Bakersfield Families Asked for Caat

If you could design the school of your dreams, what would it look like? That’s the question the founders of the Central Academy of Arts and Technology (Caat), the first and only TK-high school public charter school in Bakersfield, asked Kern County parents.

The overwhelming responses included: 

🆓 tuition-free

👍🏼 safe & secure

🎓 college preparatory

🎨 💻  arts & technology focused

Why It Matters

Before we opened our doors for the 2024-25 school year, the only charter schools in Kern County were in rural areas of the county. Bakersfield is the 9th largest city in California, yet has the 3rd highest rate of illiteracy in the state. Only 23% of high school graduates attend college, which is significantly lower than the 35% state average. We saw the need for something different and brought together a group of parents and educational leaders to create a charter school conveniently located downtown that would prepare scholars for college and beyond.

“We did 20 listening sessions with families over the course of a year and

asked what’s missing in your current school? What do you want more of?

Time and again the answer was more of the arts and wanting kids to understand how

to use technology better.”

Joanna Kendrick, Executive Director

 

A Trailblazing Education Downtown

At Caat, our scholars are fostering creativity and critical thinking. We plant the seed for college attendance in even our youngest scholars and provide individualized college counseling beginning in [9th grade.]  Technology is woven into all learning. Combined with our expansive list of visual, performing and media arts, Caat is providing the STEAM education that prepares TK - high school students for the future. 

230 TK-8th grade students enrolled in Year 1. 

98% are returning for Year 2!

Caat is growing! We’re adding classes at every grade level. Be one of the first in the Class of 2029! Enroll in 9th grade for the 2025-2026 school year. Tuesday is Tour Day. Sign up now. You can complete your child’s enrollment while you’re here!

About Central Academy of Arts and Technology

Come grow with us at the Central Academy of Arts and Technology (Caat), the first and only tuition-free, TK- high school public charter school centrally located in downtown Bakersfield. Founded in 2024, Caat offers the education Bakersfield families want for their children: tuition-free, college preparatory, arts and technology-focused, located on a safe, secure campus. We cultivate talents and celebrate individuality at Caat while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. The seed for college attendance is planted in even our youngest scholars. CAAT prepares every graduate to attend a 4-year university. Enroll now.  Find us at caatcharterschool.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.