High schools for the performing arts combine traditional academic subjects with intensive study of drama, dance, or music. Students must audition to specialize in one discipline and participate in recitals. Graduates may have an edge in further studies or careers in the arts.
High schools for the performing arts are educational institutions that combine a traditional high school academic experience with intensive study of one or more performing arts disciplines. Usually, high school performing arts students choose a major in drama, dance, or music. They typically have to audition before being admitted to a school. The goal of high schools for the performing arts is to nurture the talent of individuals from an early age, thereby preparing them for further study in the performing arts or for careers in the arts.
In some ways, high schools for the performing arts resemble traditional secondary schools. They adhere to their state or national government’s curriculum requirements, which means that their students spend time studying subjects such as math, science, foreign languages, and history. In most cases, these students also take the same standardized tests, such as the SAT, as their mainstream school counterparts.
However, high schools for the performing arts differ from traditional secondary schools in one significant respect: high schools for the performing arts combine a traditional curriculum with intensive study of one or more performing arts disciplines. Commonly, these schools offer concentrations of theatre, dance and music. Students choose to specialize in one of these disciplines and their school days are divided between studying traditional academic subjects and immersing themselves in their chosen discipline. In most of these schools, students are required to participate in plays or recitals showcasing their progress in their discipline during the academic year.
In general, prospective students must audition to secure admission to a performing arts high school. Some believe that this audition process can subject adolescents to feelings of stress or rejection that they are not emotionally mature enough to handle. Conversely, some believe that exposing creative individuals to the audition process from an early age can help them develop the emotional resilience needed for a career in which a certain amount of rejection is more or less inevitable.
In addition to instilling in students the knowledge acquired in traditional secondary schools, the purpose of high schools for the performing arts is to nurture the talent of teenagers. Graduates of these schools who wish to proceed to graduate-level performing arts studies may find that their background gives them an edge over applicants who have only participated in the arts at an extracurricular level. Those who do not wish to pursue further academic training in the performing arts may find that their high school experience qualifies them to enter the job market in their major discipline.
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