Philosophy & Our Promises

The CAST Mission

Reinvent schooling to maximize opportunities for students while preparing them for college AND careers.

Our Vision

Create exemplars to address San Antonio’s persistent educational challenges and income inequality across all school districts.

cast vision

Core Pillars

Relationships

Industry and other community leaders are equal stakeholders in school design and governance; they collaborate and work alongside students and co-create everything from projects to school curriculum and schedule.

Equity

As a community, we help all students reach their full potential. Our schools are intentionally diverse and integrated, and our enrollment practices create schools that reflect the communities we serve. We use data to drive continuous improvement and to ensure that every child's needs are seen and met.

Youth Voice and Agency

Students act as co-creators and co-problem solvers at the school and beyond, offering ideas, posing new questions and authentically engaging in their education. Student-led learning promotes effective collaboration, development of leadership skills and the development of self-management, goal setting, self-advocacy, and student agency.

Authentic Learning

Student learning is connected to real-world needs outside the school walls; students travel to the workspace and design relevant projects for real audiences with competitions, presentations, and other authentic exhibitions of learning.

The CAST Promise

Committed to providing every student with an educational experience that sets them up for their futures, CAST promises:

To expose students to multiple careers through job-shadowing, internships and paid job opportunities.

To connect students with industry partners who act as mentors and motivators and who can help students map a pathway to their dream career.

Access to earn transferable college credits to include Dual Credit Courses from local colleges and universities plus earn industry recognized certificates to minimize the cost of college and elevate their resume in the workforce.

To prepare students who will enter the workforce qualified to compete for jobs in high-demand, high-wage job markets.

To guarantee each student a job interview upon graduation.

To listen to student voice and feedback to ensure that we're delivering our promises.