A former performing arts campus on Mitchell Drive is getting a second act — and for Walnut Creek families navigating special education needs, it could be a meaningful one. Summa Academy, a non-public school serving students with autism and other developmental differences, has acquired the former Contra Costa School of Performing Arts facility in a $7.1 million transaction that will create the organization’s largest Bay Area campus.
The deal, reported by Connect CRE and confirmed through property records, transfers a 28,000-square-foot educational facility into the hands of an institution designed specifically to serve students for whom traditional public school settings have not worked. For a region where special education resources are consistently stretched thin, the new campus represents both a real estate transaction and a signal of expanding capacity.
What Summa Academy Brings to Walnut Creek
Summa Academy is not a newcomer to the Bay Area special education landscape. The organization already operates two campuses — one in Pleasanton and one in San Jose — serving students from kindergarten through age 22 with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and other conditions that require individualized support beyond what most public school districts can provide.
What distinguishes the Walnut Creek location is its scale and its design intent. At 28,000 square feet, it will be the organization’s largest campus by a significant margin. The Mitchell Drive facility will include specialized spaces uncommon in most school buildings: a mock apartment for independent living skills practice, a dedicated laundry room and kitchen for daily-living instruction, and sensory-friendly classrooms built around the needs of students who process environments differently.
For families who have spent years navigating the labyrinth of IEP meetings, district assessments, and placement waitlists, a new campus represents something beyond square footage. It means one more option in a system where options are too often scarce. It means a shorter drive for families who currently trek to Pleasanton or San Jose. And for students who thrive with the kind of structured, individualized environment that Summa provides, it means a school built around their needs rather than one asking them to adapt to its constraints.
Why This Matters for Contra Costa Families
The special education landscape in California is, to put it mildly, complicated. Federal law guarantees a free and appropriate public education to every student with a disability, but the gap between what the law promises and what districts can deliver is often wide. Non-public schools like Summa Academy fill that gap — typically contracted by public school districts that determine they cannot meet a student’s needs in-house.
Contra Costa County has long faced capacity constraints in special education placements. The addition of a third Summa Academy campus, and the organization’s first in the central county, could reduce commute times for families who currently travel to Pleasanton or San Jose for services. For a parent driving a child with sensory sensitivities an hour each way, proximity isn’t a convenience — it’s quality of life.
What Is a Non-Public School (NPS)?
In California, non-public schools are state-certified private schools that contract with public school districts to serve students with disabilities whose needs cannot be met within the public system. Placement is determined through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Tuition is paid by the referring school district, not by families. As of 2025, California had approximately 350 certified non-public schools serving roughly 14,000 students statewide.
The Facility: From Performing Arts to Life Skills
The Mitchell Drive property was previously home to the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts, a charter school that relocated to a larger facility. The building’s layout — open common areas, flexible classroom configurations, and performance-adjacent spaces — translates surprisingly well to Summa Academy’s model.
The renovation plan includes converting the former theater and rehearsal spaces into the life-skills training center that is central to Summa’s approach. The mock apartment will allow students to practice everything from making a bed to cooking a simple meal to managing a weekly schedule — skills that neurotypical students often absorb through observation, but that many Summa students need explicit, structured instruction to develop.
| Campus | Location | Grades Served | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summa Pleasanton | Pleasanton, CA | K–22 | Original campus, established program |
| Summa San Jose | San Jose, CA | K–22 | South Bay hub, community partnerships |
| Summa Walnut Creek | Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek | K–22 (planned) | Largest campus, life-skills training center |
The Bigger Picture: Special Education Capacity in Contra Costa
The Summa Academy acquisition arrives at a moment when special education funding and placement are under particular scrutiny. Contra Costa County, like the rest of California, has seen a steady increase in autism diagnoses and corresponding IEPs over the past two decades. Public school districts are legally required to fund NPS placements when they cannot provide an appropriate education themselves — a mandate that creates both opportunity and tension.
For Walnut Creek specifically, the new campus represents a net addition of specialized educational infrastructure at a time when the broader conversation about school funding — including the June 2026 primary results on Measure L — has sharpened community attention on where resources go and who they serve.
No opening date has been announced, but renovations are expected to begin this summer, with the aim of welcoming students for the 2026–27 school year. For updates on Summa Academy and special education resources in Contra Costa County, visit the California Department of Education Special Education Division or the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. Families interested in learning more about Summa Academy’s programs can reach the organization through its website at summaacademy.org.
