Communications Arts High School: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox School |
{{Infobox School |
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|name = Communications Arts High School |
|name = Communications Arts High School |
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|fundingtype= [[Public school (government funded)|Public]] |
|fundingtype= [[Public school (government funded)|Public]] |
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|schooltype= [[High school#United States|High School]] [[Magnet school|Magnet]] |
|schooltype= [[High school#United States|High School]] [[Magnet school|Magnet]] |
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|enrollment= 530 (as of 2009-2010)<ref name="Newsweek"></ref> |
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|free_label= Logo |
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|logo= [[File:CAHSLogo.svg]] |
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|yearbook= Unity |
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'''Communications Arts High School''' ( |
'''Communications Arts High School''' (commonly '''Comm Arts''' or '''CAHS''') is a [[magnet school]] in the [[Northside Independent School District]] of [[San Antonio, Texas]]. Founded in 1995,<ref name="Magnet High Schools Recruiting Students"/> the school has an enrollment of 100-130 students per class, accepting 130 freshmen per year.<ref name="About" /> The school is a "school within a school" sharing the campus of [[William Howard Taft High School (San Antonio, Texas)|William Howard Taft High School]] with an academic focus on teaching multimedia and communications skills. |
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==Facilities== |
==Facilities== |
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Communications Arts resides within the larger Taft High School campus in the C building. Teachers may elect to hold special classroom activities in the school's outdoor classroom, and students are allowed to have lunch there as well. Students taking Yearbook or Advanced Video Technology classes have access to a publications lab equipped with [[iMac|iMacs]] |
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The school is a "school within a school" sharing the campus with [[William Howard Taft High School (San Antonio, Texas)|William Howard Taft High School]]. The school specializes in multimedia, communications, and creative writing. The required specialized courses include Intro to Multimedia, Media Criticism, Communication Applications (Speech), Multimedia, Video Technology, and Independent Study Mentorship (ISM). With only one teacher per subject per grade, the school has become a tightknit community who still remain in contact long after graduation. Each student is required to take certain AP classes, such as World History AP in their sophomore year, both US History AP and English 3 AP in their junior year, etc. Students also have the choice to take more AP classes at Taft. The school allows the students to create their own class fundraisers which has resulted in money-makers such as Ninerpalooza, a rock concert benefiting the class of 2009. The students also raise money for charity with their Thanksgiving celebration of TurkeyFest and help the environment with their Earth Day Festival. The students have many freedoms other schools do not have, such as their "Outdoor Classroom", a wooded area filled with benches and picnic tables where classes can congregate, have class meetings and eat lunch. |
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==Admission== |
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Admission to Communications Arts is open to [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] students with at least a C average and requires the submission of an application and the student's choice of an essay or a 5 minute video. Eligible applicants are entered into a lottery system with selected students notified by mail.<ref name="Admissions">{{cite web|title=Admissions|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/admissions.htm|work=Communications Arts High School Website|publisher=NISD|accessdate=25 November 2011}}</ref> Prior to admitting the class of 2001, the admissions process did not operate as a lottery, and admitted students were selected based on the merits of their application. Each year, the school accepts approximately 130 freshmen.<ref name="About" >{{cite web|title=About|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/about_cahs.htm|work=Communications Arts High School Website|publisher=NISD|accessdate=25 November 2011}}</ref> As a public school, no tuition is charged to either in-district or out of district students. |
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== Curriculum == |
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Communications Arts' curriculum focuses especially on communications skills. All students are required to have at least three credits of Spanish.<ref name="Magnet High Schools Recruiting Students">{{cite web|title=Magnet High Schools Recruiting Students|url=http://www.nisd.net/news/articles/149|publisher=NISD|accessdate=25 November 2011}}</ref> Students are also required to take Digital Interactive Multimedia, Media Criticism, Communictions Applications (speech), and Independent Study Mentorship classes over their four years, with the option of taking other advanced media classes separate from Taft. These courses include Art 4 Electronic Media (Advanced Video Production), Digital Graphics and Animation, [[Advanced Placement Art History| AP Art History]], and Yearbook.<ref name="Typical Schedule"/> |
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Additional emphasis is placed on college preparation. All students take the PSAT on campus once a year. All students take [[Advanced Placement]] courses, with students being required to take [[Advanced Placement World History|AP World History]] their sophomore year. Students also take [[Advanced Placement United States History|AP US History]], [[Advanced Placement English Language and Composition|AP English III]] and [[Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition|IV]] as well as other AP science and mathematics courses on the Taft campus in their junior and senior years.<ref name="Typical Schedule">{{cite web|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/typical_schedule.htm|title = Typical Schedule|work=Communications Arts High School Website|accessdate=25 November 2011}}</ref> All AP courses are supplemented with test preparation books including those of companies like [[Kaplan, Inc]] which are given to students free of charge in their first semester. All core courses that are not offered as AP (such as World Geography) are offered as Pre-AP courses, though students may elect to take regular versions of the course on the Taft campus.<ref name="Magnet School Brochure"/> Students who follow the standard curriculum generally graduate with Distinguished Achievement Diplomas. |
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Students also participate in traditional electives, including fine arts programs and athletics, with Taft students.<ref name="Magnet School Brochure">{{cite web|title=Magnet School Brochure|url=http://www.nisd.net/inc/openpubattach.php?pub_id=81#.pdf|work=Magnet School Brochure|publisher=NISD|accessdate=25 November 2011}}</ref> |
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Students attending Communications Arts High School have frequent contact with William Howard Taft High School. Communications Arts does not offer some math and science classes, so students must go to Taft in order to take these classes. In addition, students at Communications Arts High School are able to participate in extracurricular activities at William Howard Taft High School (including their Band, Orchestra, Athletics, and Academic Decathlon teams, Cheerleading,Pep Squad... etc. ). |
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==Student Activities== |
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===== Organizations ===== |
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Communications Arts student organizations generally operate independently of their Taft counterparts and include a [[National Honor Society]] chapter, Student Council, Environment Club, Latin Dance Club and Helping Hands. All organizations have faculty sponsors, which assist in any fundraising activities like selling food after school. Each class has it's own organization as well, responsible for raising funds to prepare for senior year activities. Officers for these class organization are elected by the student body.<ref name="Student Organizations">{{cite web|title=Student Organizations|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/organizations.htm|work=Communications Arts High School Website|publisher=NISD|accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> |
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===== Events ===== |
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The school's small atmosphere and numerous student organizations have fostered many annual school events. These include musical events such as Commstock, an event where student bands perform, and Grassroots Cafe, an art house event with a focus on the environment. Additionally, the school hosts two festival style events in its outdoor classroom, Turkeyfest and Earthday, sponsored by the Student Council and Environment Club, respectively. These events are generally fundraisers for the organizations that sponsor them. |
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===== Publications ===== |
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The school's focus on communications pursuits fosters many student produced publications. These include weekly video announcements and an annual recruitment video, produced by the Advanced Video Technology class.<ref name="Video Announcements">{{cite web|title=Video Announcements|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/video_announcements.htm|work=Communications Arts High School Website|publisher=NISD|accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> The school produces its own yearbook as well, under the title ''Unity''.<ref name="Yearbook info">{{cite web|title=Yearbook Info|url=http://nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/YearbookInfo.htm|work=Communications Arts High School Website|publisher=NISD|accessdate=26 November 2011}}</ref> Students also publish a Spanish language campus e-paper under the title ''La Communidad''. |
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== Recognition== |
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In 2008 and 2009, it was ranked 26th and 17th in ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine's America's Top Public High Schools, respectively. It has consistently placed the highest of any San Antonio high school on the list since it's inception in 2006<ref name="Newsweek"/> |
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In 2010, the school was ranked 19th in the nation by Newsweek.<ref name="Newsweek">{{cite web|title=America's Best Highschools|url=http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=26 March 2011}}</ref> |
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The idea behind the creation of the school is that many jobs of the future have not even been created yet. By perfecting their communications skills, a student will be prepared for any job, whether it exists now or is yet to be created. |
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| ⚫ | In 2011, the school was rated "[[Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system|recognized]]" by the [[Texas Education Agency]].<ref name="TEA">{{cite web|url = http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2011/index.html|title = 2011 Accountability Rating System|publisher = Texas Education Agency}}</ref> |
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In 2008 and 2009, it was ranked 26th<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380 Newsweek]</ref> and 17th<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/id/201160 Newsweek]</ref> on ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine's America's Top Public High Schools, respectively. |
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| ⚫ | In |
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== Other NISD Magnet Schools == |
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* [[Business Careers High School]] |
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* [[Health Careers High School]] |
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* [[John Jay Science and Engineering Academy]] |
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* [[Construction Careers Academy]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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<references /> |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/ Communications Arts High School] |
* [http://www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/ Communications Arts High School] |
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{{Northside ISD}} |
{{Northside ISD}} |
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[[Category:High schools in San Antonio, Texas]] |
[[Category:High schools in San Antonio, Texas]] |
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{{Texas-school-stub}} |
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Revision as of 03:23, 26 November 2011
| Communications Arts High School | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
 | |
| Address | |
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11600 FM 471 W , , Texas 78253 | |
| Coordinates | 29°30′01″N 98°43′13″W / 29.500237°N 98.720151°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, High School Magnet |
| Founded | 1995 |
| School district | Northside Independent School District |
| Superintendent | Dr. John Folks |
| School number | (210) 397-6043 |
| Principal | Windy Barker |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Enrollment | 530 (as of 2009-2010)[1] |
| Color(s) | Red |
| Yearbook | Unity |
| Website | Communications Arts website |
Communications Arts High School (commonly Comm Arts or CAHS) is a magnet school in the Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1995,[2] the school has an enrollment of 100-130 students per class, accepting 130 freshmen per year.[3] The school is a "school within a school" sharing the campus of William Howard Taft High School with an academic focus on teaching multimedia and communications skills.
Facilities
Communications Arts resides within the larger Taft High School campus in the C building. Teachers may elect to hold special classroom activities in the school's outdoor classroom, and students are allowed to have lunch there as well. Students taking Yearbook or Advanced Video Technology classes have access to a publications lab equipped with iMacs
Admission
Admission to Communications Arts is open to Bexar County students with at least a C average and requires the submission of an application and the student's choice of an essay or a 5 minute video. Eligible applicants are entered into a lottery system with selected students notified by mail.[4] Prior to admitting the class of 2001, the admissions process did not operate as a lottery, and admitted students were selected based on the merits of their application. Each year, the school accepts approximately 130 freshmen.[3] As a public school, no tuition is charged to either in-district or out of district students.
Curriculum
Communications Arts' curriculum focuses especially on communications skills. All students are required to have at least three credits of Spanish.[2] Students are also required to take Digital Interactive Multimedia, Media Criticism, Communictions Applications (speech), and Independent Study Mentorship classes over their four years, with the option of taking other advanced media classes separate from Taft. These courses include Art 4 Electronic Media (Advanced Video Production), Digital Graphics and Animation, AP Art History, and Yearbook.[5]
Additional emphasis is placed on college preparation. All students take the PSAT on campus once a year. All students take Advanced Placement courses, with students being required to take AP World History their sophomore year. Students also take AP US History, AP English III and IV as well as other AP science and mathematics courses on the Taft campus in their junior and senior years.[5] All AP courses are supplemented with test preparation books including those of companies like Kaplan, Inc which are given to students free of charge in their first semester. All core courses that are not offered as AP (such as World Geography) are offered as Pre-AP courses, though students may elect to take regular versions of the course on the Taft campus.[6] Students who follow the standard curriculum generally graduate with Distinguished Achievement Diplomas.
Students also participate in traditional electives, including fine arts programs and athletics, with Taft students.[6]
Student Activities
Organizations
Communications Arts student organizations generally operate independently of their Taft counterparts and include a National Honor Society chapter, Student Council, Environment Club, Latin Dance Club and Helping Hands. All organizations have faculty sponsors, which assist in any fundraising activities like selling food after school. Each class has it's own organization as well, responsible for raising funds to prepare for senior year activities. Officers for these class organization are elected by the student body.[7]
Events
The school's small atmosphere and numerous student organizations have fostered many annual school events. These include musical events such as Commstock, an event where student bands perform, and Grassroots Cafe, an art house event with a focus on the environment. Additionally, the school hosts two festival style events in its outdoor classroom, Turkeyfest and Earthday, sponsored by the Student Council and Environment Club, respectively. These events are generally fundraisers for the organizations that sponsor them.
Publications
The school's focus on communications pursuits fosters many student produced publications. These include weekly video announcements and an annual recruitment video, produced by the Advanced Video Technology class.[8] The school produces its own yearbook as well, under the title Unity.[9] Students also publish a Spanish language campus e-paper under the title La Communidad.
Recognition
In 2008 and 2009, it was ranked 26th and 17th in Newsweek magazine's America's Top Public High Schools, respectively. It has consistently placed the highest of any San Antonio high school on the list since it's inception in 2006[1]
In 2010, the school was ranked 19th in the nation by Newsweek.[1]
In 2011, the school was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.[10]
References
- ^ a b c "America's Best Highschools". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Magnet High Schools Recruiting Students". NISD. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b "About". Communications Arts High School Website. NISD. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "Admissions". Communications Arts High School Website. NISD. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Typical Schedule". Communications Arts High School Website. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Magnet School Brochure" (PDF). Magnet School Brochure. NISD. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ "Student Organizations". Communications Arts High School Website. NISD. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ "Video Announcements". Communications Arts High School Website. NISD. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ "Yearbook Info". Communications Arts High School Website. NISD. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ "2011 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency.