Café Momentum Academy

EARN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WHILE WORKING AT CAFE MOMENTUM

Café Momentum Academy is a Cognia-accredited high school in Dallas, Texas, and is open to current and former Café Momentum Interns. A school built with them, and for them.

DALLAS INTERN APPLICATION

Our Impact

Numbers That Tell the Story

89

High School graduates

41%

Of the graduates went on to college

100+

Students served annually through CM Academy

2019

Year the Academy opened

Figures reflect 2019–2025 data in Dallas, TX.

About the Academy

Built for students that traditional schools left behind

Café Momentum Academy was created in 2019 because the data was clear: youth leaving the juvenile justice system struggled to stay enrolled in traditional schools. The barriers were too high, the flexibility too low and the support too thin.

Café Momentum Academy was built to change that.

Located in the Community Services Center, CM Academy serves current and former Café Momentum interns ages 16 to 19. Students pursue a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential while participating in our paid internship program (if a current intern), earning wages and credentials at the same time.

“Every student enrolled in our school is received from where they are academically and emotionally, and we move forward from there.”
Merry Watson, Director of Education & National Education Advisor.

How It Works

Three pillars, one path forward

Café Momentum Academy isn’t a traditional school. It’s an integrated system built around what students actually need to succeed.

Educational Pathways

Every Café Momentum Academy student begins with a comprehensive academic credit evaluation that maps their best path forward. Age, academic history and credits earned determine whether a student pursues the fully accredited high school diploma program or GED preparation, with the team guiding each decision.

Paid Culinary Internship

Active interns work in the Café Momentum restaurant and earn culinary arts credit toward their diploma. Attending at least 20 hours of school per week keeps interns eligible to work — academics and employment are designed to reinforce each other.

Wraparound Support

Case management, mental health resources, tutoring, financial aid guidance and post-secondary planning are part of the Café Momentum program and work hand in hand with Café Momentum Academy. Because all of our youth have their own starting line, we hold two graduation ceremonies per year, so every student’s milestone is celebrated.

Recognized by an international standard

Cognia-accredited since 2026. Our students' diplomas are recognized by colleges and employers nationwide — and that standard travels with us as we grow.

LEARN MORE

Dallas is just the beginning

Café Momentum Academy was built to scale. As Café Momentum expands to new cities, CM Academy can scale with it — because workforce development and a high school credential go hand in hand.

See our national expansion →

Enrollment

Ready to begin?

Café Momentum Academy is open to current and former Café Momentum interns. Prospective students must complete an application, have completed 8th grade, be at least 16 years old and meet at least two of the eligibility criteria below.