Saved Schools

The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)

The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), nominated by Transcend, is a high school in Clovis, California that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

Location Clovis, California

Governance Public district school

Grades High

Students 1350

Locale Suburban

CEO/Principal Rick Watson Ed.D.

Demographics

Percentage of students*

20%

English Learners

75%

Free/Reduced Lunch

25%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 7%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian 15%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2%

Hispanic or Latino 50%

White 25%

2+ Races 1%

Why The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) was nominated

CART is one of the more innovative structures I've seen in a school and has some of the most exciting teaching I've seen in a school. They are a joint venture between two districts - Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified - where juniors and seniors can elect to go to take integrated half-day, career-focused courses. From CSI-type courses that integrate math and science to public policy courses that integrate Government, history and English, they have 4 career pathways and more than a dozen different options. Students who attend CART get a more diverse student body (the students come from nearly a dozen different high schools) and get access to amazing courses that no one school could offer. Additionally, CART's approach to teaching is really exciting. Three teachers co-teach a class of 40-60 students in an integrated, project-based learning approach. Student engagement and rigor is through the roof, with CTE teachers and core classroom teachers co-teaching a 3-hour block to students each semester., CART lets juniors and seniors dive into real-world, project-based learning through more than a dozen specialized labs — from biotechnology to digital media to engineering — giving them hands-on, career-focused experience long before college. Plus, with its industry partnerships and the chance to earn college-prep credits and build a strong portfolio, CART turns high school into a launchpad for meaningful, future-ready careers.

Student experience design

The student experience is unique in that students attend CART from 13 different high schools in two very different school districts. Students are afforded the opportunity to work alongside other students that are demographically and socioeconomically different and come from different backgrounds and experiences. Working together in teams where they are solving real world problems that are a reflection of the work environment. Students at CART also appreciate the unique culture of acceptance, inclusion, choice, responsibility and personalized learning that is interesting. Also the rigorous academic courses are taught through the lens of the career.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Career Prep And Work-based Learning

5+ years

Community And Business Partnerships

5+ years

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

5+ years

Interdisciplinary

5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

AI-assisted Tutoring

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Co-leadership

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Competency Framework

Culturally Responsive Practices

Early College High School

Extended Learning Opportunities

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Students Earn Industry Credentials

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Multi-age Classrooms

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Physical Well Being Services

Place-based Learning

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Social Justice Focus

Students Access Their Own Data

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

key reasons for innovating

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2025

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.