Welcome to Commie High
February 8, 2021
When you rent via PMA films, you directly support the museum
94 min. Not rated. Directed by Donald Harrison and edited and co-produced by David Camlin.
Welcome to Commie High explores an experiment in public education—Community High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The film follows its humanistic, anti-establishment origins in the early 70s through its survival into the 90s, when sudden demand for this alternative, small school led to a phenomenon of lines, camping and lottery systems. Today Community High stands as one of the few remaining public schools from America’s “free school” movement. Filmed over the 2016 – 2017 school year, we see how the Commie High model has evolved and continues to reflect the world around it.
Rental includes Q&A hosted by NPR’s Neda Ulaby featuring educators Evelyn Collins, Judith DeWoskin & Quinn Strassell, followed by filmmakers Donald Harrison & David Camlin, with student filmmaker Emma Hoffman
Read Dennis Perkins’ review of Welcome to Commie High in the Portland Press Herald.
Related
-
PMA Films: Raoul Peck’s ‘Orwell’ captures the moment, plus a special ‘Last Class’ encore, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ and more!
October 7, 2025
PMA Films programmer Chris Gray dives into our upcoming screenings for OCTOBER 8–19 Screening Times... -
The Haunted PMA Tours
September 30, 2025
Free to members or with admission Step inside the 19th-century McLellan House and beyond as PMA...
