Our School - CCA at a Glance

History of Cherry Creek Academy

Cherry Creek Academy (CCA) is a parent-governed charter school founded in 1995. CCA was created by a group of parents from throughout the Cherry Creek School District to provide a higher quality education using “core values” such as Core Knowledge© curriculum, phonics, letter grades, textbooks, strong discipline, character education, and uniforms. Classes began in September 1995 with a full enrollment in grades K-6. CCA has matured into a stable, high-quality K-8 educational institution and will continue to be one of the leading schools in the charter school movement.

Academically Rigorous Curriculum

CCA is an academically rigorous charter school serving grades K-8. Students attend school for a cumulative 1,274 hours each school year, averaging several days longer than schools within the Cherry Creek School District and the state of Colorado. CCA recognizes quarterly academic excellence for honors and high honors in ceremonies held each semester. Students earn high honors for receiving all A’s while honors are earned for receiving all A’s and two B's.

CCA implements the Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum©, which provides a clear outline of content to be learned grade by grade so that knowledge, language, and skills build cumulatively from year to year. This sequential building of knowledge not only ensures that students enter each new grade ready to learn, but also prevents the repetitions and gaps that so often characterize current education.  The Core Knowledge Sequence Curriculum© provides a detailed outline of what is to be taught in language arts, history, geography, math (Saxon Math program), science, and fine arts.

For more information about Core Knowledge at CCA, please click here. 

CCA also uses Into Math, implemented in the Fall of 2024, Into Math™ is a Grades K-8 mathematics program that uses collaborative learning tasks and differentiation to support students' learning progression. 

Gifted & Talented

CCA offers a Gifted & Talented program for our students. Our school works closely with the Cherry Creek School District, CCA staff, and parents to identify students that would benefit from our program.

For more information about our Gifted & Talented program at CCA please click here or contact Seth Geltman at sgeltman@cherrycreekacademy.org. Cherry Creek Academy is lucky enough to have two full-time gifted and talented teachers. Our other teacher is Carol Redmond, who you can reach at credmond@cherrycreekacademy.org.

Specials Classes

CCA students are provided with a comprehensive and well-rounded program of specials classes including:

Art

Visual Art at CCA focuses on Art History, Art Production, Art Techniques, and Materials as well as Art Criticism. Our subject comes from the Core Knowledge Sequence. Students participate in the K-8 art program on a regular weekly basis. K-6 participates in art twice weekly and 7-8 participates once weekly. We have a K-1 Art teacher and a 2nd - 8th grade Art teacher on staff. 

Art production focuses on using the principles and elements of design through a variety of media to create finished pieces. Our students are taught to be artists and to value the work that they create. Through art, we explore communication, aesthetics, culture, and history. We put our imaginations to work and develop skills and techniques through a wide range of art materials, 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional media. We incorporate a variety of disciplines, including math and writing, in addition to hands-on art production to immerse the children in the Visual Arts. CCA participates in a variety of art shows throughout the school year to emphasize the nature of Visual Arts. Our students learn the value of art from a young age and are proud to call themselves artists.

Music

The music department at CCA serves every grade and strives to develop proficient and competent young men and women in preparation for high-school programs and post-secondary life. Using the Core Knowledge Curriculum to meet state and national standards, students realize music performance vocally and on instruments, compose and improvise music lines, identify and describe various composers and their music from each era of music history, analyze the quality of music performances, read and perform traditional music notation, explore advanced facets of music theory, and demonstrate various other proficiencies and competencies.

Students are provided with opportunities to pursue instrumental music in a band and orchestra and concentrated vocal performance in a middle-school choir. Expectations for students' accomplishment at grade levels are high and students emerge well-prepared for their future endeavors.

Computers/Technology

 At CCA, we use computers to help students develop their understanding of Core Knowledge topics while they gain experience with computer techniques. Our students use desktop publishing, coding, website design, presentations, video productions, musical compositions, animations, and various multimedia methods to creatively explore and present concepts from their Core Knowledge curriculum. This hands-on approach is designed to help students understand classroom topics from a new perspective while developing technical proficiency at the same time.

Library/Media

The  CCA Library is a central part of the school and is located appropriately in the center of the building. The librarian meets with kindergarten through first-grade students twice per week and second through eighth-grade students once per week. Younger students participate in author studies, learn reading strategies and comprehension skills, and read stories that connect to the Core Knowledge curriculum. Older students learn comprehension and research skills. All students are given the opportunity to check out books once per week. They use computers to provide access to the library catalog, Accelerated Reader quizzes, the Internet, and online learning. The library's role is to enhance student success and encourage students to develop a life-long love of reading.

Physical Education 

Physical Education at CCA provides an environment where students can learn through physical activity. Student engagement in many different activities, not just sports, allows students to broaden their horizons on what physical activity is and why it is essential. The mission is to empower all students to sustain a lifelong desire to be physically active as a foundation for a healthy life. Students will learn through several activities, such as team building, cooperation games, Volleyball, Basketball, Football, Gaga Ball, Baseball, Ultimate Frisbee, and more!

Character Development

CCA implements a character education program. The school emphasizes the character traits of compassion, diligence, humility, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and responsibility. CCA follows a common language regarding character education and rewards students for their efforts at personal character excellence through Eagle Honors awards.

Extracurricular Activities

CCA offers various extracurricular activities, including foreign languages, chess, and choir.  

CCA also offers students a robust athletics program. For more information regarding CCA's athletics program, please click here or email athletics@cherrycreekacademy.org.  

Colorado League of Charter Schools

CCA is a proud Colorado League of Charter Schools (CLCS) member. This league is a membership organization that supports charter schools at the state level by providing resources, advocacy, public relations assistance, etc.