What is a Magnet Program?  Irvington High School is designated as Fremont Unified School District’s Arts Magnet high school. Students from all over the district can apply to participate in our arts programming by enrolling in Irvington High School. Irvington’s Arts Magnet program helps you to pursue your interest in one or more of the fine arts—dance, drama, music, and the visual arts—in-depth throughout high school.

What is the Center for the Creative Arts (CCA)?  The Center for Creative Arts (CCA) is a 9th - 12th grade academic “family.” At Irvington High School grade level teachers from specific subjects are paired in the CCA family, where teachers work/collaborate together and the same groups of students are in classes together. The teachers team-teach at times and the students work on the CHANGE benchmark project in groups. In 9th grade CCA classes, the English class is enriched with arts-based activities that target the students’ artistic strengths and interests. Freshmen in the CCA family also take Arts Spectrum; an arts survey course in which students study the four artistic disciplines—dance, drama, music, and visual art—to get a well-rounded view of the arts. The 9th grade CCA English and Art Spectrum teachers collaborate and team teach arts projects throughout the year. Students in the CCA have shared interests and a common bond with their classmates and teachers, creating an exciting introduction to high school. All students are given the opportunity to excel and shine, both artistically and academically. The CCA family classes are English and history at the 10th through 12th grade levels. 

How do CCA academic classes differ from other academic classes?  What is special about CCA courses is the integration of art into core subject curriculum.  CCA teachers teach standards based content with an emphasis on lessons which include both visual and performing arts.  Teachers also use project based learning in which the product of the lesson/unit is one that is arts based, but also demonstrates content knowledge, as opposed to strictly assessing through traditional tests or essays.  This is not to say that tests and essays do not occur in a CCA core class, but the opportunity for art based learning, as well as art based field trips, is a definite advantage of being in the CCA family, not to mention the advantage of learning in a group of students who are all passionate about art or creative expression.  Another benefit of being in a CCA core class is that the art created in class could end up in a gallery or art exhibition on campus.

What arts classes are offered for CCA students?

CCA students can chose from the following classes: 

Intro to Design, Art1, Art 2, Art Spectrum, Sculpture and Ceramics 1, Sculpture 2, Studio Art, AP Studio Art 2D/3D/Drawing, Digital Imaging, Digital Photo 1-3, AP Art History, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Band 1 & 2, Marching Band, Orchestra 1 & 2, Choir 1 & 2, Chamber Chorale 1, Chorale 2,  Treble Ensemble, Guitar 1 and 2, Drama 1-3, Dance, Advanced Dance, Production/Stage Management…

*Some visual and performing art classes at IHS are not offered some years due to enrollment. If a certain course does not meet a minimum enrollment number then the administration may pull a course from being offered for the following school year.

All of the classes, depending upon level and specific eligibility requirements, are open to CCA students. All CCA students, Magnet or from the IHS attendance area, are urged to take an art class a year. In some cases there are scheduling conflicts where specifically desired art classes are at the same time as the CCA classes or other needed courses. In these instances being part of the CCA academic classes is usually prioritized.

CCA students must take AT LEAST 3 visual and/or performing art classes throughout their 4 years in the CCA at Irvington High School. One of the art classes MUST be an intermediate (level 2) leveled course or above.

Is there an Honors option for students in the CCA?

Yes.  In order to be eligible for honors starting in the 9th grade students must already be enrolled in honors courses (specifically English and science in for CCA purposes) in 8th grade.  If the student is not in honors, students must have A’s in their non-honors courses for both 7th and 8th grade years.

9th graders entering the CCA have the option to take the CCA Honors English class, which will be paired with a non-CCA 9thgrade science.

10th graders may take CCA Honors English which is paired with a CCA World History class. 

The curriculum for AP World History cannot be specialized for the CCA, there is no pairing of 10 honors English and AP World History offered to CCA/Magnet students

In the 11th and 12th grades, Advanced Placement English and History classes are available, though they are not arts-integrated. Students attending Irvington via the arts magnet waiver may take those classes and still preserve their waiver status by taking an arts elective course.

What math and science classes do I need to take as a CCA magnet student?

Math is not part of the CCA family, so students take whatever math class they are eligible for. Students need to list on their registration form the math class that their current math teacher recommends. A recommended math sequence can be found on Irvington.org under the Counselors tab. As for science, students only have one required course being the Science 9/honors Science 9 that is paired with either their English 9/honors English 9 as a freshman.  Grades 10 through 12 students may choose whichever science course they are eligible for.

What is the usual course sequence for an arts magnet waiver student?

Ninth grade: CCA English 9, Science 9, a math class, PE, Health / Arts Spectrum (each is one semester), and an arts or language elective. 

*NOTE: 9th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective IF not taking a language class at level 2 or higher.

Tenth grade: CCA English 10, CCA World History, Geometry, PE, Science II, and an arts elective or language class. 

*NOTE: 10th graders on the arts magnet waiver NOT taking a language class must enroll in an arts elective .

Eleventh grade: American Studies (CCA English 11 and CCA US History), Algebra 2/Trig, Science III, a language, and an arts elective.

*NOTE: 11th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective.

Twelfth grade: Humanities (CCA English 12 and CCA Government/Economics), a language, an arts elective, and two other elective classes (often math and science). 

*NOTE: 12th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective.

What are possible courses for an arts magnet waiver Honors student?

Ninth grade: CCA English 9 Honors, Science 9 Honors, a math class, PE, Health / Arts Spectrum (each is one semester), and an arts or language elective. 

*NOTE: 9th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective IF not taking a language class at level 2 or higher.

Tenth grade: CCA English 10 Honors, CCA World History, a math class, PE, Science II, and an arts elective. 

*NOTE: 10th graders on the arts magnet waiver NOT taking a language class must enroll in an arts elective .

Eleventh grade: CCA or AP English 11, CCA or AP US History, a math class, a science class, a language class, and an arts elective. 

*NOTE: 11th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective.

Twelfth grade: CCA or AP English 12, CCA or AP Government/Economics, a language, an arts elective, and two other elective classes (often math and science). *NOTE: 12th graders on the arts magnet waiver must enroll in an arts elective.

What are the criteria for acceptance into the arts magnet program for students from outside Irvington's attendance area? 

The program is intended to serve students with an interest and/or talent in the arts. The application allows students to demonstrate that interest and/or talent. The student's academic record is NOT a factor, and therefore is not considered as part of the application. 

ONLY students who live within Fremont City Limits and are within the FUSD boundaries may apply

Can students from outside of Fremont apply to attend Irvington via the Arts Magnet program?

No. Per the rules of the arts magnet, the CCA, and FUSD policy this program is only for students who live in Fremont city limits.

More questions? Please see the FAQ or email:

Tully Mintey at tmintey@fusdk12.net and Krista Avon at kavon@fusdk12.net