It was a banner year for the Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts, which took home several national awards.
Already honored as performing among the top five percent of Tennessee schools, CCA received word this spring that it won the Top Secondary School Award from the 4,000-member Magnet Schools of America group. That award highlights magnet or theme-based schools that excel in student achievement, parent engagement, student diversity and school uniqueness.
CCA also snagged honors from the Arts School Network, the nation's largest group of specialized arts schools. The school won the Arts Integration Award for integrating arts into the curriculum and Principal Debbie Smith won the network's Jeffrey Lawrence Award, given to an arts school leader who exemplifies "an uncompromising commitment to excellence in arts education and arts training."