Expression, action, inspiration, collaboration and achievement all have a home at The Chicago High School for the Arts. It's also a place where around 600 students grow their academic, social and public lives.
As a specialized contract public school that opened in 2009, ChiArts attracts students from across the city. That said, residents of nearby Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park, Wicker Park and East Garfield all enjoy a shorter commute than farther-flung attendees. The result: a diverse, dynamic group of students pursuing what they love.
Diversity extends to the curriculum, and there are too many specific courses of study at ChiArts to list them all here. However, the overall format is similar for everyone. In addition to attending general education courses supported by 14 Advanced Placement classes, students pursue an arts track: brass and woodwinds, strings, guitar, percussion, piano, creative writing, theater, musical theater, dance, vocal music or visual arts.
ChiArts's impact goes beyond academic and professional development via social activist clubs, the Mikva Challenge and community service programs. To get students involved and keep them balanced, there's also tutoring, nutrition workshops, a restorative justice system, peer mentoring and student government.
If this sounds like a good fit, take a look at the school's website. You'll find more details alongside specific directions on preparing for an audition. However, be aware that this is a privately managed contract school that requires a minimum standardized test score to apply. Good luck or, in the case of performance students, break a leg.
Chicago High School for the Arts
Public High School
|
Grade 9-12
2714 W Augusta Blvd,
Chicago, IL
Chicago Public Schools
School Details
Head of School
Terri Milsap
Average SAT Score
1070
Average ACT Score
24
Math Proficiency
17%
Reading Proficiency
37%
Average GPA
3.33
Graduation Rate
92%
Niche Grade
B
A
B+
C
B-
C-
C-
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.33
Reading Proficiency
37%
Math Proficiency
17%
Teachers
Full Time Teachers
0
Teachers in First or Second Year
4.7%
College Prep
Average SAT
1070
Math
520
Verbal
550
Average ACT
24
Math
21
English
25
Reading
26
Science
22
Number of AP Courses
14
AP Pass Rate
51.9%
AP Math Enrollment
Low
AP Science Enrollment
Average
Other AP Enrollment
Very High
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Very Low
Boys Athletic Participation
Very Low
GreatSchools Rating
Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating Details
Teachers and Staff
Students Per Counselor
205:1
Student Diversity
Female
74.8%
Male
24.9%
Hispanic
41%
Black
34.4%
White
19.5%
Asian or Pacific Islander
2%
Two or more races
2%
Native American
<1%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
<1%
Interested in learning more about homes nearby? Reach out to Kathleen Schroeder, an agent with experience near this school.
Specialty School Programs
AP Programs Offered
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Colleges Students are Considering
Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
DePaul University
208 Students
University of Illinois Chicago
197 Students
Columbia College Chicago
183 Students
Loyola University Chicago
142 Students
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
135 Students
Northwestern University
123 Students
Northern Illinois University
113 Students
Roosevelt University
101 Students
Illinois State University
86 Students
New York University
73 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Dance
102 Students
Psychology
92 Students
Music Performance
90 Students
Acting
64 Students
Business
63 Students
Drama and Theatre Production
57 Students
Music
53 Students
Creative Writing
49 Students
Film and Video Studies
45 Students
Biology
37 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
12/27/2023
I wish I could give a higher score for Arts & Music. This is a fine arts high school within the Chicago Public School system. My child applied and was acceted and thus far is having a wonderful expereince. It has been a wonderful place for her to learn and grow and she has taken every opportunity and run with it. Her accademic opportunities have been great, she is confident and supported, and she has grown within her conservatory. It is a very long day (8am - 5pm daily) and across town from home which makes for a longer day but this has been very good for her and I have no doubt that it will helo her transition from HS to college to the real world. 10/10. If your child is an artist at heart, I highly reccomend auditioning for ChiArts.
10/18/2023
My experience at Chiarts has been great. So many great opportunities with the art you want to study. There is so many talented teachers who do the arts as their career. The best part is the performance you do for your art and during the school year. The culture showcases are awesome. The worst experience is just the communication with the students on certain things. I would love to see change in the school is more organized communication. They really need to work on that.
7/19/2023
It has been a great experience. I've been able to learn so many styles of dance and learn how to make my foundation stronger from what I had first started off with.
GreatSchools Reviews
6/22/2024
My child will be a sophomore in the visual arts (VA) program, so I am speaking as a parent with a little bit of experience. ChiArts is the right place for my child and I’m so happy that they were admitted. Two things happened last fall that I believe improved ChiArts for the better, based on other r...
7/6/2023
Oh, ChiArts. Such conflicting feelings about this place.Let’s start with the positives. Most of the teachers are amazing people who are really passionate about teaching and helping their students. The student body is also really diverse and a great way for kids to learn from a variety of perspective...
5/8/2018
My sibling recently auditioned for the dance program and performed a hip hip routine not knowing the program is mostly based on ballet. It seems like a great school for other fields in the fine arts but I think there should have been more of a variety in the types of dances taught and not just solel...
3/7/2014
Chicago High School for the Arts is a great place for opportunity in the arts and in the world of academia. There the students have the chance to be challenged and gain the tools necessary to be successful in their desired field.
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Map
About Humboldt Park
List Price Range
$192K - $2.8M
Homes For Sale
7
Average Home Value
$433,224
Median Lot Size
3,049 Sq Ft
% Renters
69%
Household Income
$83,089
% of College Grads
33.5%
Median Age
36
Average House Size
2,680 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
61.9%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 9th to 12th
- Public
Parks in this Area
The 606 - Bloomingdale Trail
- Bike Trails
- Trails
- Playground
Grand Park
- Playground
Simons (Almira) Park
- Basketball
- Trails
- Playground
Humboldt Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Bike Trails
Beilfuss (Albert W.) Park
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Snapping Turtle Park
- Playground
Kells (George) Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Football
- Soccer
Park No. 432
- Multi-Purpose Field
Central Park
- Playground
Additional Neighborhoods in this Area
Logan Square
Urban amenities and historic charm 7 miles from downtown Chicago
Ukrainian Village
Authentic Ukranian cuisine and culture just three miles from Chicago's River North
Wicker Park
Historic neighborhood with a famed shopping district
Hermosa
Blue-collar community with strong manufacturing roots and rich Latin culture
Garfield Park
A revitalizing west Chicago neighborhood centered around an expansive park
West Humboldt Park
Culture-rich Chicago community on the cusp of revitalization