California Academy of Mathematics and Science
The California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS) is a public magnet high school in Carson, California, United States focusing on science and mathematics. Its California API scores are fourth-highest in the state.
| California Academy of Math and Science | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
1000 East Victoria Street , 90747 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public, Secondary School |
| Motto | Educating Tomorrow's Leaders |
| Established | 1990 |
| School district | Long Beach Unified School District |
| Principal | Cheryl Cornejo |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 659 (2019–20) |
| Average class size | 35 |
| Hours in school day | 7 |
| Campus | Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue, Black |
| Mascot | The Coyotes |
| Newspaper | The Pulse |
| Website | https://cams.lbschools.net/ |
| Race and ethnicity | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 43.9% | |
| Asian | 39.6% | |
| Non-Hispanic White/Anglo | 6.7% | |
| African American | 5.1% | |
| Other | 4.3% | |
| Pacific Islander | 0.3% | |
| Native American | 0.1% | |
Located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, CAMS shares many facilities with the university, including the gymnasium, the student union, the tennis courts, the pool, the library and a few of the parking lots. It is a National "No Child Left Behind" Blue Ribbon (2011) and California Distinguished school. The No Child Left Behind blue ribbon was only presented to 32 public schools nationwide. Newsweek states in its top 1200 High Schools in the USA, CAMS is in the top 4% taking number 281 in 2006.
In the December 2007, Newsweek released the results of a two-year study to determine the 100 best High Schools in the United States of America. Out of the 18,000+ schools reviewed, CAMS made it into the top 100 as number 21. As of August 24, 2016, CAMS moved up in ranking to the 100th best high school in the nation. In California CAMS is ranked 10th in the state.
According to U.S. News & World Report, as of November 2019 CAMS is rated as the 46th best high school in the nation, and the 5th best in California. It also ranks as the best magnet high school in California.
Unlike similar schools such as the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, CAMS is non-residential, drawing its students solely from most of Long Beach, portions of Los Angeles, and some cities of the South Bay region. Students are admitted only as freshmen. In 2016, the admissions process was changed and is now based solely on academic achievement in middle school. The prior interviewing and applications process was discontinued due to a legal settlement. In the past, applicants from different grade levels were allowed to apply and be accepted, but due to the strict, demanding curriculum at CAMS, the school felt incoming students from other grade levels would be unable to keep up, as they would be unaccustomed to such a curriculum.