What Makes The Chicago Academy for the Arts a Unique Arts High School?
The Chicago Academy for the Arts students on stage
For aspiring young artists, choosing a high school can feel like choosing a first step toward a lifetime of creative exploration. But what if that step didn’t force you to choose between academic excellence and professional arts training? At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, students don’t have to choose — they get both.
Nestled in the heart of Chicago, The Academy is a nationally recognized independent high school where rigorous academics and immersive arts training are part of the same meaningful journey. This distinctive model, called the co-curricular approach, is what truly sets The Academy apart.
A Day Built for the Whole Artist
If you walked into The Academy on any school day, you’d see students engaged in deep intellectual inquiry in the morning: grappling with literature, world languages, history, and science. And in the afternoon? The same students are fully immersed in intensive arts training that mirrors real professional environments: studios, stages, labs, galleries, and production spaces where art isn’t just learned…it’s lived.
This intentional blend means students don’t compartmentalize creative expression and academic learning. Instead, they apply critical thinking and intellectual curiosity across disciplines, building the kind of versatile creative thinkers that thrive in college, careers, and in life.
What is the Co-Curricular Model?
At the core of The Academy’s identity is its co-curricular educational model: a structure where college-preparatory academics and professional-level arts training are designed to be equal parts of the learning experience.
Here’s how it works:
Academic Classes: The school day includes a modified block schedule of discussion-based academic courses and a flex period that allows for faculty advising, deeper study, and collaboration.
Arts Immersion: After academics, students spend more than three hours daily in their chosen arts discipline — Dance, Media Arts, Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, or Visual Arts — working with faculty who are professional artists and educators.
This isn’t “arts after school.” It’s professional arts training woven directly into the rhythm of the school day, so students grow as thinkers and creators.
A Mission That Shapes the Experience
The Academy’s mission is clear yet profound: The Chicago Academy for the Arts transforms emerging artists through a curriculum and culture that connect intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity to impart skills to lead and collaborate across diverse communities.
This mission underpins everything we do, from curriculum design to community values. Students don’t just learn to perform or create art…they learn to question, reflect, collaborate, and lead in a world where creative thinking is vital.
Creativity, Community & Culture
What truly makes the Academy feel unique isn’t only the coursework — it’s the culture. Students consistently describe the environment as supportive and inspiring. That sense of community, where peers, mentors, and faculty cheer successes, share challenges, and believe in one another, is a defining element of the Academy experience.
Unlike larger schools where students might feel lost in the crowd, The Academy’s smaller size fosters chances for meaningful connections, leadership roles, and personalized mentorship across every discipline.
Beyond the Classroom and Studio
At The Academy, learning isn’t confined to essays and rehearsals. Students participate in hundreds of performances, exhibitions, screenings, readings, and productions each year. Through these opportunities, students learn how to give and receive professional critique, navigate collaborative processes, and present their work with confidence — skills that serve them well beyond graduation.
Preparing Artists for Tomorrow
The Academy’s co-curricular model equips students with the tools to thrive in a wide range of paths, whether that’s at a top conservatory, a competitive university, or in careers that blend artistry with innovation.
What makes The Chicago Academy for the Arts truly unique is its understanding that artists are thinkers and leaders, not just performers or makers. Here, academics and arts aren’t separate goals; they are complementary ways of preparing young people to contribute meaningfully to the world.
Ready to Learn More?
Curious to experience The Academy’s vibrant community first-hand? Visit campus, connect with admissions, and discover how the co-curricular model transforms education into something extraordinary.
Because at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, creativity and intellect don’t just coexist. They propel students forward.
Apply today: https://www.chicagoacademyforthearts.org/admissions
