Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts has left Aliso Niguel High School as of this current 2025-2026 school year. OCASA began operating out of ANHS during the 2024-2025 school year, and before the school had been operating out of San Juan Hills High School.
OCASA is a 6-12 grade academic program that prioritizes student achievement and delivers a rigorous curriculum in order to maximize it. They utilize different instructional practices to best promote learning.
They use what is called “Gradient Learning.” It is a platform developed by teachers in Northern California that has been implemented in over 300 schools across the country. Gradient Learning is meant to help tailor the curriculum to each individual student and their needs.
OCASA has four main goals for their students: cognitive skills, content knowledge, habits of success and sense of purpose. Each of these guiding principles is meant to help the students become successful in life.
Many teachers had to relocate their classrooms due to OCASA taking over the second row of portables on the right of campus.
Mrs. Tinker, someone who had to share space with OCASA recalled that they “brought a lot with them and now that they’re gone there’s just a lot more space and less noise.”
Mrs. Sepe says. “I’m glad they’re gone, happy I won’t have to hear them in the bathroom anymore.”
Many issues with OCASA’s partnership at Aliso had to do with their use of Aliso’s facilities. Students from the art academy complained about sharing a bathroom with the school.
Dr. Mahindrakar, Aliso Niguel’s principal, is “unsure of why [OCASA] left” and is unaware of where they are now.
