<p>NorthcoastDad, my daughter attended an arts high school which was structured somewhat like the IT program your son is looking at: 5 periods for core academics -with 2 required periods for arts every year.
Within the 5 periods it was possible to get the full complement of college prep courses; the school was very flexible about how the PE requirement was filled. (Dance students were exempt from PE; others could opt to get PE credit from documented outside endeavors, such as sports participation, classes taken at local gyms or martial arts studios, etc.). So it was possible for my d. to get the foreign language in right from the start. </p>
<p>While arts is very different from IT --I do want to say that even though I feel that my daughter did not get as strong academics as my son did attending a more "normal" high school, I think her high school was a wonderful place for her and the student body as a whole seemed more serious and engaged in their studies. </p>
<p>I think your son's interest in band is a complicating factor -- (my daughter complicated her high school years by insisting upon doing a semester-long foreign exchange midway through, thus sacrificing math & science) -- so it might be worthwhile for you and your son to plot out the likely course schedule over the next 4 years to get a picture of how things would have to be structured to make it all work. Do find out what the school policy is on courses taken outside the school -- for example, can your son make up some academic areas through courses at the local community college? And does your son WANT to do that -- or would he rather have his summers free for other endeavors?</p>
<p>I do think it can all work out well -- it's just that having a good picture of what his likely course work will be can really help make the decision.</p>