<p>Besides Choate, which schools are known for great Arts programs.</p>
<p>Putney and Berkshire were always strong in the arts. George School has a strong arts component in its curriculum, including IB certificate programs. Northfield-Mount Hermon had impressive facilities when I visited, also.</p>
<p>Look into St. Paul’s School. They are very strong in the arts. I’ve also heard the same about Concord Academy so that might be worth a look as well.</p>
<p>Northfield Mount Hermon definitely. The 3 arts bs in the U.S. are:</p>
<p>Walnut Hill
Interlochen
Idyllwild </p>
<p>These are all audition-based all-arts schools. If you’re into the arts, definitely check these schools out :)</p>
<p>I had previously looked in to all three of the arts academies, but recieved a no from my parents :(</p>
<p>Did you show them the list of where the students matriculate universities? If you want an arts program but are not pre-professional, these schools may or may not suit you, but your parents might be swayed by the college acceptance lists to let you look.</p>
<p>NMH, Lawrenceville, St. George’s and the Gunnery all have strong arts programs.</p>
<p>Especially at the smaller schools, remember that you’re probably not dealing with “strong arts” across the board–different programs will be stronger and weaker depending on the faculty members, facilities for that discipline, etc. The biggest schools will also have varying degrees of quality in the faculty members, but since there may be more than one teacher per discipline, you can get a wider experience. And, because teachers at the “better schools” are not automatically better teachers than teachers at the hidden gem schools, it pays to contact them and ask questions (either while deciding where to apply of after M10, in the lucky chance you end up with multiple offers.) I visited a school last year that had very strong ceramics but a weak theater program, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility. In terms of discovering what schools have strong support for the arts, look into what the after-school athletic requirements are, and whether the school allows you to be in a play, participate in dance, or persue an independent visual art or music project in lieu of sports. Schools vary widely in their policies. I’d also recommend thinking about what sort of opportunity you want. Some kids would grow more by playing in a smaller jazz band under a great leader and getting to take more solos starting in lower grades, while others would be happier staying at 7th or 8th chair for the sheer joy of being surrounded by better musicians. If you’ve got a specific medium in art that you want to persue, reach out to the teachers of that program and ask specific questions. Every tour guide and every school calls their arts program “amazing,” but there’s a lot more to it than that. if you are passionate about the arts, you want to find a place where the instructors work in a style that appeals to you.</p>
<p>Good advice, Albion.</p>
<p>Don’t assume that just because a school is small, it is lacking in opportunities. Amazing opportunities often exist <em>outside</em> the school, but still supported by the school. For example, if you are an orchestra musician, schools located close to NYC, or Boston, or DC, or even Toronto for that matter, often have opportunities for their students to participate in very high level local youth orchestras on Saturdays. Schools close to universities often have relationships with top-rate teachers from those universities who provide instruction as adjunct faculty.</p>
<p>Contact the head of the arts department, and ask lots of specific questions!</p>
<p>Kent has a very strong music program</p>