Contra Costa School of Performing Arts Takes Its Last Bow
Contra Costa School of Performing Arts (CoCoSPA) has called Shadelands home for nine years, graduating its first senior class in June 2019. A tuition-free public charter school, served by the Mount Diablo Unified School District, CoCoSPA offered middle and high school students a rigorous academic curriculum alongside immersive, pre-professional, conservatory level training in one of five arts majors: dance, theater, vocal music, instrumental music, and production & design.
Contra Costa School of Performing Arts’ first graduates, Class of 2019. [Photo courtesy Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.]
Instrumental music was one of five performing arts majors offered at Contra Costa School of Performing Arts. [Photo courtesy Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.]
CoCoSPA was established by educators who felt regional options to pursue the performing arts in a robust college prep environment were missing. For the 3357 students who have attended CoCoSPA since 2016, and the 205 students who have graduated with a CoCoSPA diploma, the school was a dream come true.
Dance performances showcased the talent of young dance majors at Contra Costa School of Performing Arts. [Photo courtesy Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.]
Due to a number of obstacles too difficult to overcome, including financial challenges, leadership changes, and declining enrollment post-pandemic, CoCoSPA has closed its doors, with plans to graduate its final senior class on June 5, 2025. The school has been busy these last few months helping students transition to new schools and educational paths, and helping teachers and staff find new employment.
Lisa Kingsbury, director of community engagement, who has been with CoCoSPA since the beginning, has been at the helm of the transition, alongside Executive Director Catherine Foster. “Back in January when we announced to our staff and families and students that we’d be closing our doors in June, I didn’t know exactly how that was going to look, but I did know that we were going to go out on our terms—we were going to go out strong and positive to the last day.” And that they have done.
Seniors leaving Contra Costa School of Performing Arts after completing the last of their final exams.
At the lead up to the pandemic, CoCoSPA was increasing its population by 50 students every year; by January 2020, enrollment was at 450. The school had just completed the final phase of a three-phase construction build-out of classrooms, offices, and performance spaces. Students left in March 2020 for what they thought would simply be a generous spring break due to COVID. Unfortunately, spring break 2020 didn’t end until 18 months later.
“When we came back after the pandemic, we began losing 50 kids per year,” said Lisa. “Some families moved out of the area because their jobs allowed them to work remotely. Some students transitioned from in-class to online schools to design their own paths. And some kids had a rough time during re-entry after being away for 18 months. They just couldn’t handle the structure of the school day. Parents made different choices for them, such as alternative schools and home schooling.”
The Production & Design major gave students who wanted to be a part of the behind-the-scenes world of performing arts a chance to learn their craft and showcase their work in school productions. [Photo courtesy Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.]
“Our school is here for kids who are creative, who want to revel in the performing arts. And that’s expensive. Ultimately, in January of this year, we made the difficult decision to close—with heavy hearts, but with our heads high and great pride in the work we’ve done and the thousands of lives we’ve affected the past nine years,” said Lisa. “For the benefit of our children, families, and staff, we made the announcement early in the year because we needed a semester to help our families find schools and help our staff find employment elsewhere with as little disruption and downtime as possible. We wanted to make sure there was a soft landing for everybody.”
For juniors (Class of 2026) who chose to participate, the administration designed an early graduation path to graduate this year, June 2025. This required extra classes to meet UC and CSU standards and fulfill requirements for 12th grade graduation. Out of 24 11th graders, 19 graduated early through the rigorous early graduation path, leaving Contra Costa School of Performing Arts with their diplomas in hand, ready for their next adventures.
In April 2025, CoCoSPA students staged an all-school production of Into the Woods, the musical they had to abandon at the time of the pandemic. [Photo courtesy Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.]
“The goal from the very beginning was to have a small school where everybody knows your name,” said Lisa. “When you cross the threshold at the front door, every teacher knows you in middle school and high school. We have a lot of creative artists who march to the beat of their own drums. That’s cliché, but it’s 100 percent true and we all celebrate that creativeness, individuality, drive, and passion for the arts. We were there for kids and families looking for something different in a public school. Students and staff chose to be here because they wanted to be around others who live and breathe the arts. The announcement of our closing was incredibly emotional. Lots of tears.”
Words from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton grace the school’s main hall, reminding students to stay strong, especially when faced with challenges and obstacles.
So, how do you embrace and celebrate the CoCoSPA experience, and say goodbye at the same time? You throw a big, all-out, going away party in CoCoSPA style.
Class is dismissed for 2025 grads and all students of Contra Costa School of Performing Arts for the last time.
The step-and-repeat photo corner greeted students, staff, and visitors as they entered the school to begin the celebration.
On a warm, sun-filled Saturday, the last day of May, on the campus of Contra Costa School of Performing Arts, the CoCoSPA community gathered to enjoy a day of celebration and remembrances in what was named The Last Bow, giving students, families, staff, and alumni one last opportunity to celebrate, share, and hold fast the memories of their CoCoSPA experience.
Students searched for friends and themselves in the thousands of photos displayed on walls throughout the school, and were encouraged to take photos and posters home as souvenirs of their CoCoSPA days.
The entire school was open, doors unlocked, allowing students and families to walk through the classrooms, meeting up with friends and teachers, taking photos, and sharing stories. Video montages of student musical, dance, and theater performances ran on loops in classrooms.
The photo booth was kept busy capturing ‘let loose’ moments with friends.
Sales were brisk for When All is Said and Done, CoCoSPA’s 2025 (and final) year book,
CoCoSPA alumni came in from all parts of the state to reconnect, say hello, and say goodbye.
In the multipurpose room, toward the end of the evening, Catherine Foster, CoCoSPA executive director, spoke about the purpose and legacy of CoCoSPA, thanking staff, students, families, and community supporters.
“It was our vision to create a home where artistry and academics can thrive together—where students weren’t asked to choose between their dreams and their education,” said Catherine. “Tonight as we watch the performances and walk through the halls and classrooms, we bear witness to the profound impact that vision has had on hundreds of young lives. Students, you are the heartbeat of this school. Your passion, your resilience, your relentless commitment to your craft have lit up our stages and classrooms year after year. Your creativity has inspired us, challenged us, and reminded us why places like this are so vital for our community. To our teachers and staff, families, alumni, and community, thank you for standing by this school, and thank you for investing in these young artists and for believing in the power of arts education.”
The school’s final performance was Scamilton, an informal, lively presentation of Hamilton, where actors sang, danced, and moved about the audience to great applause.
Seniors performed Scamilton in the multipurpose room to great applause, then took their last bow.
And to top off the day, all current and former students, families, and staff in attendance were invited outside for one last panoramic group photo in front of the school to secure their place in the Shadelands photo album and in the memories of those fortunate enough to have been a part of the CoCoSPA family.
Gathering one last time to capture the smiles of some of the people who made Contra Costa School of Performing Arts a special place for thousands of young people and their families.
Congratulations, Contra Costa School of Performing Arts! Cheers to all of you and to your legacy of excellence in academics and the arts. You have made a lasting difference in the Shadelands community and in the lives of thousands of young people who will not soon forget your gifts of kindness, compassion, and revelry in the arts. We wish you all the very best.
