Cal Coast Academy

Stepping onto American soil in the fall of 2019 with an extremely limited understanding of the English language was a very daunting experience for me. Being born and raised in a small Haitian village where electricity was inconsistent, water was scarce, and education was not “wasted” on females, I had never dreamt about the possibility of attending school in America. I was 22 years old when I enrolled at Cal Coast Academy, but my education level was equivalent to that of a middle school aged student. Even with this serious achievement gap, I was excited to begin my academic journey. From that very first day at Cal Coast, I dove headfirst into my education. My class schedule was heavy, and it consisted of courses that I hadn’t even heard of before, but I didn’t let that deter me. I gave it my all and Cal Coast gave me all the support that I needed to succeed! In 2021, just two years after beginning at Cal Coast, I was a graduating senior. I would be the first person in my family to go to college and have a career. Cal Coast Academy played a pivotal role in my academic advancement. If it wasn’t for Ms. Jan and all the teaching staff at this incredible school, I would not be attending the university of my choice and well on my way to achieving my dream of becoming a nurse. It is my hope that I will be able to make a difference in the lives of others the way that Ms. Jan and the Cal Coast Academy teachers have done for me. Thank you, Cal Coast Academy, for never losing faith in me and my academic ability. Thank you for endlessly supporting me and for always believing in me. I am now in my last semester of nursing school at Grand Canyon University because of your priceless gift of education. Thank you!

Since becoming the first and only private Purple Star school in the state of California, Cal Coast Academy has had the privilege of helping a number of military-connected students. Senior, Elias Mayer, is just one of the military-connected students that we have had the opportunity to support since being granted Purple Star status in the spring of 2023. When Elias joined our school family in the beginning of his junior year, he came to us with a number of academic holes. During that first year with us, his stress was erased from school, his confidence was nurtured, and his academic skills were developed. Elias's motivation and hard work, even after his previous academic setbacks, outshines most students' peek performance. Through a tremendous amount of dedication, Elias is now entering his senior year on track for his 2025 graduation. Unfortunately, Elias's story is not his alone. Many military-connected students, to not fault of their own, fall through the cracks of the educational system. Cal Coast Academy's Founder and Principal, Ms. Jan Dunning, has dedicated many years to perfecting our school's innovative educational model to include the tools and knowledgeable faculty required to help children of military families succeed regardless of the obstacles they face. "In peace and in war, every military-connected student deserves a place where they feel comfortable and supported academically, socially, and emotionally." - Ms. Jan Dunning.

Thank you Del Mar Times Inc for writing such a wonderful article about our classroom construction. We are very much looking forward to the next stages of our campus development!

Took a trip down to San Diego to do a site visit on the Cal Coast Academy project that is utilizing Nudura Insulated Concrete Forms. Chad Scoggins, CDT, LEED-GA with Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing came along to assist with additional waterproofing, air barrier, and sealant needs. This is the first ICF project for this GC and they have a good handle on it. Thanks to Jon Childs and the team at Castle House Distributors for coordinating with the GC to get the ICF material to the project on time #icfconstruction #insulatedconcreteforms

Thank you for believing in all that we do, Krishna. Our entire school is dedicated to helping our students embrace their differences, conquer their challenges, devise personal learning strategies, and gain the skills that will enable them to thrive anywhere the future leads them.

Since 1999, Cal Coast Academy has been dedicated to helping students struggling from mild learning, social, and cognitive disabilities such as Asperger syndrome, dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression. However, we do not limit our student population to just those with challenges, we also welcome International students from third world countries, military-connected children, students who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and social media influences, and students who have not succeeded in other private and public schools because their teachers couldn’t adequately individualize their learning experience due to the large class sizes. The faculty at Cal Coast Academy are collectively devoted to delivering customized learning that meets the individualistic and holistic needs of every student. They sway away from the lecture-directed, textbook-driven, antiquated approach to learning. Instead, they allow students the opportunity to stimulate one another’s powers of thought through co-active learning. By removing the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach to education, Cal Cost Academy is essentially bridging the gap between can’t and can and breaking through barriers that prevent students from reaching their true potential.