Student Development
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Grades PreK–2
In Grades PK–2, students begin their artistic journey through creative exploration. At this stage, they engage with the arts through play, imagination, and sensory experience. Whether painting to music, exploring movement through storytelling, or experimenting with rhythm and sound, students are encouraged to take creative risks in safe, joyful environments. These early experiences nurture curiosity, build confidence, and establish the foundation for self-expression.
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Grades 3–5
In Grades 3–5, students expand their understanding through arts integration, connecting an art form and another subject area, meeting evolving objectives in both. They begin to connect artistic practice to the world around them—using visual art to explore geometry, writing songs to express historical understanding, or performing scenes that illustrate scientific concepts. In this phase, students learn that the arts are not isolated, but vital tools for communication, inquiry, and cross-disciplinary learning.
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Grades 6–8
In Grades 6–8, the focus shifts to exploratory choice and foundations of mastery. Students are offered more autonomy to select artistic disciplines that resonate with their developing identities—whether visual arts, music, theater, dance, or media arts. With choice comes responsibility: they begin to build technical skills, engage in reflection and critique, and deepen their understanding of the artistic process. At a time of personal and social transformation, the arts provide a space for voice, connection, and purpose.
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Grades 9–12
In Grades 9–12, students pursue artistic pathways aligned with their passions, talents, and postsecondary aspirations. They have access to advanced coursework, industry-standard tools, and partnerships with teaching artists and cultural institutions. Through public performance, exhibition, and collaboration, students learn to engage with audiences and communities, develop portfolios, and explore college and career options in the arts and beyond. The high school arts experience is rigorous, relevant, and affirming—preparing students for a lifetime of creative impact.
By graduation, a CPS student is not only artistically literate, but also a creative thinker, empathetic collaborator, and engaged citizen. They leave school with the skills to express themselves powerfully, the mindset to navigate a complex world, and the imagination to help shape a more vibrant and equitable future.