About Us

California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) is a public charter school that provides a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students a rigorous college-preparatory education and pre-professional arts conservatory training.

CSArts-SGV is modeled after the award-winning arts and academic programs of Orange County School of the Arts, one of the premier art schools in the country. Students commute via carpool, bus, and train from throughout Southern California to attend CSArts-SGV.

The school’s unique culture and innovative curriculum allows its students to grow and thrive as artist scholars and to develop their confidence and talents. Small student/teacher ratios in academic and arts classes allow for personalized attention to students. CSArts-SGV students receive opportunities to participate in master classes, guest artist presentations, field trips, and performances, as well as a variety of campus clubs and activities. This distinctive arts and academic program is made possible through a unique public-private partnership. CSArts-SGV is a tuition-free, donation dependent program.

All students who demonstrate talents and an interest in the arts are invited to apply. The school offers programs for students in grades 7-12, starting with students in grades 7-11 in the 2017-2018 academic year.

Mission Statement

We provide a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students unparalleled preparation for higher education and a profession in the arts.

Core Values

Student growth and education comes first.
Commitment to excellence, innovation, professionalism, and integrity.
Foster a nurturing environment of creativity, respect, and collaboration.
Commitment to life-long artistic and scholarly development.

Awards

California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley is modeled after the award winning curriculum of its sister school, Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), which has received numerous honors and recognition for innovation and excellence in both arts and academic education. Since its origin in 1987, OCSA has been recognized as:

The second best charter high school in California and seventh in the nation by Niche Rankings (2017).
A model arts education program by the Kennedy Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the US Department of Education.
A National Blue Ribbon School.
A California Distinguished School three times.
One of the top 10 charter schools in California by the University of Southern California (USC).
One of the top high schools in America by Newsweek magazine.

Admissions Requirements

It is recommended that interested applicants have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and satisfactory citizenship. All applicants must apply and participate in a placement activity. CSArts-SGV is a tuition-free, donation-dependent public charter school; no student is admitted or denied based on financial capacity.

See Requirements

Unparalleled Value

CSArts-SGV offers an unparalleled value to its bright and talented students through the school’s rigorous academic program, combined with the 10+ hours of weekly intensive arts instruction.

CSArts-SGV is a tuition-free, donation-dependent school, provided through a unique public-private partnership. As a public charter school, CSArts-SGV receives funding from the State of California based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) to fund the school’s college preparatory academic program.

Private funds must be raised for CSArts-SGV's comprehensive arts instruction. While no student is admitted or denied based on family financial capacity, parents are encouraged to participate in the annual Parent Giving Program, which involves a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to the school. Funds raised through the Parent Giving Program are used to cover all costs related to the arts instructional program, and every dollar donated goes directly toward students' arts conservatory education.

Families are encouraged to actively participate in their child’s education, through financial and volunteer-based commitments. Together, these attributes contribute to the dynamic school culture at CSArts-SGV, which promotes a cohesive educational community for parents, students, and staff.

Board of Trustees

Carolyn Breeden, Ed.D.
Chair
Karen A. Herrera
Secretary
Ceci Carroll
Member

Vince Foley
Member
Carol Green
Member
Ron Green
Member

Administrative Team

William Wallace, Ed.D.

Principal

William Wallace serves as the principal of California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV). Previous to this appointment, Dr. Wallace served at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) as dean of facilities & supervision, where he oversaw the expansion of the school from 1,800 students to its current size of nearly 2,200. He also assisted in supervising the construction of OCSA’s premier dance, music and science building, which was inaugurated in August of 2015. Dr. Wallace has also served as OCSA’s assistant principal of student services.

Dr. Wallace began his career as an English teacher at Belmont High School in downtown Los Angeles. While there he, along with five other colleagues, started a performing arts magnet program on Belmont’s campus that is still active today. Dr. Wallace has also served as assistant principal of pupil services at Buena Park High School, which is his alma mater. While there, he oversaw a six-year increase in the school’s API from 662 to 738. During his tenure, Buena Park High School won two Golden Bell Awards, was recognized as a California “Beating the Odds” school, and was noted four years in a row as a Newsweek top 1,000 school. Additionally, Dr. Wallace oversaw the creation of a specialized program for students with emotional disturbance, which set the standard for similar programs in the area. Dr. Wallace also previously served as an administrator at Troy High School in Fullerton.

Dr. Wallace taught Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate English at Fullerton Union High School previous to becoming an administrator, and also served as the director of Fullerton Union High School’s International Baccalaureate Program.

Dr. Wallace holds a doctorate in education and a master’s degree in educational leadership from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), as well as a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine. He holds administrative credentials from CSUF, and a professional clear teaching credential in English.

Abbe Levine

Dean of Arts

Abbe Levine serves as the Dean of Arts at California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV). Previous to this appointment, Ms. Levine served at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) as director of arts enrichment and program expansion.

Ms. Levine began teaching at OCSA in 2004 and eventually became the co-director of the Creative Writing Conservatory, during which time she implemented innovative community programming and collaborative arts projects. Ms. Levine was selected as a Gluck Teaching Fellow in 2011, and in 2014, she was featured in Orange County magazine Riviera's "Arts and Power" issue for her professional and educational contributions to the local arts community.

Professionally, she has optioned a screenplay to the Hallmark Channel and her plays have been produced throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. Ms. Levine was a founding member of Fell Swoop Playwrights and an inaugural resident of the Play Lab at the Ruskin Group Theatre. Ms. Levine’s play, Puppets, was a semi-finalist (top 10) for the prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards and her screenplay, Rainbow Sand, placed in the top 15% in the Academy Nicholl Fellowships.

Ms. Levine holds her BFA in writing for screen and television from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and her MFA in creative writing and writing for the performing arts from University of California, Riverside.

Nicole Read

Assistant Principal

Nicole Read joined the Orange County School of the Arts in 2007 as an AP United States history teacher. She continued to teach APUSH for the next eight years at OCSA, participating in the College Board’s annual AP exam reading as well. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University, and her administrative services credential from the School Leadership Program at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Ms. Read has served as OCSA's learning specialist and mentor to new teachers for the last three years, and is now joining the California School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley team as assistant principal. She is passionate about working with students and teachers to create environments that are rigorous, engaging, and innovative.

Stephen Cook, D.M.A.

Associate Dean of Arts

Dr. Stephen Cook received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of South Carolina, where he studied composition with Dr. Samuel Douglas and piano performance and pedagogy with Dr. Max Camp. Dr. Cook additionally studied with Edith Oppens at the Aspen School of Music and Dr. Manuel Alvarez at the Conductor's Institute, University of South Carolina. While completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, Dr. Cook served as an assistant lecturer in the keyboard studies department under the direction of Stewart Gordon.

From 1996-2012, Dr. Cook served on the faculty of the Colburn School of Performing Arts; he was also the Director of the Pianist Program at Orange County School of the Arts from 1996-2004. Dr. Cook served on the Executive Board of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and he is a former research program specialist with the Music Intelligence Neural Development Institute at the University of California, Irvine. He currently holds a faculty appointment at the Pasadena Conservatory and was an Associate Professor at Whittier College from 2002-2017.

Stephen Cook is a frequent clinician and adjudicator for such organizations as the Music Teachers’ Association of California, the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. Past activities include: the adjudication of the Pro-Romania International Piano Competition in Bucharest, Romania, performance and master classes in Tokyo, Japan, and Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as numerous concert appearances with Broadway talent Susan Egan. Dr. Cook was the Musical Director, Arranger, and Composer for: Into the Woods, Urinetown: The Musical, Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, Beowulf, The Crucible, Romeo & Juliet, Hairspray, Rent, Next to Normal, others.

Mindy Shiroma

School Counselor

Mindy Shiroma joined the Orange County School of the Arts in 2012 and currently serves as a High School Counselor at CSArts-SGV. Previously, she served on the counseling staff for Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Arcadia Unified School District.

Originally from the Seattle area, Shiroma relocated to California in 2001 to attend California State University, Long Beach where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, while continuing to pursue her creative passions -- theater and dance. She also attended Eastern Washington University where she earned her Master of Science degree in Applied Psychology: School Counseling.

Additionally, Mindy is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) who also holds a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA and a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential from the State of California.

FAQs

What is the admissions process?

Please visit the Admissions Overview page to learn more about our admissions process.

Do we have to live in the Duarte area?

No, CSArts-SGV students reside in more than 65 cities.

May I attend part-time/after-school only?

CSArts-SGV is a full-time school offering dual arts and academic programs. Students must participate in both programs.

Are you a year-round school? What about school holidays?

CSArts-SGV follows a traditional two-semester school year, which is August through January and January through June. The school also honors traditional school holidays, including a one-week Spring break and a two-week Winter break.

What are the school's hours?

View the bell schedule here.

Are there any tuition requirements?

California School of the Arts — San Gabriel Valley is a tuition-free, donation-dependent public charter school. No student is admitted or denied based upon financial capacity. However, CSArts-SGV must annually raise the funds to operate the arts programs, and the school relies on parents and the community at large to help reach this goal.

Is on/off campus housing available?

CSArts-SGV does not offer campus housing at this time.

My children are homeschooled. May they attend your school?

Yes. Homeschooled students follow the same application procedures as any other student.

My child needs to "make up" a class; do you offer a traditional "Summer School" as do most public schools?

No, CSArts-SGV does not offer summer school; however, to make up a class, students may attend summer school at any accredited high school or community college and have those credits apply towards CSArts-SGV graduation requirements.