Community High School originated as "Oasis Academy" in 1997 to assist the large numbers of high school students in Middle Tennessee who were relapsing after successfully completing drug and alcohol treatment.

• The school was started in the basement of a community agency in Nashville to provide a safe and drug-free place to help students sustain their recovery while working on a high school diploma.

• The school opened with 7 students, a principal and a counselor. In 1999, a new non-profit organization, Creative Recovery Communities, assumed management of the school.

• As an entity of Creative Recovery Community, the school rented a converted office building for five year and in 2004 merged with Cumberland Heights.

• At present, the school has served over 245 students.

MORNING  GROUP – 8:30 am to 8:55 am
– Students will be in the large group room by 8:30. The counsler will take attendance promptly at 8:30, and students are expected to be there unless they have permission to be elsewhere in the building. This is a designated time during our day for students to self-report relapse or near relapse. School announcements occur during this time.

FIRST BLOCK – 8:58 am to 9:48 am
– Students will have an academic class scheduled during this time.

SECOND BLOCK – 9:50 am to 10:40 am
– Students will have an academic class scheduled during this time.

SNACK - 10:40 am to 10:50 am

THIRD BLOCK - 10:52 am to 11:40 am
– Students will have an academic class scheduled during this time.

GROUP TIME – 11:40 am to 12:30 pm
– Students will hold a Twelve Step meeting or other processing group. This time will also be available for speakers, life skills presentations, and other wellness activities.

LUNCH – 12:30 pm to 1:10 pm
– Students are expected to eat their lunch during this time period.

FOURTH BLOCK – 1:10 pm to 2:00 pm
– Students will have an academic class scheduled during this time.

FIFTH BLOCK - 2:02 pm to 2:52 pm
– Students will have an academic class scheduled during this time

CLOSING GROUP – 2:52 pm to 3 pm
– Students will collect in the large group room to hear announcements and have the chance to process the day.

Community High School Handbook

Mission Statement

Community High School is a  college-preparatory high school for teenagers committed to working a 12-step program of recovery from alcohol and chemical dependencies.  CHS is a Category I, non-public, state-approved high school.

Purpose and Goals of the School

To support students in their sobriety by keeping the school free of alcohol and other drugs every day of operation and having 100 percent of enrolled students participate in recovery support services.

To support students in achieving their academic potential by recognizing individual learning styles and supplying all course work required for graduation by the State of Tennessee Board of Education.

To support students in their physical, emotional, and spiritual growth through daily wellness curriculum and onsite counseling services.

To support students in their journey toward productivity, altruism, and independence by emphasizing service work and investigating each student's personality traits and career/college goals.

Philosophy and Beliefs

Community...We believe that a partnership of students, their parents, and other adults provides a solid foundation for positive change.

Recovery...We believe that students can best sustain their own recovery when properly educated about their addiction.

Education...We believe that by understanding and appreciating their own learning styles, all students have the potential for academic success.

Service...We believe that students are best able to feel empowered, have a sense of belonging, and achieve personal success in a relationship-based community through working with others.

Excused Absences Policy

Absences will be excused for the following reasons:

(1)Personal illness (physician’s statement may be required)
(2)Death in the family
(3)Religious holiday
(4)Other unusual circumstances (to be determined by the CHS school director)

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to call the school each day that a student is absent. This call should be made by 9:00 a.m. to ensure that the student’s absence is excused.

Medications Policy

If a student is taking a prescription medication, the parent/guardian needs to provide the school with that information including the name of the medication, dosage, route of administration, frequency and time of administration, reason for taking medication, prescribing doctor, and emergency contact information. For all prescription and non-prescription medications, a written request will need to be provided by the parent(s) or guardian requesting that the medication be given during school hours. It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that the written request and medication are brought to the school. The parent or guardian must state that the student is competent to self-administer the medication with assistance. CHS has contracted with a professional nurse to provide consult as needed.

Inclement Weather Policy

Please check the television reports on Channels 2, 4, 5, and FOX 17 in cases of inclement weather for announcements of school cancellation. If school has been canceled for the day, an announcement will be placed on our voicemail system by 7:00am. Snow days will NOT be made up, unless there are more than three.