Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences
Encyclopedia
The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences ("CHSAS") is a public secondary magnet school opened in 1985 by the Chicago Public Schools
as a unique, experimental high school
devoted to teaching agricultural science
to urban students. The school is located on a 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) campus, 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of which are dedicated to a working farm
(it was built on the site of the last farm to survive within the Chicago city limits), and the students commute from all across the city to CHSAS. It is located in the Mount Greenwood
neighborhood of the city. The students benefit from hands-on experience and summer interships, and many do go on to attend universities and major in agricultural disciplines.
It was the second high school of this kind to open in the United States.
CHSAS has an annual enrollment cap of 600 students mandated by the Chicago Board of Education. Students are selected to attend the CHSAS via a lottery that annually selects about 150 students out of over 1000 applications for the entering freshman class.
(formerly Future Farmers of America). The school claims that it is the organization's largest Illinois chapter, and the fifth largest in the nation.
and is a member of the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA). Teams are stylized as the Cyclones.
The school sponsors six sports for young men and women, an additional four for young men, and an additional five for young women. The school also sponsors athletes who compete in the Special Olympics
.
The school also sponsors 17 extracurricular clubs and activities. Those that are chapters of nationally notable organizations include the National Honor Society
(NHS).
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
as a unique, experimental high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
devoted to teaching agricultural science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
to urban students. The school is located on a 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) campus, 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of which are dedicated to a working farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
(it was built on the site of the last farm to survive within the Chicago city limits), and the students commute from all across the city to CHSAS. It is located in the Mount Greenwood
Mount Greenwood, Chicago
Mount Greenwood is one of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas. It is a predominantly Irish-Catholic neighborhood on the Southwest Side of Chicago. It neighbors the Chicago neighborhoods of Beverly and Morgan Park to the east, the suburb of Evergreen Park to the north, the suburb of Oak Lawn...
neighborhood of the city. The students benefit from hands-on experience and summer interships, and many do go on to attend universities and major in agricultural disciplines.
It was the second high school of this kind to open in the United States.
CHSAS has an annual enrollment cap of 600 students mandated by the Chicago Board of Education. Students are selected to attend the CHSAS via a lottery that annually selects about 150 students out of over 1000 applications for the entering freshman class.
Academics
All students are members of the FFANational FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
(formerly Future Farmers of America). The school claims that it is the organization's largest Illinois chapter, and the fifth largest in the nation.
Student life
CHSAS competes in the Chicago Public LeagueChicago Public High School League
The Chicago Public High School Athletic Association, commonly known as the Chicago Public League , is the interscholastic competition arm of the Chicago Public Schools...
and is a member of the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA). Teams are stylized as the Cyclones.
The school sponsors six sports for young men and women, an additional four for young men, and an additional five for young women. The school also sponsors athletes who compete in the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
.
The school also sponsors 17 extracurricular clubs and activities. Those that are chapters of nationally notable organizations include the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
(NHS).