Key Programming

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

We offer Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programming to all students in grades TK-12 through inquiry-based science instruction aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Students also have the opportunity to complete a STEM pathway through Project Lead the Way, which includes:

Interdisciplinary STEM modules in elementary school (Castellanos Campus)
Computer Science, Engineering, and Biomedical Sciences in middle school (Burlington and Eisner Campuses); and
Computer Science in high school (Dalzell Lance Campus)

Ethnic Studies for All

What is Ethnic Studies?

A growing body of research from education scholars shows that an Ethnic Studies pedagogy taught at the K-12 level exposes students to an empowering and academically rigorous curriculum. This curriculum has proven to have positive academic and social benefits to students of all races and ethnicities.

Ethnic Studies incorporates culturally relevant, social justice, community responsive and other pedagogical approaches with a focus on literacy and critical thinking skills. Ethnic Studies has a 50 year history in the United States with high school students in East LA demanding Mexican-American studies in their schools in 1968 and college students in that same year creating the first college Ethnic Studies programs at San Francisco State University.

Click here to learn more about our Ethnics Studies Programming.

Expanded Learning Opportunities

Our Expanded Learning program, Creando Caminos, brings to life our mission of creating literate, critical thinkers, and independent problem solvers who are agents of social justice with sensitivity toward the world around them. We focus on two specific areas: academic intervention to support students in achieving academic excellence and enrichment programs and activities that give students access to content and experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. In our programs, students grapple with rigorous academic content, play sports, take field trips, build robots, experience nature, cook nutrient rich meals, grow fruits and vegetables, play musical instruments, and so much more. Creando Caminos brings joy and challenge to our students every day.

Summer Programming at Camino Nuevo: A Summer of Joyful Learning for TK-7th Grade Students

Summer @ CNCA is a FREE and in-person summer program (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during June and July) at our Burlington, Kayne Siart, Castellanos, and Cisneros campuses. Our summer program is for new or current CNCA students who are in TK-7th Grade.

In partnership with Teach for America and Think Together, Summer @ CNCA includes:

Exceptional Academic Support
Enriching Arts
Athletics
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Student Leadership Opportunities
Snacks and Meals

YOLA at Camino Nuevo

Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) at Camino Nuevo is designed to increase high-quality music education by giving students access to music and the related skills that prepare them for long-term success. YOLA at Camino Nuevo provides free, comprehensive music education to CNCA students in order to foster their cognitive, social-emotional, and personal growth.

Formed in October 2018 in partnership with the LA Philharmonic, the program uses in-school music teachers and Teaching Artists to deliver consistent, sequential music instruction during and after school. Based on El Sistema, the system that formed the LA Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director, Gustavo Dudamel, YOLA at Camino Nuevo is YOLA’s fourth site and the only program of its kind; offering both intensive music training both during and after school.

Our program scaffolds instruction across a TK-12th grade journey. Younger students first learn music fundamentals, progress to playing instruments, and eventually participate in youth orchestra ensembles as middle school and high school students.

Students engage in recitals and performances to showcase their growth. Our program teaches music fundamentals, like counts, notes, and scales, and progresses up to music theory and more advanced playing.

YOLA has taken our accomplished young musicians to experience music at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, London, Tokyo, the Super Bowl, and the National Gallery in Washington D.C. We expect to see our Camino Nuevo musicians on those same stages one day and are proud of our partnership through this program that brings music back to our community.

To learn more about YOLA at Camino Nuevo, contact our Program Director, Jonathan Terry, at [email protected].

Scholarships

Since our first cohort, the Class of 2008, our scholarship program provides CNCA students with funds to help them pay for college costs. Our scholarships help reduce financial barriers that prevent our students from persisting in college and earning their degree.

About CNCA Scholarships

CNCA Scholarships are renewable for 4 years given that recent CNCA high school graduates meet the GPA and enrollment requirements. Last year, we issued over $310,000 in scholarships.
Annually, we award 30 to 40 new scholarships to graduating seniors.
Scholarships are awarded by the Scholarship Committee and Camino Nuevo Charter Academy's dedicated College Success Team.
The College Success Team stays in contact with Scholarship recipients to answer questions, provide guidance, help with Scholarship renewals, and support them as they persist through college to graduation.

Our Scholarships

NOMA Scholarship - $4,000 a year for students pursuing humanities majors

AMA Scholarship - $4,000 a year to high performing students with any major. This program partners with Ready to Succeed to support alumni with career exploration and career transition support

Principal Scholarship - $2,000 a year to students pursuing STEM

PND Scholarship - $2,000 a year for students pursuing any major

Vocational Scholarship - $1,500 a year (2-year award) for students pursuing career or vocational programs

How to Apply

Students at our Camino Nuevo Charter Academy Dalzell Lance High School are eligible to apply to CNCA scholarships during their senior year. Students interested in applying should connect to the College Center and ask for the College Success Team to learn about eligibility requirements and application deadlines.