Updated at: 27-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

It can be challenging for many talented young artists to thrive in traditional high schools due to a curriculum that places less emphasis on the arts and more on academics. The best way to ensure that students with extraordinary artistic talent enroll in schools that can fully develop those abilities is to be aware of the top performing arts high schools around the world.

Students at high schools dedicated to the performing arts can take classes in the arts alongside their regular academic curriculum. Students with an interest in the performing arts, such as dance, music, and theater, should enroll in them.

You should be confident in your artistic abilities before applying to a high school for the performing arts. This is because admission to a high school for the performing arts typically requires an audition.

Best Performing Arts High Schools In The World

Best performing arts high schools in the world

Burlington Royal Arts Academy (BRAA)

The mission of the private Burlington Royal Arts Academy is to help its students develop their artistic potential while they complete their secondary education. Dance, Dramatic Arts, Media Arts, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts programs are all part of BRAA’s provincial academic curriculum.

The Chicago Academy for the Arts

The Chicago Academy for the Arts

When it comes to the performing and visual arts, no other high school in the country compares to the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Students at the Chicago Academy for the Arts learn to think critically, express themselves creatively, and excel in school. Students at the Academy have access to both rigorous, college-preparatory academic classes and professional-level arts training.

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, located on the campus of California State University in Los Angeles, offers conservatory-style arts education in addition to English, math, and other core academic subjects. Also, there is no cost to attend this public institution.

Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts

The students in Grades 3 through 12 attend Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts, an independent day school. It provides both academic excellence and professional training in the performing arts. Seniors at Hamilton Academy can pick from three different tracks: the Academic track, the Ballet track, and the Theatre Arts track. Education is a core component of every option.

The Brit School

The Brit School is widely regarded as the best free school for the performing and visual arts in the United Kingdom. BRIT offers a comprehensive academic program including GCSEs and A Levels in addition to instruction in the arts (including but not limited to: music, film, digital design, community arts, visual arts and design, production, and the performing arts).

Idyllwild Arts Academy

Idyllwild Arts Academy

Idyllwild Arts Academy, formerly known as Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, is a private boarding high school dedicated to the arts.

The Idyllwild Arts Academy is a high school and university that focuses on the arts for students in grades 9 through 12.

It offers both college preparatory studies and arts-focused pre-professional training.

Music, theater, dance, visual art, creative writing, film and digital media, interarts, and fashion design are all available to students at Idyllwild Arts Academy.

The Academy of Art requires all applicants to either audition or present a portfolio. Students in the arts must audition and submit an essay or portfolio appropriate to the student’s department.

Financial aid is available to those who demonstrate financial need at Idyllwild Arts Academy.

Burlington Royal Arts Academy (BRAA)

Burlington Royal Arts Academy is a private secondary school that aims to inspire its students to follow their artistic dreams.

Dance, Dramatic Arts, Media Arts, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts programs are all part of BRAA’s provincial academic curriculum.

Students at the Academy have the option of both academic study and participation in one of several artistic programs offered by the institution.

The admissions procedure often includes an audition or interview.

Walnut High Schools for the Arts

Walnut High Schools for the Arts

The Walnut High School for the Arts is a private, coeducational institution. The school was founded in 1893 and offers a postgraduate year to its graduating class of artists.

Walnut High School for the Arts provides both an extensive college preparatory academic curriculum and rigorous, pre-professional artistic training.

It provides instruction in the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and media arts.

Before auditioning or submitting work for review, prospective students must submit a completed application. Audition standards vary considerably between disciplines in the arts.

Students in need of financial assistance are encouraged to apply to Walnut High School for the Arts.

Rosedale Heights School of the Arts (RHSA)

Students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts have the opportunity to succeed in a variety of artistic, academic, and athletic pursuits.

Even if they don’t have a natural talent for it, RSHA thinks every young person should have access to the arts. This makes Rosedale the only arts high school in the Toronto District School Board that does not require an entrance exam or audition.

Additionally, Rosedale does not require students to declare a major and instead encourages students to discover their passions through an interdisciplinary exploration of the arts in the community.

Rosedale’s goal is to get its students ready for higher education at the university level, so the school offers rigorous courses with an arts focus.

Students in Grades 9 through 12 can study at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts.

Wells Cathedral School

Wells Cathedral School is located at the third most highly regarded high school for the performing arts in the entire world.

Wells Cathedral School is one of the top five music schools in the United Kingdom for students in elementary through high school.

Students between the ages of two and eighteen are welcome to enroll in the nursery, primary school, secondary school, and sixth form at Litte Wellies.

You can get training for a career in music at Cathedral School. Numerous scholarship opportunities are made available.

Interlochen Arts Academy

Interlochen Arts Academy

We ranked it as number five on our list of the top high schools for the performing arts around the globe. Everyone from third graders to high school seniors is welcome at the Academy.

Interlochen offers academic programs in addition to its arts education offerings for the life of the student.

Visual arts, theater (acting, musical theatre, design & production), dance, film & new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, creative writing, and music are all offered as majors.

The audition and/or portfolio review is the most crucial part of the application process. Each academic concentration has its own set of audition standards.

Interlochen Arts Academy awards merit- and need-based scholarships to international and domestic students.

Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA)

We rank Etobicoke School of the Arts as the 7th best high school for the performing arts in the world. Etobicoke School of the Arts is a public, arts-academic high school for students in grades nine through twelve.

In 1981, one of Canada’s first arts-focused independent high schools, Etobicoke School of the Arts, opened its doors to its first students.

Etobicoke School of the Arts offers a rigorous academic program in addition to majors in Dance, Drama, Film, Music, Theatre, and Contemporary Arts.

Auditions are a standard part of any competitive application process. Each academic concentration has its own set of audition standards. Candidates may need to audition in one or two majors.

The Chicago Academy for the Arts

Here is number nine on our list of the top secondary schools for the performing arts around the globe. The Chicago Academy for the Arts is a prestigious private high school for the visual and performing arts.

At the Chicago Academy for the Arts, students learn to think critically, express themselves creatively, and succeed in school.

In addition to providing students with professional-level artistic instruction, the Academy also provides them with rigorous, college-preparatory academic classes.

Auditions and portfolio reviews are part of the application process. Different creative fields have different requirements for things like portfolio reviews and auditions.

The Academy’s annual aid program helps students who demonstrate financial need.

Juilliard School

Corporate entity In 1905, the first Juilliard students enrolled. There will be a total of 602 first-year students enrolled in the fall of 2021, and the setting will be urban. The semester system is the foundation of the school year. There is a $52,500 price tag for the full program. The Juilliard School is an arts-only institution that provides training for future professionals in the fields of music, dance, and theater. Auditioning is typically a part of the application process at Juilliard, though this varies by department. There are no academic requirements, such as a minimum grade point average or class rank, to enroll. After enrolling at Juilliard, each student is required to take a set of general education classes in addition to their major-specific coursework.

Freshmen at universities in New York City are mandated to live in on-campus dorms. After the first year, housing is not guaranteed. After class, you can visit some of the student organizations on campus, like the chess club or the Rag Times. In addition, there are annual events where students can socialize, such as the Halloween Dance and the Spring Block Party. Some famous people who went to Juilliard include the actors Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

King University

The Theatre at King, located in Bristol, Tennessee, is widely regarded as one of the best performing arts colleges in the United States. The school of music and performing arts at King University offers a wide variety of courses, including but not limited to acting, design, direction, construction, and writing. King University has many exciting courses available for ambitious students. This affords the opportunity to explore the world while furthering one’s education. In addition, they offer attendance at regional and national theater conventions. There are two degrees available at this school: a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre. This prestigious institution is home to the best acting program in the greater Tri-Cities, Tennessee area. Due to its high academic standards, helpful faculty, and quick processing of financial aid applications, King University is the best choice for students in East Tennessee.

Alabama School of Fine Arts

It’s a coed boarding school that also happens to be a top-tier secondary school for the performing arts. Alabama School of Fine Arts accepts only the most exceptional students based on a rigorous evaluation of their portfolios, interviews, applications, auditions, and standardized test scores, among other factors.

If you’re looking into high schools for the performing arts and are limited financially, this one offers lower tuition rates and deserves serious consideration. This school offers affordable specialized arts programs nowhere else. Three hours a day of focused practice on your area of expertise is all it takes to see significant improvement. As part of your preparation for college, you will take six core classes spanning disciplines as varied as music, visual arts, science, mathematics, creative writing, and dance.

The Master’s School

They provide a balanced education that is ideal for high school seniors who have their sights set on college. It’s an interdisciplinary exploration of the arts, and it’s not easy. The dancers, musicians, painters, and other artists who have come out of their prestigious fine arts programs are household names. They implement the innovative Harkeness method of instruction in their classrooms.

In grades 7–12, there are more than 400 students involved in performing arts programs. It was founded in 1877 with the school’s commitment to community service as its guiding principle. The same tuition rate applies to both day and boarding students. It is recommended that you check the school’s website for details on the recommended payment plan.

FAQs

What is the difference between performing arts and visual arts?

The performing arts encompass all forms of artistic expression that are presented to an audience in a public setting. Paint, canvas, and other media are all fair game in the realm of visual arts. Painting, sculpture, and drawing are all forms of visual art.

Do Students learn academic courses in Performing Arts High Schools?

The curriculum includes both a strong academic foundation and training in the performing arts.

What is Interlochen Academy?

Interlochen Academy is a college preparatory arts boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12. Here, young musicians find a meaningful outlet for their creativity and potential.

Are there scholarships for boarding schools?

Scholarships to boarding schools are available. Financial aid, tuition waivers, or even free education is typically available to students from low-income families at most boarding high schools.

Conclusion

Boarding schools that specialize in the arts are excellent places to develop one’s skills and potential. If students can find the role they are most interested in playing at this stage, they have a much better chance of succeeding.

Most successful artists attribute their success to combining their natural ability with a rigorous high school arts education. Therefore, parents should seriously consider enrolling their children in art programs. Its significance is mind-boggling.

Carefully peruse the options and pick the one that fits your budget the best.