Which High School for the Arts?
Parent Q&A
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Performing Arts High Schools
–May 1, 2024Hello! My child is a rising 9th grader in Berkeley Unified and very interested in theater and film. She's had attendance issues due to anxiety and I'm worried she'll slip through the cracks at Berkeley High School. (Note: Her two older siblings have thrived at BHS.)
I'm wondering about folks' experiences with Contra Costa School of Performing Arts in Walnut Creek and Oakland School for the Arts. CoCoSPA seems very open to her attending, and we will visit soon. I'm not sure how difficult it might be to get her into OSA, so information on that is also welcome. I am most interested in hearing about experiences at each school.
I realize she would have a lot more opportunities if I had thought about this earlier in the year, in time to apply to private schools, but this is the situation we find ourselves in now.
Thank you!
May 1, 2024Reply now »High Schools with strong Art Programs
–Sep 27, 2023Hello, Fellow Parents!
My partner and I are beginning to look at High School options for our creative middle schooler, who is most likely art school-bound for college. What high schools in the East Bay have a strong arts program and *possibly* portfolio development help for college? Our child is interested in visual arts, animation, and film. I saw referrals for Oakland School for the Arts and Bishop O'Dowd, but they were from several years ago.
We are interested in Berkeley, Oakland, Albany, Lafayette, San Francisco, Marin, and surrounding areas and are willing to travel anywhere for the right school.
Sep 27, 2023High School Advice for Quirky Kiddos
–Aug 30, 2023We are starting to look for high schools and I'm hoping to get some BPN advice! Our kiddo is very smart and quick, but doesn't love academics - still she is at the top of her class in middle school. She's sensitive, dramatic, and gets very overstimulated /overwhelmed in crowds so very large schools like Berkeley High are not an option. She is a theater kid and identifies as LGBTQIA & gender fluid. We're looking for high school options and we're fortunate to be able to do private or public; and are willing to drive/carpool for the right fit. So far we haven't found it - I'd love input on school recommendations! Especially from parents of LGBTQIA kids who have been happy with their high schools! Thanks!!
Aug 30, 2023Art school for teens
–Jun 24, 2023My daughter is very good in art. I am looking for a school that can help highschool students making good portfolio for college admissions.
Jun 24, 2023High school for painter?
–Sep 16, 2021My dear friends’ daughter, who is European but speaks fluent English, is a serious painter. If she were to stay with me in Oakland for a semester, is there a fine-arts high school anyone can recommend? I’ve heard of OSA, but I know little about their visual arts program. Are they the best/only game in town?
Sep 16, 2021Comparing performing arts schools?
–Dec 1, 2017We would appreciate any recent reviews of the Bay Area performing arts schools. Marin School of the Arts, OSA, Ruth Asawa SFSOTA, Contra Costa, Has anyone had recent experience with any of these schools? We are considering moving in to SF so that our daughter can apply to SFSOTA - however that feels like putting our eggs in one basket if she does not get in. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Dec 1, 2017
No responses received.