Contra Costa School of Performing Arts

Contra Costa School of Performing Arts is a charter school in Walnut Creek that draws students from across the county who want to blend serious arts training with a traditional academic program — the kind of place where a kid can be rehearsing a production in the afternoon and still be held to rigorous academic standards. Walnut Creek itself is a well-kept East Bay suburb with good walkability downtown, easy BART access, and a community that genuinely supports the arts. Families who feel like their middle or high schooler doesn't quite fit the mold of a conventional school — and who want performance to be central to the experience, not just an elective — tend to find a real home here.