A charter school that creatively grew as an outcome of realizing the traditional model is not working through imagining what would work.


In 2004, a group of parents who were casually gathered at a neighbor’s home for coffee and conversation discovered that they shared a common dream: a dream of a public school, in their community, that used a powerful learning model, that would not only benefit their own children, but those of the entire community, for today and for years to come. One parent, Marta Alcumbrac, made the bold statement, “Let’s build that school!”


Within weeks, other neighbors, parents, community organizations, and educational partners joined in the enthusiastic push to turn this dream into a reality. Individuals, such as George Abrams, were tapped to create a steering committee, which in turn recruited a group of 28 Founding Families. These families would become the back upon which the school was built, offering professional services, community organizing and a great deal of hands-on, sometimes difficult work to help shape this exciting new school.


By June 13, 2006 the Los Angeles Unified School District officially approved the charter for this unique project-based, arts-oriented school. And on September 5, 2006 the Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts (now known as California Creative Learning Academy) opened its doors to 120 kindergarteners and first-grade students at its first temporary site, a private site in West Hollywood.The dream had become a living, growing, forward-reaching reality.


Living the Dream
Our dream of finding a home came true in 2010 when we started our school year in our new home on Media Center Drive in  Glassell Park. In 2018, we expanded an now operate two schools and two campuses in Glassell Park.  We now serve over 500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade!

The CalCreative looks continues to move forward in the arena of whole person education, where creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration are nurtured and developed.