Arts & Communication Magnet Academy
Address
11375 SW Center Street

Beaverton
,
Oregon
97005

United States
Coordinates45°29′39″N 122°47′36″W / 45.494207°N 122.793355°W / 45.494207; -122.793355
Information
TypePublic
Opened1992
School districtBeaverton School District
PrincipalBjorn Paige[1]
Staff33.87 (FTE)[2]
Grades6-12[1]
Number of students706 (2019-20)[2]
Student to teacher ratio20.84[2]
Color(s)red and black
  
Websitehttp://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/acma/
The school's Performing Arts Center

Arts & Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA) is a publicly funded arts magnet school in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. It is a member of the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education.

The school opened in 1992, in facilities which previously served as a Beaverton School District elementary school, C.E. Mason Elementary,[3] opened in 1949.[4] It was originally called the Arts & Communications High School.[3] The school was rebuilt in 2020 and reopened the school year 2021-2022, following the passage of a bond measure in May 2014.[5]

Academics

In 2008, 100% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 60 students, 60 graduated and none dropped out.[6][7]

The school received a silver ranking from U.S. News & World Report's 2010 "America's Best High Schools" survey.[8][9]

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 teacher and director Shaun Hennessy (since 2015-2016), previously headed by actor/director Joel Morello,[10] the company has produced plays and musicals such 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, The Fantasticks, 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.

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 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 graced the mainstage. Besides other student written works, such as the ACMA Zone (one-acts based on the Twilight Zone) and ACMA Live (based on Saturday Night Live) the spring 2015 production was Pride and Prejudice, directed by David Sikking. The 2018 season included The Laramie Project, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Heathers, and Trouble in Paradise Junction.

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.[11] Previous program directors include Thara Memory and Robert Crowell. Current Directors are Conte Bennet and Maryanne Campbell. ACMA jazz bands perform and compete annually in music festivals across the Pacific Northwest.

Dance West company

ACMA students comprise Dance West, a pre-professional dance program. Company repertoire includes pieces based on 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.

Film Program

ACMA offers students the ability to pursue filmmaking studies, from which they can gain applicable skills to use in entertainment. The program has been led by Scott Hacke, Corbin Supak (2002-09), and Kevin Bennett for most of its lifespan. The district’s Signal to Noise media festival originated as a regional film fest hosted here. The old school building shared space with local cable access studios and would broadcast works regularly, as “ACMA Brand Television”. Students in the 2019-2020 school year had a school program called ACMA TV, which was briefly revived in 2022.

School newspaper

ACMA students previously ran a school newspaper named The Savant,[12] 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.

Career pathways

  • Communications Arts
    • Animation
    • Writing
  • Performing Arts
    • Dance
    • Choir
    • Orchestra
    • Jazz band
    • Theatre
  • Visual Arts
    • Ceramics
    • Sculpture
    • Draw and Paint
    • Photography

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 "Oregon School Directory 2008-09" (PDF). Oregon Department of Education. p. 139. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  2. 1 2 3 "Arts and Communication Magnet Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Gaynair, Gillian (December 2, 1998). "Changes challenge Beaverton's Arts & Communications High School". The Oregonian. p. MW1.
  4. ↑ Gunning, Paula (November 21, 1978). "Localities, persons inspire names of schools". The Oregonian. p. W2.
  5. ↑ Owen, Wendy (November 14, 2014). "Vose Elementary is first to be rebuilt with bond funds; ACMA is last". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  6. ↑ "State releases high school graduation rates". The Oregonian. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  7. ↑ "Oregon dropout rates for 2008". The Oregonian. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  8. ↑ "Best High Schools 2010". U.S. News & World Report. 2009-12-09. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  9. ↑ Graves, Bill (2010-01-15). "Nine Oregon high schools ranked among best in nation". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  10. ↑ "Joel Morello - IMDB". 2009-09-28. Archived from the original on 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  11. ↑ "NW JAZZWORKS - for the ACMA Jazz band program". NW JazzWorks. Archived from the original on 2011-06-22.
  12. ↑ "Savant Official Site". 2009-09-28. Archived from the original on 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  13. ↑ Levy, Shawn (November 14, 2003). "Five questions: One actor's take on 'Elephant'". The Oregonian. Arts and Living section, p. 7.
  14. ↑ Crombie, Noelle (April 10, 2016). "Haruka Weiser remembered as passionate about life, dance, friends and family". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Godspell". ACMA Theatre Company. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
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