and 15 freeways, and is within easy walking distance from the Sprinter station on Valley Parkway.
To schedule a tour of our campus, call (760) 480-9845
Dana Moen
Principal
Program Overview

CAHS offers a flexible academic program with various college preparatory, advanced placement, and elective courses. Current advanced placement (AP) studio courses include World History, US History, Government, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Language and Composition, Language and Literature, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Drawing, 2D/3D Art and Design, and Spanish. (Additional AP courses are offered in our Personalized Learning program.) Elective courses include sports medicine, human body systems, art, graphic design, photography, video production, yearbook, journalism, drama, band, choir, band, play production, dance, engineering, leadership, SAT prep, woodshop, life skills, and others. Students also have the opportunity to take online courses through our Personalized Learning campus or may take courses at a local community college.
CAHS Studio courses follow the quarter system. This allows students to focus on 3-4 courses at one time. Most courses are “accelerated,” covering a year’s worth of content in 18 weeks. Yearlong courses include all levels of math, advanced placement courses, physical education courses, and electives.
Program Options

Classical Academy partners with parents to prepare students for “College, Career, and Citizenship.” Students have the flexibility to choose a program that best fits their learning style. CAHS offers various programs across two different campuses:
Classical Academy High School - Studio Campus
4 Days on Campus
The Studio Program is designed to serve students who would like to attend class in a traditional classroom setting four days per week (Tuesday – Friday) in an accelerated classroom environment. Teachers use lectures, small group interactions, labs, field trips, and projects to deliver an engaging and rigorous curriculum. Students in this program agree to exhibit respectful conduct and academic responsibility, including the timely completion of quality work and daily attendance. All core classes except math and Advanced Placement (AP) are taught in an accelerated format of 18 weeks.
Classical Academy High School - Personalized Learning Campus
3-Day Workshops - Virtual Program - 5-Day Independent Study
Students at the Personalized Learning Campus have flexibility in blending classroom time and independent study options with college prep coursework while maintaining respectful conduct, academic integrity, and the timely completion of quality work. Students enrolled in any programs offered at the Personalized Learning Campus are part of Classical Academy High School, including all campus sports, activities, and events.
Our Three Day Workshops Program allows students to attend a typical high school setting on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Our curriculum is provided via the Summit Learning platform and offers rigorous college preparatory coursework. Workshops include A-G UC Doorways approved curriculum and Advanced Placement classes taught by Credentialed subject-area teachers. Each student is assigned a 15-minute check-in every week.
Our Virtual Program 2.0 offers online and virtual instruction with credentialed teachers for support. Our college preparatory curriculum is provided to students via the Summit Learning platform, which is available 24/7 for flexibility and scheduling. Daily Zoom classes are held three days a week with credentialed teachers on a schedule for core classes. Students work under the guidance of a Credentialed subject-area teacher and follow a rigorous curriculum that meets UC and CSU A-G guidelines. All teachers will be available to the student via Schoology, Summit Feedback, and Virtual Office Hours on Friday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. They can check in with their Cohort Teacher for updates and with their classroom teachers for direct assistance. Each student will meet with their Cohort Teacher for a 15-minute check-in every week.
Our Five Day Independent Study Program is a full homeschool program where the parent is the primary educator. An Educational Specialist will assist the parent with choosing curricula. As the primary educator, the parent will teach the curriculum, grade all student work, and provide documentation to the Education Specialist to support the student’s progress. A CAHS transcript will be issued for completed coursework if the student meets all the independent study requirements. Non-A-G.
Student Life
CAHS provides a rich variety of activities in which students can connect with each other and the community. Activities include sports, clubs, dance, cheer, flag team, debate, journalism (yearbook and news publications), robotics, Academic League, musical theater, choir, school dances, and a variety of ASB-sponsored events. The student culture at CAHS is remarkably accepting, nurturing, inclusive, and wholesome, and all school events are designed to help students engage with each other in safe and supervised environments. All students are encouraged to give back to their communities and are required to complete 37.5 community service hours each year that they are enrolled at CAHS.
Robotics
CAHS provides various activities where students can connect and the community. Activities include sports, clubs, dance, cheer, flag team, debate, journalism (yearbook and news publications), robotics, Academic League, musical theater, choir, school dances, and a variety of ASB-sponsored events. The student culture at CAHS is remarkably accepting, nurturing, inclusive, and wholesome, and all school events are designed to help students engage with each other in safe and supervised environments. All students are encouraged to give back to their communities and must complete 37.5 community service hours each year they are enrolled at CAHS.
CAHS Robotics Club (a.k.a. Team 3021: “The Agency”):
The CAHS Robotics Club consists of students dedicated to establishing and enhancing their skill sets and knowledge bases in industrial robotics. An Advisor and several mentors work side-by-side with the students to guide their efforts to complete real-world projects that apply robotics to actual problems and issues that cobots (collaborative robots) can address. The CAHS Robotics Club is open to any CAHS students interested in participating and willing to contribute their time and effort. Skills acquired during the year include computer-aided design, programming, 3D printing, machining, wiring, grant-writing, and team logistics. Currently, the Robotics Club meets at the CAHS campus on Monday afternoons/evenings during the school year (subject to change).
Engineering Courses (Introductory and Advanced):
In addition to this after-school program, CAHS offers introductory Engineering (CAD/Fusion) and Advanced Engineering (Coding/Java) electives courses on campus. These two courses are open to all students, with no prerequisites or prior knowledge. If you would like more information, contact the current CAHS Robotics Advisor.
Band
Classical Academy High School offers the following band and music programs.
Band/Advanced Band
The Caiman Corps is a fully-featured instrumental music program that performs at pep rallies, home football games, and local and state competitions. The Caiman Corps has competed at the California State Band Championships and was a 2021 State Finalist taking 11th place. In the Winter and Spring, the program shifts to a combination of Jazz Band and Symphonic Orchestra programming. The band is offered as a performing arts class during the school day. Members are encouraged to explore a variety of instruments and are welcome to participate without previous experience.
Drumline
Classical Academy High School’s Drumline is a competitive ensemble of marching drums, mallet keyboards, synthesizers, and guitars. The drumline competes in tournaments through the American Drum Line Association. This program is open to any student from any Classical or Coastal Academy campus through workshops and auditions each December.
Choir
The Caiman Choir Singers learn music reading, vocal techniques, and performance concepts and participate in performances and concerts throughout the year. This program is open to students from both CAHS campuses.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum
Curricular Philosophy
CAHS believes the visual and performing arts possess inherent value essential in creating well-rounded students with a complete education. We believe students should be given the opportunity to think like artists, just as they should be able to approach the world mathematically, scientifically, historically, and linguistically. CAHS instruction follows the CA State Standards for artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing, connections/applications, and the Common Core Standards for reading, writing, speaking, and listening. CAHS VAPA courses provide students with an academically enriching and rigorous study of the arts.
Minimum Graduation Requirement: 10 credits (Elective or A-G)
A-G Requirement: 10 credits (A-G only)
College Prep (A-G) Approved Courses:
Art 1
Art 2
AP Studio Art (Yearlong)
Dance 1
Dance 2
Performance Dance
Graphic Design
Intro to Art History
Drama
Pep Band (Offered at PLC)
Advanced Band (Offered at PLC)
Photography
Video Production
Other VAPA Elective Courses (non A-G):
Audio-Visual Production
Advanced Art (Yearlong)
Advanced Drama
Advanced Video Production
Stagecraft
Woodshop
Advanced Woodshop
Clubs
The Associated Student Body organizes and approves clubs that allow students to meet and gather around a particular interest with a faculty advisor. CAHS typically has 30 clubs meeting throughout the year on various days of the week. This list may change or grow as the school year begins.
Club Rush Day allows all approved clubs to promote and recruit new members. This event is held within the first two weeks of the school year. For Club questions and approval, please contact the current ASB Advisor.
Athletics
The Caiman Way – Philosophy of Athletics
“The Caiman Way” philosophy of athletics focuses more on character development than the game's final score. Caiman athletics are characterized by FUN, FITNESS, FRIENDSHIPS, and FUTURE. Athletes are meant to experience FUN while becoming physically FIT, building lifelong FRIENDSHIPS and preparing for their FUTURE. Athletes are taught to work hard, live pure, lead with courage, honor their teams, and be committed to their sport. Athletic competition allows students to learn the values of discipline, commitment, respect, and hard work. Classical Academy High School’s coaches recognize that athletics is a platform to impact students' lives. “The Caiman Way” allows student-athletes to apply the lessons and values learned in high school athletics outside the athletic field. We hope to partner with parents to help impact young men and women to make a positive contribution to their community long after their time in high school sports is over.
Please follow the link to the updated list of sports this year!
Student Leadership
The Associated Student Body (ASB) is the student-led leadership team whose primary responsibility is to promote school spirit, develop leadership skills, and provide relevant school activities. ASB sponsors various events throughout the year that allow students to participate while developing social skills and healthy relationships. ASB-sponsored events include spirit days, dances, events, student club promotion and management, and many community service and outreach projects. ASB students are elected every spring by their fellow students after going through an application and interview process. For more information, please contact Corie Shields at cshields@classicalacademy.com. Students not elected into the ASB may enroll in the Leadership Development course, which focuses on early leadership development in preparation for future opportunities on campus. Juniors and seniors may also apply to Link Crew, a group of upperclassmen dedicated to mentoring and supporting incoming freshmen during their first year of high school. For more information on Link Crew, please contact Chris Minkoff at cminkoff@classicalacademy.com or Shanda Lee at slee@classicalacademy.com.
Special Education
Classical Academy High School Department of Special Education’s mission ensures that children with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). We work with families, students, teachers, and other professionals to promote student success through individualized learning and support. Classical Academy High School is committed to serving the needs of all students. Our schools believe that the Least Restrictive Environment begins in the general education classroom/setting for all students, and supplemental aids and services are added to students’ education settings according to their individual needs. Students with learning or behavioral disabilities are provided a comprehensive range of services as specified in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Classical Academy High School Special Education program includes various services for eligible students under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
4 Year College Acceptances
Grade Change
Due to the pandemic, the Education Code provides some students an opportunity to catch up. These changes include the option to change a transcript letter grade to Pass or No Pass for classes taken during 2020-2021 and possibly retake a grade level. For the 2020-21 through 2023-24 school year, certain post secondary institutions, including the ones listed here, will accept, for admission purposes, a transcript with a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade. This change will not negatively affect your child’s grade point average (GPA). However, please be advised that some colleges, including those in other states, may not accept a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade for admission purposes. We recommend you check with specific colleges your student may be interested in before requesting this transcript change.
If you have additional questions, please contact Elenna Uribe at euribe@classicalacademy.com.