Cooley High

Synopsis

Set in early 1960s Chicago, Cooley High follows best friends Leroy “Preach” Jackson and Richard “Cochise” Morris as they navigate their senior year at Cooley Vocational School near Cabrini-Green. Between everyday adventures, neighborhood tensions, and dreams of the future, they imagine lives far beyond the confines of their community. Directed by Michael Schultz and written by Eric Monte, this heartfelt coming-of-age classic weaves humor, energy, and poignancy in its portrait of friendship, ambition, and the challenges of growing up.

In collaboration with Kennedy-King College, Englewood Arts Collective, and Grow Greater Englewood, this screening of Cooley High marks the film’s 50th anniversary and includes a post-screening discussion.