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The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)
The Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), nominated by an anonymous organization, is a high school in Clovis, California, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.
Location Clovis, California
Governance Public District School
Grades High
Students 1350
Locale Suburban
CEO/Principal RIck Watson
Demographics
Percentage of students*
25%
English Learners
80%
Free/Reduced Lunch
30%
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 —
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 16 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 |
|---|---|
|
Community And Workforce Partnerships |
5+ years
|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles |
5+ years
|
|
Industry-aligned Learning Pathways |
5+ years
|
|
Students Develop Projects |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Advancement On Mastery
Student Advisories
AI Literacy
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
Career Advising & Support
Career Exploration
Client Projects
Co-leadership
College Advising & Support
Family And Community Support Services
Culturally Responsive Practices
Early College High School
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
Higher Education Partnerships
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Industry-recognized Credentials
Educators Have Industry Experience
Internships
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
1:1 Mentoring
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
Industry Networking
Project-based Learning
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
High Quality Instructional Materials
School-based Enterprises
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Service Learning
Students Access Their Own Data
Self-paced Learning
Trauma-informed Practices
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Improve school culture
Increase student agency
Artifacts
Academic Performance Data Trends. CART Juniors take their state EOY test in ELA at CART since they take Honors English here. Consistently performing as well or better than the home schools and home school districts. CUSD average 85% proficient or better, FUSD 35% average proficient or better.
Just recently completed a codification of the CART Staffing Model in partnership with Transcend. CART was choosen as one of 4 schools (out of 120) to complete this task with a Transcend Coach.
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.