Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Named National Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America
Posted on 02/18/2020
Photo: (L to R) Olivia Mayes, a sophomore, Zach Huseman, a sophomore, and Brooke Roughton, a junior, perform during the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Dinner and the Arts event held in January.Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (CCA) has been named a 2020 National Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. Only a select group of magnet schools across the country earn the Magnet School of Excellence Award. Schools selected are eligible to receive monetary awards and have the opportunity to be named the nation’s top elementary, secondary, or new & emerging magnet school. One of the honored schools will also be selected to win $5,000 and the Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award, which is considered the most prestigious magnet school award in the nation.

Founded in 1998, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts delivers a rigorous academic program with a fine arts magnet theme to over 600 public school students in grades 6-12. Fine arts coursework is tailored to the student’s chosen major, and those include acting, technical theatre, communications, dance, instrumental music, musical theatre, vocal music, or visual arts. Expectations for the performance of students in the artistic and academic programs are equally high, with every high school English, math, science, and social studies course classified as Honors, Advanced Placement, or Dual Enrollment. Extensive arts training, coupled with a rigorous academic program, creates a climate of success for graduates of Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts.

“Being named a School of Excellence validates the work of our staff, students, and families,” said Debbie Smith, principal, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts. “Our emerging artists are successful in college and their careers due to the many skills they learn in our arts magnet program. Hamilton County Schools and the community are supportive of our work, and that support is necessary for high levels of achievement in any school.”

The National Magnet School of Excellence Merit Award will be presented to the school during an awards ceremony held at the Magnet Schools of America’s 38th national conference hosted by Clark County School District in Clark County, Nevada, April 13-17. Principal Debbie Smith will accept the award for CCA.

In addition to recently naming CCA a 2020 Magnet School of Excellence, Magnet Schools of America in 2017 also recognized Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts as the first and only MSA Nationally Certified Magnet School in Tennessee. CCA is also a 2019 Tennessee Reward School, ranked in the top ten high schools in the state for 2019 by the U.S. News and World Report, a 2019 U.S. Civics All-Star School, and CCA was rated #2 in the top ten public high schools in the Chattanooga area by Niche.com. Zavier Chavez, a 2019 graduate, was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar and is just one of many CCA graduates to experience academic or artistic success after graduation.

National Merit Award applications are scored by a panel of educators and judged on the school’s demonstrated ability to raise student academic achievement, promote racial and socioeconomic diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction, and create a strong family and community partnerships that enhance the school’s magnet theme.

Photo: (L to R) Olivia Mayes, a sophomore, Zach Huseman, a sophomore, and Brooke Roughton, a junior, perform during the Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Dinner and the Arts event held in January.