Skip To Main Content

About Our School

Image

Our Mission:

"Community High School is a rigorous academic college preparatory magnet school that encourages students to use the entire community as a resource for study and fosters the development of independent learners who practice personal and social responsibility as they prepare for their post-secondary experience."

Our Culture:

Community High has been the public school of choice in Ann Arbor since 1972, and is one of the oldest public magnet schools in the United States. We are a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon high school, offering a unique, supportive, and academically challenging community. Admission is by lottery, with 300+ applicants annually for 132 seats in the freshman class. We facilitate innovative learning in the classroom and throughout the community. Our open campus environment fosters self-initiated learning opportunities and creates an environment similar to college, helping students transition into their post-secondary years. CHS has maintained its core values of independence, community engagement, and personalized learning.

Reputation of Excellence:

In 2019, Community High School was designated a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S Department of Education. The Michigan Department of Education has stated, “Community High School has been identified because it is ranked in the 99th percentile in the State due to excellent rankings in Math, Science, Reading, Social Studies, and Writing.” In 2023, CHS students ranked third in the state for SAT scores among high schools without entrance exam requirements, and sixth overall. CHS consistently ranks in the top twenty best high schools in the US. Colleges and universities have shared that our students are well prepared to succeed at the college level because they already know how to manage their time and the freedom of an open campus, and many already know how to schedule college courses, advocate for themselves with a professor, and attend office hours.

Small School, Open Minds:

Our 520 students take full advantage of a wide range of classes in 110 minute alternating, heterogeneously grouped blocks. More than a third of CHS students compete in varsity or club sports at their comprehensive high school. Forum Council is our student government run by students and staff. Our students may take classes at larger traditional high schools in the district if we do not offer a particular class at our school, and we have students from Huron, Pioneer, and Skyline who split enroll into our classes. Our students take hundreds of classes in our university community through the Community Resource program, which has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR). Many students take classes in AAPS CTE programs, including Homebuilding and Cosmetology. Community High does not have bells, a cafeteria, hall passes, tracking, AP/IB classes, or sports teams. We are a school built on relationships, trust, student voice, and a sincere desire to learn together within a rigorous, relevant curriculum.

Forum:

Forums are the heart of Community. These multi-grade groups of students, led by a forum teacher, provide a home base for students to engage in community service, team-building activities, peer-to-peer support, leadership roles, school-wide events, and more. All students remain in the same forum through graduation, continuing traditions and creating new ones, and forming a unique community within Community. Forum leaders serve as mentors, helping guide students in both their academic and personal growth.

Community Resource Program:

Community High’s courses extend beyond the walls of our historic building through our Community Resource (CR) program. Students create courses with an expert in the field to explore unique subjects and direct-learning experiences outside of the school building. AAPS certified teachers approve each course syllabus, with learning objectives aligned to state standards for over 600 courses, and students earn 0.5–1.0 units of academic credit for each course.

Students learning

Academics: Excellence Creatively Reimagined

At CHS, we take an alternative approach to learning that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our non-tracked, multi-age classes promote diversity of thought and creativity, and encourage collaboration among students at different academic levels. Rather than traditional separation by ability, students are challenged together, allowing them to push the boundaries of their learning in a dynamic and supportive environment. We emphasize depth of understanding over rote memorization by encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving across all subjects. Additionally, students have opportunities to engage in community-based learning through collaborations with local experts and organizations to apply their skills in real-world contexts. This integration of academics with community involvement not only enriches the learning experience for our students but also fosters a sense of responsibility and connection to the world around them. With this combination of academic challenge and community engagement, our graduates excel at even the most demanding post-secondary institutions. To receive a diploma, students must meet all the high school graduation requirements of the AAPS Board of Education. Students must earn a minimum of twenty-two credits for graduation. Visit the CHS Profile 2023-24 to see the information college admissions offices receive about our school.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Our Social Studies department focuses on developing critical thinking skills through various historical lenses to give students unique perspectives and prepare them for a rapidly changing global society. Beyond the core classes in history, government, and economics, we offer electives such as Indigenous Studies and Modern Global Relations. Our Mock Trial program provides rigorous research, legal mentoring, and public speaking experience. (They are eight time state champions and have been State Finalists every year since 2009!)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Our ELA Department offers courses that promote close textual reading and interpretation followed by analytical writing. Courses also explore argumentative, philosophical, creative, expository, and journalistic writing. Texts studied represent the American and world canons, including contemporary writings from diverse voices. CHS is consistently recognized as having one of the best journalism programs in the country, receiving top awards from Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, Columbia University, and National Scholastic Press Association for The Communicator, our online and print student publications. Students also produce the annual Midnight Sun Yearbook to encapsulate memories for decades to come.

MATHEMATICS

Math at CHS is student-centered and built on inquiry-based curricula. Students and teachers collaborate to build advanced proficiency in college-ready STEM skills, problem solving, and critical thinking. Our non-tracked courses have differentiated, rigorous curricula which include content to prepare students for AP Precalculus and Calculus (AB and BC) exams, and many of our students take post-calculus math classes at the University of Michigan as juniors or seniors.

students learning

FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE

Unique to Community High, the Foundations of Science (FOS) curriculum is a three-year sequence integrating biology, earth science, chemistry, and physics. Project- and lab-based, FOS meets the science content requirements in the State of Michigan. The FOS curriculum was created through a partnership with the University of Michigan’s Center for Highly Interactive Classrooms, Curricula & Computing in Education, and funded through a National Science Foundation grant.

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Our Wellness class is rooted in individualism and equity. The Advanced Health Public Health Policy class explores current, relevant public health issues, and the Trauma and Society class is a unique addition to our curriculum. We have partnerships with numerous community organizations, including the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Personal Fitness at Community High is designed to provide students a safe space to improve their mental, emotional, social, and physical health through exercise for students of all fitness levels.

ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE

Our Engineering and Computer Science courses develop skills in problem solving, research, and design. Students use Java and Python programming languages, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, and other cutting-edge tools for engineering, robotics, 3D modeling, programming, and prototyping. CHS teaches the innovative Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum, and is one of only a handful of PLTW Distinguished High Schools in Michigan.

WORLD LANGUAGE

We offer comprehensive language programs in Spanish, French, and American Sign Language through an innovative, proficiency-based curriculum that emphasizes real-world communication. Our students do not just learn about languages—they actively use them. Our World Language Department's mission is twofold: To empower students with practical language skills for meaningful communication, and to cultivate global citizens who can confidently navigate our diverse world.

VISUAL ARTS, THEATER & JAZZ

CHS students frequently win numerous art, photography, and jazz competitions, and gain acceptance to prestigious art and music schools nationwide. Students in our Jazz Program perform ninety+ concerts each year throughout the world, recording extensively. The program hosts a guest artist series led by Grammy winners and world-class musicians. CHS also features an excellent theater program, Community Ensemble Theatre, which puts on two full-production performances each year, as well as smaller performances. Students participate and take on leadership roles as actors, singers, dancers, and crew, learning through hands-on work in lighting, set and costume design, sound design and operation, marketing, graphic design, sales, and other production roles. Our Visual Arts Department offers hands-on studio experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and film and digital photography. Open Studio allows for personal exploration and skill development.