Type Public Principal Michael Johnson Phone +1 503-356-3670 Founded 1992 Color Maroon and black | Opened 1992 Grades 6-12 District Beaverton School District Number of students 805 | |
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Address 11375 SW Center St, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA Similar Catlin Gabel, Valley Catholic High Sch, Jesuit High School, The Northwest Academy, Lincoln High School | ||
Arts & Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA) is a publicly funded arts magnet school in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. A member of the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education, ACMA is the only stand-alone arts magnet school in the state of Oregon. ACMA is an award winning school of application and draws students, grades 6 through 12, to participate in a rigorous academic program integrated in specialized performing, visual and communication arts.
Contents
- Academics
- Theatre company
- Jazz orchestra
- Dance West company
- School newspaper
- Career pathways
- Notable alumni
- References
The school opened in 1992, in facilities which previously served as a Beaverton School District elementary school, C.E. Mason Elementary, opened in 1949. It was originally called the Arts & Communications High School. The school is scheduled to be rebuilt in 2020, following the passage of a bond measure in May 2014.
Academics
In 2008, 100% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 60 students, 60 graduated and 0 dropped out.
The school received a silver ranking from U.S. News & World Report's 2010 "America's Best High Schools" survey.
Theatre company
Taking a prominent role in the school since the construction and completion of a new Performing Arts Center in early 2010, ACMA's theatre company has been widely acclaimed as one of the best in the school district. Headed by award-winning actor Joel Morello, the company has put on such plays and musicals as Bullshot Crummond, The Apple Tree, Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Spoon River Anthology, The Good Doctor, Dancing at Lughnasa, Alice in Wonderland, A Greater Tuna, Celebration, Little Shop of Horrors, an acclaimed production of Godspell, which was sponsored by The Oregonian, and original verbatim stage adaptations of The Great Gatsby and Great Expectations. Godspell was the first production that was involved with ACMA's Theatre Giving Program, and a percentage of its profits benefitted the Portland organization Outside In.
Plays are not always necessarily produced by the department head; different theatrical artists in the community are given opportunities to direct and cast the show as they so please. In addition, the company produces an annual One Act Festival featuring student written and directed work starring middle school students with little to no experience in the program thus far as an introduction to how the shows work. For the 2013-2014 season, guest directors directed Our Town in the fall and Oliver! in the spring. In winter 2014, an original staged production of Coraline written, directed and produced by ACMA students will grace the mainstage. Besides other student written works, such as the ACMA Zone (one acts based off the Twilight Zone) and ACMA Live (based off Saturday Night Live) the spring 2015 production was Pride and Prejudice, directed by David Sikking.
Jazz orchestra
The award winning ACMA jazz program consists of the beginning level "Concert Band", the intermediate level "Symphonic Band", and the advanced level "Jazz Orchestra". The jazz program is currently under the direction of Conte Bennett. Previous program directors include Thara Memory and Robert Crowell. ACMA jazz bands perform and compete annually in music festivals across the Pacific Northwest.
Dance West company
ACMA students comprise Dance West. Company repertoire includes pieces based in classical ballet, jazz, historical modern, innovative hip-hop, Broadway, concert tap, and pieces that range across all genres, taught by master teachers and guest artists.
Dance West is a Pre-professional dance program.
School newspaper
ACMA students previously ran a school newspaper named The Savant, which covered the school's activities and news, along with the local Beaverton community. It was terminated at the beginning of the 2012–2013 school year.