About The Academy

Created in 1981, 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 rigorous, college-preparatory academic classes and professional-level arts training in an unparalleled school culture. The Academy’s school day consists of academic courses and arts immersion in a student's chosen department of dance, media arts, music, musical theatre, theatre and visual arts. Young artists master the skills necessary for academic success, critical thought, and creative expression.

The 200+ graduates from 2018 to 2023 earned more than $50 million in college scholarships and gained admission to the nation’s best colleges, universities, and conservatories, from CalArts to Juilliard; from Stanford to Princeton.