CCA Academy, now in its 37th year, has been a charter campus of the YouthConnection Charter School (YCCS) for the past 18 years.

CCA Academy is located in the North Lawndale community on Chicago’s
WestSide. Its purpose has always been to serve dropout and at-risk students
by providing an academically challenging and small-school environment.

CCA Academy has an urban agriculture/ecology school-wide theme to
increase the rigor, relevance, relationships, and real life learning for students. Theme-based learning provides real world applications, hands-on,
project-based learning and exhibitions with an urban agriculture, aquaponics, vermiculture, composting, water conservation, solar energy, holistic health or culinary arts focus.

During the 2014 school year, CCA Academy earned a 1+ rating on its report
card from Chicago Public Schools and YCCS. Ninety-seven percent of seniors graduated.