The Chicago Academy for the Arts

The Chicago Academy for the Arts is a nationally recognized independent high school for the performing and visual arts. Designated a National School of Distinction by the John F. Kennedy Center, The Academy offers students the opportunity to engage in a unique co-curricular program: rigorous, college-preparatory academic classes and professional-level arts training in the context of an unparalleled school culture.

The Academy’s school day consists of six 45-minute academic periods followed by a three-plus hour immersion in a student's chosen arts department: Dance, Media Arts (filmmaking, animation, creative writing), Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Visual Arts. At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, young artists master the skills necessary for academic success, critical thought, and creative expression.

For nearly four decades, students at The Chicago Academy for the Arts have combined their capacity for imagination with a sense of purpose to create a stunning body of meaningful work, and a community where young people thrive. Our unique educational model is simple, yet transformational. The Academy’s rigorous academic program and immersive, pre-professional arts training — in the context of a world-class educational culture — prepare our students for an incredible variety of paths beyond high school.

The 113 students comprising the classes of 2017-2019 collectively earned over $25 million in college scholarships, and are currently attending the best colleges, universities, and conservatories in the world, including Juilliard, Stanford, and Princeton. And from business to Broadway, from science to Sundance, our alums are making their mark on the world in a breathtaking variety of ways.

Most importantly, however, The Academy is characterized by its community. It is a special privilege to walk through our doors every day and be surrounded by an inspired and deeply invested student body, faculty, and staff. The Chicago Academy for the Arts transforms emerging artists through a curriculum and culture which connect intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity to impart skills to lead and collaborate across diverse communities.