CCSA Foundation

Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) is a unique public charter school serving nearly 700 students in grades K-12 on our campus located in the heart of Chester, Pennsylvania. CCSA's founders understood the significant challenges facing Chester's children. Therefore, they decided to adopt an arts-integrated curriculum because of the model's proven effectiveness (compared to a conventional curriculum) in educating students from disadvantaged communities such as Chester.

Arts integration combines the arts with core academic subjects to enhance and deepen understanding. A traditional curriculum assumes a shared cultural knowledge, broad vocabulary, and exposure to life experiences and concepts that our students frequently need to improve. Additionally, many CCSA students are touched by poverty, violence, and other challenges that cause stress and trauma, affecting their ability to pay attention, regulate emotions, and develop executive functions.

Arts integration helps counter the daunting challenges inherent in our community by introducing students to diverse experiences and cultural contexts; making complex concepts accessible through engaging hands-on projects; and providing them with opportunities to learn in ways that work best for them. The arts also contribute to social-emotional wellness, providing a healthy outlet for emotions and opportunities to develop confidence.

CCSA Foundation, the charitable arm of CCSA, raises funds to enhance and enrich the school’s arts-focused programs and works to provide long-term financial stability for the school.