<p>DD-2014 has had a passion for theater (specifically musical theater) for many, many years. She did express interest in attending a P.Arts high school when she was in the 8th grade, but I thought that at 13, she wasn't really mature enough to make that decision (and honestly, I thought that she would have changed her mind a million times since then). NOPE! Theater it is, and always has been.</p>
<p>She still desires to attend a P. Arts high school, and we do have a vocational school that allows you to major in drama or dance, while still offering core academics (although there are no AP classes). She is in all honors classes now, and works hard to stay on the honor roll. The only theater that she gets to do is the annual musical and summer theater camp.</p>
<p>Has anyone had experience with their child transferring schools for this reason? I'm afraid that the small group of P. Arts majors will have much more experience (they take two hours in their major per day), and will have bonded so much already, that she'll stick out like a sore thumb (plus, she won't know anyone there). I also fear that since she's a newcomer, she may not get cast as readily in their mainstage productions. At her present school, she has been cast as leads in the past two productions.</p>
<p>She has stated that she wants to do this as a career, so I'm just trying to find the best avenue for her. Thanks for any help!</p>
<p>I think you need to visit the school and talk to people who go there. We have the opposite story. My son went to a performing arts school that goes from 7-12 grades. He attended 7 and 8th and decided to change to a private high school with choir/theatre program. Don’t spam me!!! We really felt the talent level at the PA school was not better than regular high school. About 10% real talent at both. The rest just LOVE it but will never go on to college in that field. We also felt (at this school, not YOURS) that the training was targeted to a large basic group and down to that level. 2 extra hours a day wasted. He was getting better training on his own. The school we are at now does more shows, and better shows. He goes to football games and loves all the other “regular” high school stuff. But he is totally committed to theatre and it works very well for him. I also think the PA was better suited to girls- very low percentage of guys. He felt outnumbered- but the girls loved him! I do find the people at the PA school to be very warm and welcoming- as usual- it’s the parents who make most the drama. We have a friend who just transferred to the PA in her sophomore year and she likes it. Make sure the training is worth the switch. You miss a lot of day to day high school stuff and the chance to diversify your social life.</p>
<p>Agree with theatremomma – you really need to investigate whether the PA high school is really going to make a meaningful difference. My daughter has friends that go to LaGuardia – NYC performing arts high school – and that is a great option for NYC kids. But its pretty unique with a very competitive audition process and really good faculty especially at the high school level. MY little bit of research and anecdotal exposure to kids attending other performing arts high schools raises some questions in my mind as to whether they make a meaningful difference. If you have one to go from the get go, I doubt it can hurt. But not sure its worth going through the issues you are describing unless you have a really good read on the caliber of the performing arts high school.</p>
<p>I agree for the need to determine the quality of the arts high school. They are not all created equal! Having said that, if it’s a good one, you can’t compare the training you’ll get at a regular high school. Three of my Ds attended an excellent arts high school, one of them transferring in for her final three years. She loved it and had no issues with being new, making friends, etc. She’s a very self-assured girl, though, so it may be different for someone who’s shy. The school they attended had a very selective admissions process. An audition, testing, and an interview were necessary for admission. The staff was fabulous and the talent level high. It was very strong academically as well and, in order to remain, students had to maintain a good gpa. We all loved the school and we still go see shows there when we can. You should schedule a visit to the school and arrange to speak to students, staff and admin, maybe have your D sit in on some classes. I would recommend that you do it ASAP because if it were the school that my Ds attended that you were interested in, you’d already be too late for entry in September 2012.</p>
<p>I transferred from a regular HS to a PA HS during my sophomore year and it is my best decision ever! It did help that I knew some of the students in my major before I got there (we either were in classes or shows together) so adjusting to the change was not hard at all. Everyone welcomed me (and also a boy who was selected from the spring auditions). While I had lead roles in many shows before the PA school, I did not expect to get them right after transferring, considering the level of talent the directors had to choose from. I was very lucky to be cast as a character/ensemble role in my first main stage production and grew into lead roles there as my training went on. Being around such talented peers made me want to work even harder. And…I think I learned just as much from being in the ensemble as I have as a lead! </p>
<p>I am a HS senior now and feel prepared for college auditions. I want to pursue MT/Acting as a career and I believe I got the best training for a PA career that I could possibly receive in my state by attending this PA magnate.</p>
<p>My D attended a PS from 4th - 12th grade and it was the right palce for her. It was not the right place for all students at the school or those that came and left. As others have said you need to visit the school and do whatever you can to find out as much information as possible. You should also discuss with your daughter what your educational values are and how performing fits with them. D’s school was not an academic wiz school (some PAs are very strong academically) but for her learning to deal with a ratehr high level of disorganization, uncommitted teachers and students, and a host of other not academic issues really made her a strong, organized and driven kid in a way that many other schools would not have. But we did make academic sacrafices and she was not going to get into an Ivey school if that had been her goal.</p>
<p>As for new kids, D’s school had a pretty high and consistent turnover, so although it was a 4-12 school, every year more than 30% of the students in each grade were new. Because of this we found the school less clique and more willing to accept a wide variety of kids and just go with the flow. (one reason we stayed at the school) Casting was not based on longevity but on fit.</p>
<p>As for training- D’s school did not have an MT program when she was there, they had dance, vocal music and drama. As a little kid she could do all three but by HS she could only commit to one, so she went with dance. It was a classical ballet program with some modern. If dance is an interest, I would be very wary of PA programs that do not focus on ballet. </p>
<p>It is very difficult to generalize about PAs so this is just our experience. Good luck and let your gut feelings be your guide.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. We attended the open house/information session and she was underwhelmed. We’ve decided to stick it out at the local HS and get her more involved in local theatre throughout the year.</p>
Having said that, if it’s a good one, you can’t compare the training you’ll get at a regular high school. Three of my Ds attended an excellent arts high school, one of them transferring in for her final three years. She loved it and had no issues with being new, making friends, etc. She’s a very self-assured girl, though, so it may be different for someone who’s shy. The school they attended had a very selective admissions process. An audition, testing, and an interview were necessary for admission. The staff was fabulous and the talent level high. It was very strong academically as well and, in order to remain, students had to maintain a good gpa. We all loved the school and we still go see shows there when we can. You should schedule a visit to the school and arrange to speak to students, staff and admin, maybe have your D sit in on some classes. I would recommend that you do it ASAP because if it were the school that my Ds attended that you were interested in, you’d already be too late for entry in September 2012.</p>