Chicago HS for the Arts

The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) is a premier public arts high school located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. As the city’s first public arts high school, it provides a unique educational model that integrates intensive pre-professional arts training with a rigorous college-preparatory academic curriculum. Students are selected through a competitive audition process, allowing them to specialize in one of five disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts. The school is designed to remove systemic barriers to high-quality arts education, ensuring that talented students from across Chicago have access to world-class instruction regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Beyond its academic and artistic rigor, ChiArts is recognized for fostering a deeply collaborative and supportive community. By dedicating half of the school day to conservatory-style training, students are mentored by professional working artists, which helps them build the skills and professional habits necessary for higher education or careers in the creative industries. The school prides itself on its high graduation and college acceptance rates, positioning itself as a vital institution that prepares the next generation of Chicago’s creative leaders to excel in both their academic pursuits and their chosen artistic crafts.