Art by Nyla Forman (Visual Arts ‘26)
collaboration with Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE)
WELCOME!
Dear Families,
As the new Head of School at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, it is my pleasure to welcome you to a place where creativity thrives, passion ignites, and dreams take flight. For over four decades, our institution has stood as a cornerstone of artistic excellence and academic rigor in the heart of Chicago, nurturing the talents of countless young artists who have gone on to shape the cultural landscape of our nation and beyond.
At The Academy, we believe in the transformative power of arts education. Our unique “co-curricular” model seamlessly blends intensive pre-professional arts training with a challenging academic curriculum, preparing our students not only for success in the arts but also for leadership in any field they choose to pursue. This holistic approach to education cultivates not only skilled artists but also well-rounded, critically thinking individuals ready to make their mark on the world.
Here, you’ll find a community unlike any other. Our halls buzz with the energy of dancers rehearsing their latest choreography, visual artists perfecting their original creations, musicians fine-tuning their compositions, and actors bringing new characters to life. Dedicated academic teachers and passionate professional artists support this vibrant atmosphere, mentoring the next generation of creative leaders.
The results speak for themselves. Our recent graduates have earned millions in scholarships and gained admission to prestigious institutions across the country, including renowned conservatories, art colleges, top-ranked colleges, and universities. But beyond these accolades, what truly sets our alums apart is their ability to think creatively, work collaboratively, and adapt to an ever-changing world – skills that serve them well whether they’re receiving Grammy nominations, making breakthroughs in scientific research, or launching innovative start-ups.
At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, we’re not just educating students; we’re cultivating a community of artists, thinkers, and innovators who will shape the future. Here, you’ll find your artistic voice, forge lifelong friendships, and discover passions you never knew you had. You’ll be challenged, inspired, and transformed.
As you explore our viewbook, I invite you to imagine yourself as part of our extraordinary community. Whether you’re a dancer, musician, actor, visual artist, animator, filmmaker, or writer, The Academy is a place where you can turn your artistic dreams into reality while preparing for a brilliant future in the arts or any field you choose.
Welcome to The Chicago Academy for the Arts. We can’t wait to see how you’ll make your mark.
Warm regards,
Dr. Melinda Zacher Ronayne Head of School
THE ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
#1
Arts high school in Illinois (Niche, 2025)
125
Approximate number of students per year 15 Average academic class size
Student productions per year– including concerts, musicals, recitals, and more < 3:1
Number of ZIP codes Academy students come from 120+
Student-to-teacher ratio, with over 50 full- and part-time teachers
20%
Higher ACT scores than the national average
$8 million Amount in merit scholarships earned by the Class of 2025 77
The Chicago Academy for the Arts is proud to be the 5th most diverse independent school in Illinois.
The Chicago Academy for the Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and a member of the following:
THE ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL MODEL
ARTS
Since its inception in 1981, The Academy has provided a home to serious young artists inspired to test the limits of their potential. Our students immerse themselves in three to five hours of daily arts training in one of six disciplines: Dance, Media Arts (filmmaking, animation, and writing), Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
COMMUNITY
We often say that there is nothing more important here than our community. Academy students and faculty alike are characterized by their passion, sense of purpose, and pursuit of excellence. As a result, everyone at The Academy is deeply invested in being here. About 2/3 of Academy graduates go on to careers in the arts, while 1/3 pursue the sciences, the humanities, business, and more.
While The Academy is renowned for its arts programs, our academic coursework is equally rigorous. Students engage deeply in courses designed to develop critical thinking skills across a broad array of subjects, including Women’s Literature, Computer Science, Global Affairs, Business and the Arts, World Religions, AP Statistics, Philosophy, and many more.
Each year, we revisit a list of statements we informally call “The Academy Method”—things we believe are critically important to the Academy experience. It is not a complete list, but rather some of the most important reminders about how we do what we do. Learn more on the next page.
THE ACADEMY METHOD
Academic study and arts training are co-curricular. Neither is more (nor less) important than the other; the authentic, disciplined immersion in each creates a powerful reciprocal relationship between the two.
Environment matters. Four decades ago, The Academy’s first students built a safe, inclusive, welcoming, and supportive community — one that unites students through their shared sense of purpose, passion, and pursuit of excellence. In the decades since, one of our primary goals has been to protect that culture, and as a result, our students truly want to be here.
Hire experts and give them the authority and autonomy to be the experts. We believe that placing decisionmaking as close to the classroom as possible dramatically increases the teacher’s ability to create transformative experiences for their students. Our teachers’ abilities to change students’ lives are not compromised by geographically (and philosophically) distant administrators, or powerful standardized testing corporations.
Cultivate individual responsibility. A small school does not need to create long lists of rules to prescribe and control every element of a student’s behavior. We have policies and rules like any school, but one theme guides student behavior more than anything else: At all times, work hard to be sensitive enough to your environment and recognize the right thing to do is. Then, do that thing.
Cultivate relationships. No one is anonymous at The Academy, partly because we are a small school, and partly because we value the potential for mentorship and human relationships at every level between students, teachers to students, and across all levels of the staff and administration. Community matters.
Expose young people to challenging material, high expectations, and critical feedback. We believe young people are capable of so much more than they are typically given credit for when exposed to the combination of these elements. There are no sanitized-for-school novels here; students routinely do jaw-dropping work, and even our most advanced students are used to receiving and integrating critical feedback.
Process matters. So does the product. We expect our students to work incredibly hard, seek and embrace the discomfort of receiving and integrating critical feedback to achieve excellent results.
ACADEMICS AT THE ACADEMY
During the first three hours of each school day, Academy students participate in challenging and engaging academic classes.
“I feel like I was given the independence I needed for the real world. There is no padding at this school, no constant monitoring or micromanagement.
You are put into an environment with expectations, and if you don’t meet them, you are not letting down the faculty, you are letting down yourself. It’s all about you and your ability to work for your future.”
––– Elena Music Department Student
ACADEMICS AT THE ACADEMY
Designated a National School of Distinction by the John F. Kennedy Center, The Academy has established a rigorous academic program that allows students to explore the humanities, as well as math, science, and technology.
Coursework for 9th and 10th graders is foundational and includes English, Social Studies, World Languages, Mathematics, and Science.
Students in 11th and 12th grade deepen their knowledge of these subjects by taking higher-level elective courses such as: Modern American History and Film, Literature and the Comedic Form, Street Law, Discrete Mathematics, and Botany. Students will find the work not only challenging but highly engaging and presented in a manner that is commensurate with honors-level courses at many schools.
Example of a 9th grade weekly schedule:
“The faculty are unique in that you really know them. You have teachers that you consider friends. And in respect to the amount of training they can provide you — I don’t know anywhere else like it.”
FACULTY
With more than 70 teachers (including full- and part-time arts instructors of local, national, and international acclaim, and full-time subject-area experts across the academic faculty), The Academy’s student-tofaculty ratio is just below 3:1. 71% of Academy teachers hold graduate degrees. The average faculty tenure is 10 years.
“The faculty really push the students towards their certain path and figure out what their strengths are. At the same point, they are pushing you to do more.”
Sydney Dance Department Student
ACADEMIC COURSE OFFERINGS
ENGLISH
MATHEMATICS
SCIENCE
SOCIAL STUDIES
WORLD LANGUAGES
ARTS ELECTIVES*
• African American Literature
• American Literature
• AP English Literature & Composition
• Creative Writing: Fiction
• Creative Writing: Poetry
• Detective Fiction
• Film as Literature
• Algebra I and II
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• Discrete Mathematics
• Advanced Concepts: Chemistry
• Advanced Concepts: Physics
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Astrology
• Biology
• AP Art History
• AP European History
• Civics
• Global Affairs
• Honors Philosophy
• AP French
• AP Spanish
• Business and the Arts
• Digital Arts and Media
• Graphic Novel as Literature
• Gothic Literature
• Imagining The End of the World: Dystopian and Apocalyptic Fiction
• Introduction to Literary Analysis
• Literature and the Comedic Form
• Literature of World War I
• Geometry
• Honors Algebra II
• Honors Geometry
• Honors Precalculus
• Botany
• Computer Science
• Environmental Science
• Health and Wellness
• Honors Computer Science Principles
• Honors World Religions
• Introduction to Psychology/Sociology
• Modern American History Through Film
• French I-III
• Honors French IV
• Introduction to Recording Arts and Commercial Music
• Poetic Genre and Form
• Shakespeare as Literature and Drama
• Women’s Literature
• Myth and Hero
• World Literature
• Honors Statistics
• Precalculus
• Laboratory Methods
• Plagues, Pests, and Politics
• Scientific Discourse and Debate
• Sophomore Chemistry/Physics
• Street Law
• U.S. History
• World History
• Spanish I-III
• Honors Spanish IV
• Rhetoric, Discourse, Speech and Debate
*The Academy offers arts elective courses to students across all arts departments. These courses run during the academic portion of the school day. Course offerings vary by semester based on curriculum needs. Please contact Admissions for the most up-to-date information.
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
“High school can be difficult to navigate for many kids, but my student found his niche at The Academy. I don’t think that his dedication would have happened without this school and its leadership. You can’t put a price tag on it.”
Elizabeth Cunningham Assistant Principal Director of Learning Resources
Anna Mijalski Humanities Department Co-Chair
Melissa Metelits Math, Science, and Technology Department Chair
Nick Roux Humanities Department Co-Chair
Liz
Media Arts Department Parent
RECENT COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
HUMANITIES
What students can expect:
Small classrooms driven by student discussion and curiosity define the Humanities Department’s approach to instruction. Under the Academy’s block schedule, students attend Humanities courses two to three times per week in 75-minute in-depth sessions that toggle between discussion, lecture small group work, in-class practice, and independent work.
The first two years of the Humanities Curriculum provide students with a core set of courses that provide fundamental approaches to analysis and learning, which they will use throughout their
time at The Academy. These courses include work in World and US History, an introduction to close reading and literary analysis, and placement in either French or Spanish.
The final two years are entirely elective-based and give students the chance to branch out into numerous areas of study: sociology, psychology, film, art history, language and culture, as well as a battery of subject-specific literature courses covering topics and genres such as the graphic novel, comedy, poetic form, African American literature, dystopias, the Gothic tradition, and many more.
The Humanities Department provides students with a broad foundation in literature, history, world languages, and electives to inform their art-making. In doing so, study in the Humanities orients students in the tradition of human thought and helps them become lifelong learners.
“I have had an amazing experience with the Humanities Department at The Academy. The teachers are strikingly passionate about the content of their courses and go above and beyond to provide us with the best learning experience possible. The close relationships I have established with teachers have made classes more engaging, and the coursework has offered me a new perspective on literature and art overall.”
MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
The Math, Science, and Technology Department (MST) not only provides the key courses to prepare students for life after graduation, but also offers a variety of advanced elective classes that encourage students to expand their knowledge past the required introductory topics.
“I like how the teachers are so supportive and will always encourage students to discover new things by themselves, while at the same time making the learning environment so comfortable and enjoyable.”
–– Sally Music Department Student
What students can expect:
The Math, Science, and Technology Department (MST) focuses on individual perspective, highlighting the multiple ways students approach problem solving, as well as student exploration and investing in what they find most interesting about the curriculum. While MST teachers love “the answer,” they more importantly create engaging environments that emphasize and celebrate the process. This includes applications of math, science, and tech to all sorts of areas of life, allowing students to ultimately draw their own connections with educated observations.
The MST team includes teachers who are enthusiastic about one-on-one conversations and mentoring for students who
may need additional support. There is rigorous work in and outside of class for students to demonstrate learning, investigate big ideas, and practice productive struggle.
The sciences offer Biology and combined Chemistry/Physics as introductory courses, and then a range of options that include more in-depth and thorough studies of the physical and life sciences, and beyond. Mathematics offers the common track of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and often Precalculus, with the option to take electives in Computer Science, Calculus, Statistics, and more. Select courses have honors or AP opportunities for students hoping for an extra challenge.
ARTS AT THE ACADEMY
Academy students are immersed in 15-30 hours of pre-professional arts training per week.
“I love how secure I feel when I am in the building. Bad day or good, I always feel supported. Being able to have friends and teachers that feel like part of your family is awesome.”
––– Isaiah Dance Department Student
ARTS LEADERSHIP
“You guys are ahead of the curve. I was in college before I knew the difference between linear and non-linear films. This is an exciting high school. When you study the arts, you study life.”
Ben Dicke Theatre Department Chair
Andy Robinson Musical Theatre Department Chair
Margy Stover Visual Arts Department Chair
–– Roger Ebert Film Critic
Rachel Brown Music Department Chair
Sarah Hiatt Media Arts Department Chair
Randy Duncan Dance Department Chair
Patrick Simoniello Assistant Dance Department Chair
ARTS COURSE OFFERINGS
DANCE
• Allegro
• Ballet A, B, & C
• Dance Composition
MEDIA ARTS
• Advanced Animation
• Animation Essentials
• Animation Studies
• Book Design
• Creative Nonfiction
• Fiction I and II
MUSIC
Classroom Instruction:
• Advanced Digital Production
• Audio Engineering
• Introduction to Recording Arts and Commercial Music
• Musicianship I, II, III, and IV
• Songwriting
MUSICAL THEATRE
Acting:
• Introduction to Acting
• Intermediate Acting
• Advanced Acting
• Jazz A, B, & C
• Modern Technique A, B, & C
• Partnering
• Film Aesthetics
• Film Editing
• Lighting & Cinematography
• Photography I and II
• Poetry
• Screenwriting
Ensemble Instruction:
• Chamber Ensemble
• Classical Vocal Workshop
• Electronic Ensemble
• Jazz Combo
• Jazz Vocal Workshop
• Pop/Rock Ensemble
• Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Dance:
• Jazz
• Modern
• Ballet
• Musical Theatre
Dance Repertoire
THEATRE
• Acting for the Camera*
• Acting I–VI
• Circus*
• Directing
• Improvisation*
VISUAL ARTS
• Color Theory
• Design
• Digital Photography
Each student is a member of one of the Academy’s six arts departments: Dance, Media Arts, Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, or Visual Arts. The courses offered in each department are designed to immerse students in 3-5 hours of professional quality arts training every day. Faculty members assess students individually in each course per semester. In addition to their regular arts classwork, students participate in over 120 productions and exhibitions throughout the school year. Seniors also present major final projects (such as recitals, exhibits, and films) as a graduation requirement.
Musical Theatre:
• Musical Theatre History and Studio I and II
• Introduction to Theatre
• Playwriting*
• Production & Design I and II
• Rehearsal/Performance
• Script Analysis
• Drawing
• Four-Dimensional Studio
• Interdisciplinary Art
• Pointe A & B
• Pre-Barre Body Alignment
• Senior Seminar
• Studio Class
• Video Production I and II
• Workshop
Private Lesson Instruction:
• Classical Lessons
• Commercial Music Lessons
• Composition Lessons
• Jazz Lessons
• Studio Class
Voice:
• Private Voice Instruction
• Voice Repertoire and Studio
• Music Theory
• Ensemble Singing
• Senior Seminar
• Stage Combat*
• Stagecraft I and II
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
*Courses offered on a rotating basis.
DANCE
What students can expect:
At the core of The Academy’s dance training is the intensive study of multiple techniques. Academy dancers study ballet daily as well as jazz, modern, pointe, partnering, and improvisation. Dancers receive guidance on professional preparation, focus and artistic development from our Dance faculty, who all have extensive and multifaceted dance careers. Biannually, faculty evaluate students individually, mentoring them through achievements, challenges and continuous future growth.
Dancers attend rehearsals after school and on weekends. Two annual
professionally-produced performances include a winter senior-choreographed dance concert and a spring faculty/guest-choreographed dance concert. The Dance Department works with iconic and rising professional choreographers, providing students with unique opportunities to develop as future professionals. Dancers also audition for The Repertory Dance Company directed by Dance Chair Randy Duncan and coached by Harriet Ross. The Repertory Dance Company serves as youth ambassadors to Chicago’s dance community, performing locally and beyond.
The Academy’s Dance Department prepares young dancers for a professional career in the performing arts by instilling three important core values: preparation, conduct, and skill. These values lead to a young pre-professional dancer that embodies not only artistic excellence but also the ability to handle the rigor of the artform on all levels. Instead of competing, students train and learn through technique classes, rehearsals, performances, and relationship building.
“We thought we were choosing The Academy for the guidance for our daughter’s dance career. What we received was that plus so much more. Now, as we end this chapter of our lives, our daughter begins her next chapter at Juilliard, and a dream has come true. A dream we could not have accomplished without The Academy.”
Spring Dance Concert, 2024
Spring Dance Concert, 2024
MEDIA ARTS
The Academy’s Media Arts Department introduced the first comprehensive digital motion picture program for high school students in the country. It continues to be at the forefront of teaching storytelling through the three pillars of film, animation, and creative writing. Though most students major in one of these three pillars, the Media Arts curriculum offers courses in photography, poetry, fiction writing, screenwriting, book design, video production, and more. Above all, the Media Arts Department’s primary focus is storytelling.
What students can expect:
All Media Arts students work together on idea development and critique. Regardless of the student’s major, filmmakers and animators benefit from studying the written word and writers develop their work by exploring visual mediums.
Students also have the exciting opportunity to showcase their work in professional venues across Chicago. Recent venues include Music Box Theatre, FACETS, and the Color Club. Students also submit works to various festivals and, recently, three students had their films selected for the All-American High School Film Festival in New York City.
At the end of each year, students meet individually with Media Arts faculty to evaluate their work. In these narrative evaluation sessions, students receive thoughtful critique from faculty, perform self-evaluations, and formulate plans for the next school year. Seniors present their thesis during their Senior Showcase, which highlights a Media Arts student’s growth during their Academy tenure.
“As an animator and filmmaker, my son has been able to learn and utilize his talents and skills every day. It’s safe to say that even though most teens don’t enjoy homework, he does — especially when it has to do with creating film. Being able to learn the arts at their age puts them ahead of the majority of their peers outside of The Academy.”
Above: Advanced Photography Exhibition, 2025
Below: Still from Creep Critters by Tess Neiman (‘26)
Photography by Liv Downing (‘25)
MUSIC
What students can expect:
Music students receive conservatory preparatory education through private lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and studio class. Unlike traditional models of music education that limit students to one style or genre, all Music students receive mastery level training in a range of styles, including Jazz, Classical, Experimental, and Commercial
Students perform legendary works from the classical and jazz canon alongside pieces by historically suppressed composers. Music students also become well-versed in creating original compositions in a multitude of genres ranging from full-scale operatic pieces to commercial beats in the Academy’s state-of-the-art recording studio. See page 34 to learn more.
Centered in the artistically-rich city of Chicago, Music students have ample opportunity to perform both on and off campus at esteemed venues such as the Jazz Showcase, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Studebaker Theatre, and Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University.
Students regularly perform in state-wide festivals including the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival, University of Illinois Chicago Jazz Festival, and more. They collaborate with world-class organizations such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, and Friends of the Gamelan.
Students also present an annual Silenced Voices concert, during which they celebrate and highlight typically underrepresented groups in music.
Music Department students grow into versatile, adventurous, and collaborative artists under the guidance of first-class professional musicians. Through a holistic and practical approach to music education, students prepare to join today’s music industry while gaining the skills necessary to shape the music landscape of the future.
“The Academy is different because they care. At The Academy, you get such a personalized experience because they want you to succeed and do your best. Another thing is that every student wants to be there, so it’s nice to be in an environment where people all enjoy and love what they do and the school they go to.”
Showcase, 2025
AIDS Benefit, 2024
MUSICAL THEATRE
Musical Theatre Department students master storytelling in three different disciplines: voice, dance, and acting. Musical Theatre students are taught by professional working artists. In addition to the department’s permanent faculty, students also benefit from working with a rotating roster of guest artists from Chicago’s most reputable and innovative professional theaters. These artists prioritize their students’ education while simultaneously developing their own personal projects.
What students can expect:
For Musical Theatre students, performance is a key part of learning –and students have ample opportunity for it. The department produces four to five mainstage shows per year, including two musical theatre productions and several plays as part of the Academy’s annual Shakespeare Festival in collaboration with the Theatre Department. The Academy is small by design so that all Musical Theatre students play an active role in department performances.
A typical week of training includes a private voice lesson, a voice repertoire class that combines acting and
singing techniques, and two periods of ensemble singing and music theory
Acting meets twice a week, and Musical Theatre Studio meets once a week. Dance classes include jazz, modern, ballet, and musical theatre styles.
In addition to Academy productions, Musical Theatre students also participate in external festivals and competitions. In 2025, Academy students placed as finalists in at the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards, with one advancing to compete at the National High School Musical Theatre (or “Jimmy”) Awards in New York City.
“If you are looking for a career in the arts, the training that you get here is second to none. We do two challenging musical productions a year, in addition to a Shakespeare festival. You get so much exposure to different works and techniques that by the time you are going to college, you have the confidence to audition and succeed.”
Into the Woods, 2024
A Little Night Music, 2023
Merrily We Roll Along, 2025 Photography courtesy of The Academy
THEATRE
What students can expect:
The Theatre Department showcases the top-tier training each student receives through a large number of performance opportunities. A typical production schedule includes fall and spring plays, up to two directing showcases, circus project performances, and more. Additionally, department members are encouraged to audition for Media Arts Department student films.
Each January, The Academy presents a groundbreaking Shakespeare Festival in collaboration with the Musical Theatre Department where students are cast in one of several shows. The festival is one of the most immersive and challenging production experiences available to young theatre makers in the country and provides students with hands-on experience exploring the text of Shakespeare during a three week rehearsal and production period.
At the end of each semester, students meet individually with Theatre Department faculty to discuss their progress and trajectory in the department. Seniors focus on college plans and perform a final showcase of work that celebrates their tenure at The Academy.
The Theatre Department involves immersive training in theatre and performance studies. Classes fall into four major categories: Acting, Performance Technique, Theatre Studies, and Production & Technical Theatre. Theatre Department students gain a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses both as artists and as professionals working in the industry and beyond. They explore up to twenty topics in the discipline including stagecraft, directing, stage makeup, audition technique, and the business of theatre.
“The Academy Theatre Department created a community where I could safely grow into a young adult who has the confidence to stand taller and speak louder. Between the technical theatre skills I developed and the life lessons I learned, I am a better actor, artist, and student.”
–– Lila Theatre Department Student
Pride and Prejudice, 2023
Showcase, 2025
Women and War: A Greek Play Festival, 2025
Photo courtesy of Curtis Matzke
VISUAL ARTS
Within the Visual Arts Department’s framework, students learn under three main principles: studio practice, critique, and exhibition. From this multifaceted educational style, students develop skills through verbal presentation and the written word. By participating in core arts courses, students become self-directed artists who are guided to pursue their own interests in different mediums.
What students can expect:
Each student takes drawing, design, and color theory courses, and selects from electives in printmaking, painting, sculpture, four-dimensional studio, and interdisciplinary arts. The Visual Arts Department’s curriculum equally values process and product by pairing traditional arts training with contemporary art-making practices. Faculty teach technical skills that build critical integrity to cultivate young artists who are independent, ambitious, and thoughtful makers.
While the Visual Arts curriculum is student-centered and portfolio-based, students value their peers and understand that their unique artwork is a result of a collaborative and rigorous studio environment. Courses encourage students to explore,
experiment, and develop proficiency with different processes, materials, and art forms en route to finding their artistic voice.
Each year, students develop their ability to discuss and critique the work of their peers, frequent Chicago’s art museums and galleries, show their work in multiple exhibitions per year including an annual juried exhibition, and are inspired by visiting alumni working across diverse professional art and design fields.
During the first year of the Visual Arts program, students focus on building foundational and technical skills. In advanced years, students develop a portfolio for college admissions and create a body of work for their Senior Exhibition.
“I’ll never forget the excitement of installation week and the long hours Marsha would spend in the studio — plaster dust footprints left behind. The Visual Arts Department represents a unique bond among its students and instructors.”
Life Cycles by Lea Mira (‘23)
ADMISSIONS
Dear Future Academy Students and Parents,
We are thrilled that you are considering The Chicago Academy for the Arts for your high school experience! Below you will find the steps needed to apply to The Academy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
We look forward to guiding you through the application process!
Amanda LePard, Ali Kane, and Ari Ferris Academy Admissions Team admissions@chicagoartsacademy.org
312.421.0202
HOW TO APPLY
Priority Application Deadline: January 5, 2026*
STEP 1: COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION
The Online Application consists of the following sections:
• Student and family information form.
• Preliminary audition for the applicant’s arts department of choice.
• Application fee: $89 for rising 9th graders, $150 for rising 10th and 11th graders as well as international students. (The Academy does not admit rising 12th graders.)
*Applicants may apply after this date, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis as space remains available in each arts department.
STEP 2: SHADOW DAY, LIVE AUDITION, AND ACADEMIC REVIEW
Students who qualify after completing Step 1 are invited to participate in a shadow day, prepare for their live audition, and submit materials for Academic Review. All shadow days and auditions will be in person and are required for admission into The Academy – however, virtual auditions are available upon request for out-of-state and international applicants.
Amanda LePard, Ali Kane, and Ari Ferris
SHADOW DAY
Once an applicant qualifies, they will be able to schedule their shadow day with the Admissions Team. Applicants will attend a full day at The Academy (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and shadow a student ambassador from their prospective department. This gives applicants the opportunity to see a typical day of academic and arts classes here at The Academy!
LIVE AUDITION
Priority Live Audition Day: January 24, 2026
Applicants must complete Step 1 by January 5, 2026 to be considered for this live audition date. Applicants who complete Step 1 after January 5, 2026 will complete their Live Audition on their selected rolling admissions shadow day.
More information about what to prepare for your live audition can be found on our website at chicagoacademyforthearts.org/audition-requirements.
ACADEMIC REVIEW
Priority Deadline: February 9, 2026
• Transcripts and attendance records from the applicant’s current school year and previous two years of schooling. (Example: 9th grade applicants must submit 8th, 7th, and 6th grade transcripts.)
• Two essays. Prompts can be found on our website at the link below.
• LMAIS Recommendation Forms from the applicant’s current English and Math teachers and their Head of School or School Counselor.
• Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) results, or PSAT results*
• If applicable: any additional documentation such as evaluations and/or learning plans.
*Please contact the Admissions Office if your child has taken another standardized test.
After these materials have been received, parents and guardians will schedule a 30-minute parent interview with the Director of Enrollment Management.
More information about the Academic Review materials can be found on our website at chicagoacademyforthearts.org/academic-review
Admissions Notifications:
Priority decisions sent: February 27, 2026
Priority decisions reply: March 9, 2026
TUITION AND AFFORDABILITY
The Chicago Academy for the Arts is one of the most diverse independent schools in the Midwest. The Academy’s diversity is made evident in the student body’s gender identity, race, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and culture.
Base tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $37,512 plus various fees. The Access and Affordability Committee is dedicated to working with each family who applies for need-based tuition assistance and awards nearly $2 million each year to families who qualify. Historically, about half of all students qualify for tuition assistance.
APPLY FOR TUITION
ASSISTANCE
Priority Deadline: January 5, 2026*
Families interested in being considered for tuition assistance (including Daniel Murphy and HFS Scholars) must complete an application in FACTS. International students and students applying for mid-year transfer are not eligible for tuition assistance. Please contact the Admissions Office to learn more.
*Families may apply after this date, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis as funding remains available.
More information can be found at chicagoacademyforthearts.org/tuition.
OPEN HOUSES
Fall Open House: Arts & Academics
Saturday, October 25 • 10:00 a.m.
Conversation with Head of School
Mindy Ronayne (in person)
Wednesday, November 12 • 6:00 p.m.
Academics At The Academy Open House
Thursday, January 15 • 5:30 p.m.
Conversation with Head of School
Mindy Ronayne (virtual)
Wednesday, February 11 • 6:00 p.m.
Spring Open House: Arts & Academics
Friday, March 20 • 2:30 p.m.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does my child need to have formal training to audition? How difficult is it to be accepted?
The Academy’s acceptance rate for the 2024-2025 school year was 70%. Students must be able to fulfill the audition requirements, but that does not necessarily mean that they have formal training in or outside of school. Formal training is more common in some arts disciplines, like dance or music, but is not a prerequisite. Students must also be strong academically in order to be considered for admission. The Academy is a co-curricular program, where arts and academics are seen as equally important to one another.
53% of Academy students commute from outside the city of Chicago. The Academy provides school buses to and from the four major Metra stations (Union, La Salle, Van Buren, and Ogilvie). I do not live in Chicago. How do families from outside of the city get to school?
Though the Learning Resources Department at The Academy is limited in the support it can provide for students with identified and documented learning differences, The Academy provides a daily 45-minute advisory period in the middle of each day, allowing ample opportunities for students to receive instructional support from their teachers and meet with the school counselor. The Assistant Principal/Director of Learning Resources is responsible for the case management of students whose families have submitted documentation of school-related learning issues. Are students with learning differences eligible for admission?
My student is interested in multiple arts departments. Why do they have to choose? Can they take courses in other departments?
One of the Academy’s primary goals is to prepare students to successfully audition at the most selective college, university, and conservatory arts programs in the world. Therefore, it is important that students pick one area of concentration to specialize in. We do provide arts electives to 11th and 12th graders, and during the academic blocks, most arts departments offer a course for students to choose from, ranging from studio art to film production and music theory.
Can my child shadow before beginning the application process?
The short answer is no. Shadow days are a required step in the application process for The Academy. Because we are a small school with lots of interest, shadow days are only scheduled once a prospective family completes the Online Application and their preliminary audition has been reviewed. This is to ensure that our current students who are dedicated student ambassadors are able to accommodate a higher number of tours. We encourage prospective families to attend an Open House in person and/or contact the Admissions Team with any questions.
LIFE AT THE ACADEMY
The Academy has over 120 productions each year, including concerts, plays, musicals, readings, screenings, and exhibitions. The Academy’s urban location offers students unparalleled access to — and partnerships with — some of the world’s most renowned arts organizations and professionals.
STUDENT CLUBS AND PRODUCTIONS
At The Academy, students have opportunities to take part in various extracurricular activities and clubs. Due to our unique schedule, many clubs meet in the middle of the school day during an Advisory period.
Additionally, we approach community service through art and our two annual student-produced benefit concerts: the AIDS Benefit and Black Student Union Benefit.
ANNUAL STUDENT-RUN AIDS BENEFIT
Students are active in leadership roles outside of class and undertake significant student-led projects, including the annual AIDS Benefit, which routinely raises over $10,000 for HIV/AIDS research and support. Since its beginning in 1997, the AIDS Benefit has become one of the staples of the Academy community.
Academy students present this variety show without faculty direction. They are not only responsible for the performance, but also for
everything that goes on behind the scenes. In the years since the event’s inception, students have extended their support to many organizations in Chicago including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Chicago House & Social Service Agency.
We look forward to celebrating The Academy’s 29th anniversary of the AIDS Benefit during the 2025-2026 school year.
ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH BENEFIT
The Academy is proud to host an annual Black History Month showcase and fundraiser, presented by our Black Student Union. 2025 brought us the theme of Influence on Genre: The Black Effect.
All proceeds were donated to LINK Unlimited Scholars, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering Black students through educational access and mentorship. The organization’s collaboration with the Black Student Union strengthened the showcase’s
mission to promote Black excellence and to foster meaningful community engagement.
The Academy’s Black Student Union was created by two alumni in 2018 with the purpose of fostering an open and honest space for Black students, instilling a sense of community and partnership. In addition to the annual Black History Month Benefit, students in BSU hold multiple discussions and activities throughout the school year.
STUDENT CLUBS
Current extracurricular offerings include (but are not limited to!) the following:
Black Student Union
Chess Club
Feminist Theory
Film Club
Gender Sexuality Alliance
Health and Wellness
Jewish Student Union
Latinx Student Union
Math Club
Sustainability Society
Youth and Government
Yearbook Club
Yarn and Yap
Pictured right: Youth and Government, 2025
Influence on Genre: The Black Effect, 2025
THE JUSTIN TRANTER RECORDING STUDIO
This state-of-the-art recording facility was made possible by a generous gift from Academy alum and Grammy nominated hit songwriter Justin Tranter (Musical Theatre ‘98). In addition to the physical facility, Justin’s gift funds The Academy’s Recording Arts and Commercial Music Program.
Recording technology has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Gone are the days when making a record required a giant mixing console, reel-to-reel tape machines, and racks filled with signal processors. (A free iPhone app has considerably more editing power than The Beatles ever had access to.)
Students gain hands-on experience working with industry-standard tools to produce original music. But most importantly, the program fosters their abilities as artists. These students have another avenue to develop and harness the power of their creative voices.
The Justin Tranter Recording Studio features:
• Control room with top-of-the-line recording software, including ProTools and Ableton, the computing firepower to handle the processing, and all of the necessary hardware (including controllers, digital interfaces, and monitors)
• Tracking room with an extensive microphone collection, a vocal booth, and acoustic paneling (in addition to the school’s existing professional instrument collection)
• Lab featuring four modern production workstations (computer, software, controllers, interfaces, and monitors) for classroom use and individual projects
Justin on stage with students at Showcase, 2023
THE TOM FISKE PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM
Whether for filmmaking, graphic design, animation, or mixed media, digital photography is an essential skill for any contemporary art-maker. With that in mind, The Academy launched a formal photography curriculum in the fall of 2018. The photography courses are a collaborative program between the Visual and Media Arts Departments, made possible by Academy friend and supporter Tom Fiske.
New students take Digital Photography as part of the Design curriculum. The principal skills and concepts of digital photography are explored as students take a critical eye to the composition and content of photographs. Students experiment with the distinction of taking versus making a photographic image, and learn the basics of processing and printing digital images.
Students learn how to control manual settings on a camera such as exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Digital Photography students also learn how to edit images via Adobe Photoshop, and how to format and print images operating a high-resolution photo printer.
Photography is required for all students in 9th grade in both the Visual and Media Arts Departments. Students in all grades have access to equipment and guided studio time as an integrated part of other coursework and practices.
Tom working with a Media Arts student
