Competitive Edge Charter Academy (CECA)

Posted: September 10, 2025

Amazing school, amazing teachers and amazing principal. I couldn’t give a better review of this school! The clubs, Friday families, the communication, the PTO, TWIOC! It’s all amazing! We are lucky to be able to experience everything the school offers.

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: September 10, 2025

Posted: December 12, 2019

Posted: December 12, 2019

We love everything about CECA, they have an amazing principal who has an open door policy. The programs and involvement are amzing.

Posted: December 12, 2019

Posted: December 12, 2019

Posted: December 12, 2019

Posted: December 12, 2019

The principal greets the students every day at the gate and knows them all by name.

Posted: December 12, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

Posted: June 14, 2019

I have 3 kids and we have been here 7 years. We absolutely love it here

Posted: June 5, 2019

The principal supports the 10 minutes per grade level with the exception of reading of course!! Read!!

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

The IB profiles support character growth in every grade level.

Posted: June 5, 2019

Mr. Mead and his admin team take care of parent concerns quickly and the students feel safe and respected.

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

We have been at CECA for 3 years in the PYP program and have been extremely pleased overall with the school. We love the IB learning, Spanish, music and art. Friday families and clubs after school just add to our children’s experience! The uniforms are an added huge bonus!

Posted: June 5, 2019

Well balanced education with IB principals that reach far beyond the classroom. It is truly remarkable to see the kids grow and apply the IB attitudes.

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: June 5, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

I have three of my children at this school. All three of them have been in tune to my children's individual needs and made learning fun while showing the utmost compassion and confidence in each student. It is an IB school so the values of Integrity, compassion and respect are very important in student development. It is a lottery and I feel very thankful we got in.

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: January 28, 2019

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: June 30, 2017

My kids love going to school here. They have lots of free clubs and after school activities for all ages to join.

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: June 30, 2017

Posted: September 11, 2015

Posted: September 11, 2015

Posted: September 11, 2015

Posted: September 11, 2015

I am thankful to have discovered CECA for our child. We drove 30 minutes for the 1st half of the school year to and from school and it was worth it. Awesome teachers as well as support staff. I highly recommend it .

Posted: May 13, 2014

CECA IS GREAT!!!!! I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER SCHOOL FOR MY DAUGHTER!!! She has been there since CECA's 2nd year!!!! There are so many clubs to choose from & if you have a problem the school is very helpful!!! You can't say that about many schools anymore!

Posted: April 28, 2014

THIS SCHOOL IS HORRIBLE, TAKE IT FROM A STUDENT THAT GOES THERE. YOU HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORMS AND MOST OF THE TEACHERS DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TEACHING. ATLEAST WE HAVE 3 PLASMA SCREEN TVS THAT WE ARE NEVER GOING TO FRIKIN USE, THANKS OBAMA.

Posted: April 28, 2014

We love this school! My daughter is just finishing her second year here and she has really learned a lot. Mr. Litel was very caring when I had a concern and I didn't have any problems reaching him. I would definitely recommend this school.

Posted: April 20, 2014

My family has been part of the YCJUSD for over 13 years, and joining CECA in 2012 was the best education decision we could have made for our kids. I can say that I can subjectively and objectively see a difference between our kids that have attended CECA vs those that did not. High standards are the norm at CECA. Not just educational standards, but personal values as well. The sense of community is felt the minute you walk onto campus. The teachers truly care about the education the kids are receiving. The director is wonderful and approachable and his hard work shows everyday in why CECA is so successful!

Posted: April 13, 2014

My child has been at CECA since the beginning. Unlike many of the other reviews here, I've had great experiences in communicating with the Principal, Mr. Litel. Before enrolling my child, we were fortunate enough to have a space reserved both at CECA and at Inland Leaders. I called both Principals to ask some questions and to help make the decision between the two schools. The Principal at Inland Leaders couldn't make time to talk to me, but Mr. Litel spent a good 20 minutes on the phone, sharing his vision of what he wanted CECA to be as a student/parent learning experience. Any other times I've communicated with him, he's always been helpful, responsive and courteous. He even helped to discreetly handle a situation where my daughter had one of her belongings stolen and he got the missing item back from the student who had taken it through diplomatic efforts, and returned it to my daughter. The only reason I give 4 instead of 5 stars is because my daughter is one of the smartest in her class and sometimes the schoolwork is easy for her, and it's hard for the teacher to challenge her without a GATE or other type of advanced learning program for the kids who are a step ahead.

Posted: April 10, 2014

I feel so fortunate to have found this innovative charter. My kids love CECA and their teachers there. The school requires parental involvement and with that involvement we get a wonderful and strong sense of community. It does take a VILLAGE to raise a child and CECA is the cornerstone of our village.

Posted: February 27, 2014

I have three children at the school I love the teacher and all staff is great the principal is a fair man the kids love him for anyone you writes a negative review of this school who has attended sorry you had a bad experience. My husband wants to move out of state I told him no Ido not want to pull my kids from the best school. You cou not find a better one in our area we have the highest test school in the district and show how hard the teacher work to educate our children.

Posted: November 3, 2013

I must disagree with the comments about the principal at this school. My experience couldn't be further from these statements. I have never had a problem contacting Mr. Litel. He has been extremely responsive and concerned about anything and everything involving my children and the school. I have heard other parents complain about negative experiences with Mr. Litel. My opinion, however, was that those parents were upset because they did not get the answer that they wanted. Frankly, the parents thought they could tell Mr. Litel how to run a school. Unfortunately, they are not able to trust in the person that built and maintained this awesome school. If you feel you cannot trust the system that built such a great school, then you should consider homeschooling because you are not going to be happy anywhere.

Posted: October 28, 2013

CECA needs a respectable leader. I have spoken with many of the other parents of students attending this school whom are just as dissatisfied. The principal has a cold personality.

Posted: October 12, 2013

I agree with the previous comment. The school is great, the teachers are wonderful. The Principle had a wonderful idea for a charter school and has worked very hard BUT his people skills with parents have little to be desired. In fact his people skills with parents receives an F!! He seems cold, distant and arrogant. His view "in my opinion" is if you have a problem with my school then get out - my problem was simply a mix up/lost paperwork situation. :(

Posted: October 11, 2013

The lack of stars for this school is geared towards the principal. He is not as friendly as a parent would hope for in a leader of a school. It is very unfortunate. I like all of the teachers I have come in contact with thus far. If I could do it over again, I would choose a school with a principal that was welcoming and kind.

Posted: August 27, 2013

My children have been going to this school since it first opened. They have done very well, receiving A's and B's. Plus, the teachers are wonderful. HOWEVER, without talking to me the school pulled my A students out of class and put them in special education. Obviously, there must be a mix up. I contacted the district and they found that it was done in error. I called the school and they still want to put them in special classes. Stating a bad grade one of my daughters received in 2009. I know this sounds strange but it is true. I do not know what we did to make them attempt to force my daughters out of the school? My family all volunteered when the school opened. My daughters and I did tons of charity/community service work - which is required. They get A's and B's in all 8 of their classes. This is the strangest event that has ever happened to my children. The school even stated that my kids were new students. Obviously, it is some sort of mix up but they are unwilling to correct it. It makes me sad :( It would be awful to chang school and tak my daughters away from their friends and wonderful hardworking teachers. Just a very bad, frustrating situation.

Posted: August 17, 2013

This school is the best in the area. Mr. Litel makes time for every parent. The issues parents have with CECA is that poor behavior and lack of a student's personal acountabiliy is not tolerated. The parents that are complaining are the parents that try to cover for their children's bad behavior. CECA affords every student the resources to improve, it is just a matter of where the parents apply their energy, seeking improvement or complaining.

Posted: August 15, 2013

My son attended this school last year. It was a train wreck!! My son is now a full year behind in all subjects. I scheduled a meeting to meet with the teachers a few times also call to confirm. Took a day off work to find out they never scheduled me. I then met with the director. He will not give you his time at all. He does not treat parents with any respect. The office staff is very rude and not helpful. I have had a family member drop food off to my son and he never received it that day. I could go on and on. I have pulled my son in the beginning of this year. I was willing to try it again this year, but they never mailed him his schedule and never returned my call when I called until the second day of school at the end of the day. My son was loosing friends left and right because of parents pulling their children out last year! He stayed to give a chance. Bad mistake! So when you sit there and hope your child gets the lottery, you may want to think twice and try the other Charter in town.

Posted: August 6, 2013

This fall (2013) will mark my son's third year at Competitive Edge Charter Academy. We are so very excited to be part of such a wonderful school! The teachers and staff are amazing and work tirelessly to create a positive learning environment.

Posted: August 5, 2013

We could not be happier with this school for our two children (ages 6 and 8). There is no school of this kind in the area. The focus on high academic standards combined with teaching a world view and attitudes that foster good citizenship and caring for others and the world around them is giving our children an education that is comparable if not exceptional to public school and most private school standards. The beauty of it is CECA is a public school! There is a long waiting list, but if you are looking for the best school for your children, I would highly recommend our school.

Posted: August 5, 2013

This school is one of the best in the region. We could not be happier as parents. The excellent academic and citizenship standards are exemplary and the community of caring parents who give their time and talents to make the school better helps us feel as though we are part of an extended family.

Posted: August 3, 2013

Excellent K-8 school that just received its IB Accreditation. This is a parents' dream come true a public school that functions like a private school. Lots of hands on parental volunteerism, which the school actually requires. Future goals: Develop a Competitive Edge High School so the students can continue on the IB path.