Columbus Collegiate Academy received a five-year charter from the Fordham Foundation that officially began on July 1, 2008, opened in August 2008 with 57 students in sixth grade, and added an additional grade each year until sixth-eighth grades are served at a capacity of 230 students. CCA targets middle-school students from neighborhoods with predominantly low-income families and some of the lowest academic proficiency scores in Ohio. 

The Founder, Andrew Boy, is an experienced urban educator. At W.E.B. DuBois Academy, Mr. Boy served as Science Lab Director from 2001-2005, improving students’ proficiency scores from 0% passing to 80%+. Mr. Boy initiated and fostered academic programs between DuBois and NASA, COSI, Boys Hope Girls Hope, St. Xavier’s Companion Scholars program, and Mad Science of Cincinnati. From 2005-2006, Mr. Boy was Lead Teacher for CSRIC, a new school within the DuBois school district, was twice awarded Teacher of the Year, and facilitated several mentoring relationships between students and Cincinnati professionals. 

He participated in the Building Excellent Schools (BES) Fellowship, a one-year, nationally-recognized training program that prepares potential charter school founders to design and run high-performing urban public schools. The school structure and rigorous academic goals outlined in the charter proposal for Columbus Collegiate Academy were developed during the BES Fellowship program based on best practices identified among a network of successful charter schools nationwide. In addition to this training, Mr. Boy holds a B.A. in Education and Communication from the University of Cincinnati and M.Ed. in Education Administration from Xavier University. 

The effort to create Columbus Collegiate Academy began in the summer of 2006. Here is a brief chronology of CCA’s history: 

Summer of 2006: The founder began planning for the creation of CCA. After extensive market research (i.e. OAT scores, socioeconomics of various communities, etc.), he decided to focus on Weinland Park as its target market. Founder Andrew Boy was accepted into the Building Excellent Schools (BES) Fellowship program which served as a tremendous resource during the entire charter development process. 

January of 2007: The founder submitted the final application to the Fordham Foundation. 

Spring of 2008: CCA recruited its first students, hired its first teachers, and secured a facility. 

July 1, 2008: CCA’s five-year charter from the Fordham Foundation officially began. 

July-August 2008: CCA began the curriculum and assessment development process during a four-week all-staff orientation. 

August 25, 2008: CCA opened its doors to 57 6th graders. 

June of 2009: CCA completed its first full year of operations. 

August of 2009: CCA begins year two with 81 6th and 7th grade students.

March of 2010: CCA is one of only twenty-two charter schools in the nation, and the only one in Ohio, to win the prestigious New Leaders for New Schools EPIC award. 

 August of 2010: CCA begins year three with 100 6-8 grade students. 

March of 2011: CCA again received the EPIC Award and was awarded the highest honor of all middle schools. 

April of 2011: CCA partners with Columbus City Schools and secures a lease for the use of the building once known as Main Street Elementary School.

August of 2011:  CCA begins year four with 160 6-8 grade students in their new building.