For students at Center Academy for Success, Mondays look a little different, and that difference is intentional.
They start the week in small groups, connecting with each other and talking through their realities. Mondays are all about deeper connection. When students are more deeply connected to their peers, the adults in their lives, and their community, CAS believes they will be more deeply connected to their academic success.
Relationships are the foundation of the CAS program. For CAS students, “traditional school wasn’t working,” said Principal Kassie Redmond. “In order to get a different outcome from our students, we need to approach school differently.”
Every Monday, staff and students have breakfast together, family-style. Staff check in with students and make time for connection, proactively addressing student needs.
Monday afternoon experiences are a cornerstone of the program and make a significant impact on students. Students spend the afternoon shadowing professionals and exploring potential careers.
“These experiences are life-giving for kids. Learning isn’t contained in the building. The purpose is to carry them out into the world,” said Redmond.
Through Monday experiences, students explore careers in marketing, photography, technology, audio engineering, video engineering, business, art, education, and childcare.
When Redmond started at CAS in the fall of 2024, she quickly observed that students needed guidance beyond graduation. They needed guidance and inspiration for their next steps.
“I have learned that reimagining how school can look differently is critical to the kids we serve,” said Redmond.
From Tuesday through Friday, students engage in a more traditional classroom structure, but with an intentional difference. Relationship-building and social-emotional skill development are embedded into their day. And it’s working.
Behavior referrals are down 82% for students in the CAS program. Fewer than 10% of students receive discipline referrals, and violent incidents are down more than 90%. Students are using restorative practices to resolve conflicts and repair relationships.
Last year was CAS’s largest graduating class since 2015. And the impact extends beyond graduation. During her 180-day post-graduation check-ins with the Class of 2025 CAS graduates, Redmond found that nearly all former students are either employed or continuing their education.
CAS students commit to walking in purpose and on purpose. The students and staff at Center Academy for Success have made a shared commitment to each other, rooted in trust, accountability, and belief. Together, they are changing the trajectory of their lives and making a meaningful impact on the broader community.