| Community Lab School | |
| Principal: | Chad Ratliff |
| Head Teacher: | Stephanie Passman |
| Enrollment: | 200 |
| Established: | 1988 |
| Type: | Public (Charter) |
| Grades: | 6-12 |
| Location: | 1200 Forest Street |
| Country: | USA |
| Campus: | Suburban |
| Colors: | Crimson/white |
| Mascot: | Dragon |
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]
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.
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]
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.
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]