Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Charter Partnership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CS Arts principal touts rankings, enrollment mix and $280,000 fundraising toward theater upgrades
Summary
Nicole Reid of California School of the Arts told the Duarte Unified board that CS Arts posted test-score gains, strong college placements and steady enrollment including about 10–12% Duarte residents; she said the school has raised roughly $280,000 toward new theater seating and outlined remaining priorities.
Nicole Reid, principal of the California School of the Arts (CS Arts), told the Duarte Unified School District board that the charter campus had a year of "tremendous momentum," including state-recognition measures and gains on the California dashboard.
Reid said CS Arts was recently recognized among the top charter high schools in California and highlighted a 9% jump in science proficiency and a 10% gain in math scores. "That's a reflection of what our partnership with Duarte Unified has made possible," Reid said, adding that the school also posted a 77% belongingness rating on the California Healthy Kids survey and strong college placements for the graduating class of 2026.
The presentation included enrollment and geography data: CS Arts drew students from roughly 99 cities across four counties, and Duarte residents typically comprise about 10–12% of cohort sizes. Reid gave specific counts for recent classes, saying the district contributed 161 students across grades 6–12 last year and projecting 32 Duarte residents in the upcoming freshman class (about 11% of 286).
Reid described school climate and operational work—reduced suspensions through restorative practices, an emphasis on improving math and English outcomes for identified subgroups, and efforts to lower chronic absenteeism (she reported an approximate 11% chronic-absence rate).
On facilities and fundraising, Reid said CS Arts has raised about $280,000 toward improvements to the Duarte Performing Arts Center, primarily for new theater seating. "We're very excited to move forward with that this year," she said.
Board members asked for and received additional breakdowns by grade and where students are coming from. Trustees and speakers from CS Arts emphasized the district–charter partnership as mutually beneficial; board members thanked leaders and community partners for the collaboration.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation; it received the report and proceeded to subsequent agenda items.
