Community Lab School (Virginia)

Community Lab School (formerly Murray High School, renamed after merging with Community Public Charter Middle School in 2020)^[1] is a district-backed public charter school serving grades 6-12 located in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is a part of Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS). In August 2018, the Albemarle County School Board renewed the school's charter to provide Albemarle County families the option of a small, liberal arts school experience with elective pathways focusing on the creative arts, media, and design.^[2] Admission is open to all Albemarle County residents on a lottery basis.^[3] The school began offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in 2020.^[4]

Community Lab School
Location
1200 Forest Street Charlottesville , Virginia United States
Coordinates	38°2′26.7″N 78°28′58.2″W
Information
Type	Public (Charter)
Established	1988
Principal	Chad Ratliff
Head teacher	Stephanie Passman
Grades	6-12
Enrollment	200
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Crimson/white
Mascot	Dragon
Website	www.cls.k12albemarle.org

Community Lab School

As an Albemarle County Public Schools charter school, Community Lab School designs and pilots evidence-based approaches to student-centered learning for possible scale to other ACPS secondary programs.^[5] In 2017, it became one of twenty schools in the country to partner with MIT to develop open educational resources to help schools implement maker learning.^[6] In July 2018, it became the first public school in Virginia and one of the first in the country to join the Mastery Transcript Consortium.^[7] Community Lab School also works in partnership with nearby University of Virginia.^[8] Community lab school gained the favor of students and parents with their system of mixing all grades together.

Academics

Community Lab School's philosophical approach is grounded in student-centered learning based on the progressive education movement that began in the late nineteenth century. Students are encouraged to pursue personal interests through the curriculum and independently.^[9] The Albemarle County School Board approved the school's adoption of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at its July 11, 2019 meeting.^[10]

Athletics

Community Lab School added a squash team in 2018 in collaboration with University of Virginia's McArthur Squash Center.^[11] Otherwise, Community Lab School students may participate in athletic offerings or extracurriculars available at the ACPS comprehensive school to which they are districted.

Facility

Since 2017, the school has added a recording studio, rapid prototyping and advanced manufacturing lab, digital media lab, additional art studio space, a bunch of trailers, and a renovated student commons and kitchen area.^[12]