`AMERICAN HIGH' SERIES PRESENTS TEENS UNCENSORED.

Byline: David Kronke TV Critic

``American High'' opens with a noisy eruption of attitude from what appears to be an obnoxious, slightly sociopathic kid who flails away arrhythmically at a drum kit and declares he has no time for school; boys just want to have fun. Sit patiently through this outburst - a pretty obvious bid to grab the MTV demographic - and soon enough, the social context becomes apparent. And not long thereafter, you'll be utterly absorbed.

Though this 13-episode series - from respected documentarian R.J. Cutler - has the bad luck to come out during and get lumped in with the current reality-TV trend, ``American High'' more closely resembles the amazing 1994 documentary ``Hoop Dreams'' in its sensitive, detail-oriented, multistory approach to examining issues confronting teen-agers.

Following a core of 14 kids at a middle-class, Chicago-area high school, the show, in concise thumbnail sketches, vividly essays their aspirations and fears, their triumphs and setbacks - and how their family lives and the school itself contribute to their general sense of self in the world.

That loud, seemingly simple-minded kid at the beginning, Morgan, quickly becomes perhaps the series' most complex subject. He berates his younger brother for doing homework and says he can learn for himself what is and isn't dangerous - his response to a possible accident would be, he suggests, ``Now that I only have one arm, I realize not to do that again.'' He's funny, he's defiant, he's a dope.

Soon, however, it's learned that Morgan suffers from attention deficit disorder and hates his medicine, that he saves wrappers from candy bars his girlfriend bought him and that he has an affinity for teaching gymnastics to disabled kids. Add his largely sympathetic but long-suffering family, and his story becomes surprisingly moving.

And Morgan's just part of the equation. In the first four episodes, you'll also meet Robby and Sarah, a senior and junior who are certain they're made for one another, which only adds to Sarah's apprehension at Robby's going away to college the following year. There's also Kiwi, a football place-kicker who uses his fear of failure to pump him up and is oblivious to the fact that his pretty pal Anna has a crush on him; he cluelessly approaches her for advice on how to deal with an awkward dating situation.

Two young women have problems as compelling as Morgan's. Suzy is obsessed about her weight and pleasing her father, who, in a video diary, jokes that he hasn't been able to hold his daughter on his shoulders since she was 3 weeks old. The way her face falls is both comic and crushing. Meanwhile, Allie understands her no-win position in the complex dynamic of her parents' recent divorce, but that hasn't stopped her from imperiling her grades with an epic trail of truancies. (Most parents, it should be said, largely come off as fairly empathetic here.)

Brad, a young man who recently announced that he's gay, and Kaytee, an aspiring coffee house singer of silly ditties, are also introduced; more students will be introduced in later episodes.

There's no artificial pressure-cooker clamped on these kids as in ``Big Brother'' or ``Survivor''; the drama is real and therefore far more riveting. Teens will enjoy watching themselves as they truly are; parents should watch it to get a clue as to what their kids are about these days. And anyone who's a fan of good, smart television should tune in, too.

The facts

--The show: ``American High.''

--What: Documentary examining a year in the life of a suburban Chicago high school.

--Where: Fox (Channel 11).

--When: 9 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

--Our rating: Three and one half stars.

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Photo:

Affected by attention deficit disorder, Moss unleashes some pent-up energy.