Carmel High School

My stars, there's a planetarium in Carmel! Yes, it's been around since the 1970s, but not too many people beyond local students and faculty know about it, it seems, because whenever I tell people about it, people are like, "Wait, we have a planetarium?" Yes, yes, we do. And now you know.

The Carmel Planetarium is located inside Carmel High School. It's used by CHS students, of course, but it's also used as a field trip destination for local Carmel Clay schools. And better still, once a month, it is open to EVERYONE for public astronomy shows. These shows run about 40 minutes, and they are family-friendly and highly entertaining. You get to sit back in a comfy chair and gaze up in the dark at projections from a night sky simulator.

Each show has a different theme, too. We went for December's planetarium show, and we learned about what the night sky might have looked like during the time of Jesus' birth and about the three wise men following the star. The show was not religious at all, but since it was Christmas time, it talked about Jesus and Christmas stuff in a historical sense. Other shows in the past have dealt with fun themes like "are there monsters in the Milky Way?" and "the summer sky over Indiana." The shows put a fun spin on astronomy that are engaging for the whole family.

Shows typically start at 7 p.m., but that can change each month. The best way to keep up with upcoming shows is to follow the Carmel Planetarium Twitter feed (@CCSPlanetarium). Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $4 for adults, and $2 for children, seniors and CHS students.

Great school, great staff and amazing library right across the street. 2 kids and both great experiences

great place to sleep and have fun and talk back to people bruh it's amazing I have ten kids that go there they all love it

I go here and it's great. The school is big enough for the people and is right around midtown, making for some great after-school activities.

Bad parking, not enough bathrooms, good staff. Needs more round abouts, and the stadium is too small. They try to trick you into eating French fries, and you get them and you're all excited, and then they end up being sweet potato fries, what's up with that?

Fabulous school! Takes care of ALL kids whether struggling or overachievers. I have had many kids go thru all levels of this system. I LOVE it.

This school has got a lot to show for it. Mostly because our taxes run it. But don't worry we still have a leaky roof.

It is clearly among the best, if not THE best public high school in Indiana. And, when it comed to extracurricular activities, especially music and sports, they are generally top notch.
Both of my children went to CHS and benefitted from it.
A couple of caveats though. This IS Carmel and Carmel has a reputation of being a little uppity among some fellow Hoosiers. And though it isn't even close to being to being the schopls leading characteristic, it DOES exist because there are always a few spoiled brats around the place.
But all of the teachers and most of the students ignore them or laugh them off.
At least that has been my impression over the years.
So far it seems to have a pretty good record regarding crime. No real gangs that I know of but it is always woryh asking the police department about.
There WAS a terrible hazing incident on a team bus a few years back. I think it was basketball. It is my understanding that those involvrd were severely disciplined, as they should have been. But nothing excuses that sort of behavior, which can have a lifelong impact on the victim. But I have only heard of the one incident in my 20 years in Carmel.
Academically the school is outstanding. There are many, many courses of study not even taught anywhere else in Indiana. And many AP courses and all are well taught. Be warned, however, that they are competitive! Science and math are competitive. And when it comes to grades, CHS used to have a policy of NOT adjusting GPAs to give AP kids a boost on cpllege applications. In other words, a 'B' in an AP phyics class is the same as a 'B' in a regular physics class. That WAS true for my kids, and one of them was disqualified for scholarship money because of that policy. I think that may have changed but you need to ASK before taking an AP course.
In terms of the performing arts,,CHS is amazing. It has one of the FEW school orchestras that could pass as almost professional, and band is first rate as well. And the choral program is awesome but, like everything else there, it is highly competitive. But it has been worse. There was a choir director once named Helms or something like that who pushed the kids unmercifilly it seems. Mr. Kusky (sp?) changed all of that so that all of the choirs are now great experiences for kids and not just the "elite" ambassadors. (Please note that some of these kids have had years of voice and dance and live and breath show choir! I.E. Ambassadors..and ambassadors is also expensive in terms of costumes and props and everything else that goes along with being top show choir in the state!). Some people just want to be in choir and still have time to participate in other activities and that is certainly acceptable at CHS.
Bottom line: if you are moving to Indiana and want your son or daughter to get a good education and to be well positioned for college, you cannot go wrong with CHS!

I could rave for paragraphs about why this is one of the best high schools ever, but let me just keep it short and say that any kid, no matter their ability or interests, would be lucky to go here and that this is a state-of-the-art school with (mostly) fantastic and extremely-qualified teachers that I am grateful to be able to attend.

I personally did not like this school. Pretty much all about sports (mainly football) and choir (mainly holiday spectacular). People had to pay for those events. You would think the money would go to teachers, but no. For a rich area teachers actually get paid less. There are rarely ever substitute teachers because their pay is lower than other high schools. The pay for teachers is based off of test scores of the students. Students are taught to take the tests, they are no longer taught to learn the material. We are claimed to be the best high school. All we are taught is to be better than everyone else. I am so happy to be in college now.