City College Magnet School of the Arts

City College Academy of the Arts (CCAA) is a 6-12 early college public school located in the Inwood neighborhood of northern Manhattan. The school is distinguished by its robust partnership with the City University of New York's (CUNY) Early College Initiative and the City College of New York (CCNY). This collaboration allows students to take free college courses at the CCNY campus starting as early as freshman year, providing an accelerated pathway to college and career readiness and the opportunity to earn significant college credits before high school graduation. CCAA offers an arts-infused, project-based curriculum that emphasizes design, problem-solving, and critical thinking, with electives spanning visual and performing arts, STEM, and financial literacy. The school maintains strong arts partnerships, including with Carnegie Hall and Juilliard. High school outcomes are a notable strength, with a graduation rate of 95% and a college enrollment rate of 94.9%, both well above citywide medians. The school also demonstrates a high percentage of students engaged in accelerated coursework, significantly exceeding the citywide 75th percentile. Middle school ELA proficiency is below the citywide median, while math proficiency is around the 25th percentile. Parents generally express high satisfaction with the school, particularly praising the early college program and the supportive staff. However, some students and parents have noted concerns regarding social opportunities, limited clubs, and occasional staff favoritism. The school operates within a smaller, close-knit community and occupies a portion of the Salome Urena Educational Campus.