Student Life
The Idyllwild Arts campus is a bustling hub of creativity, culture, and community where art is the greatest teacher of humanity. Our students hail from all corners of the globe and grow together as artists, as friends, as changemakers, as innovators, and as problem-solvers. The environment, culture, and experience on our campus is one of inclusivity, acceptance, and belonging, and we strongly believe a campus that facilitates authentic conversations, artistic experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration cultivates Citizen Artists capable of making a real difference in the world.
Dorm Life
As an Idyllwild Artist, your day begins and ends in the dormitories which, along with a strong, supportive community, becomes a “home away from home.” Each double-occupancy room provides safety, security, and comfort with ensuite private baths with both showers and bathtubs. Laundry facilities and storage are also available. As creatives, students are encouraged to infuse their personal touches, making their dorm room a reflection of themselves and a place for self-expression, contemplation, and relaxation.
Our dedicated, approachable dorm parents are readily available to assist, help, and accommodate students’ residential needs. Together with student prefects, students gather weekly to discuss residential concerns, generate dorm spirit, and cultivate community.
Privacy and Personal Time
We are keenly aware that artists need space to contemplate, create, and unwind. At Idyllwild Arts, we provide quiet, personal time for our students so that they can renew after a long day of study and practice, and rejuvenate with friends and fellowship. Quiet hours are from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am. Common areas have cozy sofas, pool tables, flat screen TV/DVD players, fireplaces, fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities, and storage. Idyllwild Artists are able to unwind their way with dedicated personal time every day.
Residential Life
At Idyllwild Arts, residential life plays an important role for our entire community because we live together as an extended, multicultural family. Our students learn important life skills such as time management, accountability, relationship building, and conflict resolution. In doing so, they learn, live and grow into independent young adults, fully capable of success at the next phase of life.
The residential life department plans and produces regular activities including dances, open-mic coffee houses, pool parties, and exciting recreational and excursions to Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego and other nearby locales.
Student Services
The goal of the Student Services team at Idyllwild Arts is to provide every student with the necessary tools, skills, resources, and personalized care they need to navigate our campus, courses, and curriculum. Our staff understands that parents entrust us to care for their child, and this responsibility is carefully built into the fabric of our organization. We believe in meeting every student where they are—championing through triumphs and supporting through challenges.
Our partnership with Sage Dining Services promises nutritious and diverse dining experiences for students, faculty, and staff. The talented culinary team provides extensive menu options that meet all dietary needs/restrictions.
The Health Center
The Idyllwild Arts Health Center delivers compassionate and responsive medical care for all of our students. The Health Center is staffed and equipped to provide 24/7 routine, preventive and acute medical care while maintaining an open and communicative dialog with both students and parents. The Health Center operates in accordance with all current laws and guidelines to treat illness, dispense medication, update medical records, maintain confidentiality, and coordinate care with external physicians and facilities.
Fitness Facilities
As a residential boarding high school, Idyllwild Arts absolutely prioritizes the health, fitness, and wellness of our students. With access to an outdoor pool, exercise facilities, basketball courts, and miles of outdoor hiking trails, students are able to routinely participate in aerobic exercise activities. Regular exercise is vital for growing teenagers and as artists, it is especially important to receive physical fitness activity to improve physical strength, stamina, mental clarity, and mood.
Health Center Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 AM to 10 PM
Phone: 951.659.2171 x2275
Counseling
It is the goal of the counseling staff to provide emotional support and valuable resources to students as they work through the inevitable challenges of life. The Wellness Center counselors offer free counseling, support groups, and workshops for every student. With unwavering support, students can self-refer or be referred by parents, teachers, dorm parents, or advisors.
Wellness Center Hours: Monday-Friday 9 AM to 5 PM
*An on-call counselor is available after-hours for urgent issues.
Other Health Services and Information
Visit Student Services to learn more about resources, facilities, and policies.
Idyllwild Arts is a vibrant, fun-loving community where the Director of Campus Life, faculty, and student leaders thoughtfully curate a wide range of recreational student activities, both on and off campus. Typical on-campus events include dances, coffee house open-mics, movie screenings, pool parties, games, competitions, dorm open houses, and sporting activities.
Typical off-campus activities include trips to museums, concerts, theatrical productions, amusement parks, beaches, ski areas, skating rinks, shopping malls, movie theaters, sporting events, and visits to other cultural and recreational venues.
Idyllwild Arts develops every student’s intellect, character and purpose to lead lives with limitless possibilities. Idyllwild Artists think critically, analyze carefully, create boldly, problem solve passionately and innovate with ingenuity. Together, our dual curriculum and academic support services, produce great minds, great vision, great thinking, and great results.
Like any high school, Idyllwild Arts Academy has valuable opportunities to develop students as leaders, decision-makers, influencers, and advocates.
Prefect Program
Prefects are upper-class students, who have been selected for their leadership potential, honesty, and dependability to work closely with faculty members as examples and role models for younger students. Prefects work with dorm parents and the Director of Campus Life to monitor and govern the dorms, as well as, plan fun, exciting activities both on and off campus.
Student Government
The IAA student body elects one student from each grade level, an international student representative and a senior class president. The Student Council relays issues, ideas, interests or concerns to school administration providing real-life opportunities to effect change. Members of the Student Council learn to flex their leadership muscles, stretch themselves as advocates, and develop as societal influencers.
Other areas and amenities around campus enhance the quality of life at Idyllwild Arts. These include:
- Free and convenient high-speed WiFi
- Campus Bookstore for textbooks, snacks, merchandise as well as school, art, and personal supplies
- Transportation Department facilitates transportation between campus and off-site errands or excursions
- Newly renovated common rooms featuring big-screen smart TV’s, upgraded WiFi, ping pong and foosball tables
- Day Student Lounge
Students are able to send outgoing mail from campus, and mail is delivered to their individual mailboxes Monday through Friday. The mailroom is located just across the street from Nelson Dining Hall.
All student mail should be addressed to:
(Student’s Name)
Dormitory name and room number
Idyllwild Arts Academy
52500 Temecula Drive #38
Idyllwild, CA 92549
UPS and FedEx pick up and deliver packages daily. If students need to ship belongings, they may do so in the mailroom.
Ben Zinnen
Admission Associate, Student Services Coordinator
InterArts/Creative Writing, Semester Exchange Program
bzinnen@idyllwildarts.org
Staff
Frequently Asked Questions
We encourage students to bring a favorite poster, artwork, stuffed animal, photos, scrapbook, or other personal belongings that will make their dorm room comfortable and reflect their unique personality.
Yes. Idyllwild Artists have access to state-of-the-art equipment and first-rate production spaces. As the arts continue to shift and evolve in the world, so do our offerings—expanding in lockstep with industry trends, technologies, and innovations . From throwing clay and perfecting choreography, to rehearsing a solo, layering garments, or editing digital shorts, students have access to pre-professional spaces that allow their talent to flourish and thrive.
To see more of our campus, visit Facilities.
Yes! All student mail should be addressed to:
(Student’s Name)
Idyllwild Arts Academy
52500 Temecula Drive #38
Idyllwild, CA 92549
Yes, parents are encouraged to visit the campus for admission tours, campus events, and student performances.
Student Services staff, in conjunction with the Transportation Department, will coordinate travel plans for students during the fall break, winter break, spring break and at the end-of-the-school year. Parents are asked to observe the key travel dates listed on the school calendar. The Transportation Office must have copies of all student itineraries for travel, even those who are being picked up by parents or taking public transportation.
Please convey all plans for travel, including requests for school transportation during vacation periods, to the Student Services Coordinator at 951.659.2171 x2516.
Students may leave their belongings in storage over the summer for a small fee. Instructions regarding summer storage will be provided by the Director of Student Life during the fourth quarter.
Family and friends are encouraged to visit during Family Weekend in October. This weekend provides parents and family to fully participate in classes, see performances, and network with faculty and staff.
Idyllwild Arts is a residential high school that is global by design and proud to welcome students from all over the world. Almost half of our students are international, and although they hail from more than 30 different countries, they are united by their passion for artistic excellence and thrive in our welcoming, inviting and supportive community.
We are here to help international students understand our campus, our culture, our curriculum, and our unique location so that they can make an informed decision about whether Idyllwild Arts Academy is a good fit.
We believe that no other high school in the United States does a better job of preparing young artists to find creative solutions in an increasingly complex, interconnected global world.
The Coordinator of International Student Life is a dedicated resource to help international parents and students through the complicated application process, obtain student visas, and prepare international students to study abroad with us.
For more information and resources please contact:
Dr. Donald Stoll
Manager of Communications & International Student Relations
Idyllwild Arts Academy
1.951.659.2171 ext. 2346
Day students may be on campus throughout the day for classes and in the evenings for rehearsals, performances, or exhibitions. Visiting hours in the dorms end after dinner on school nights, so they are not permitted in the dorms after 7:00 PM, except on Saturdays, when day students can visit until check-in time. More information on day student policies can be found in the Student Handbook or on our Student Services page.
