What is a Performing Arts School?
A performing arts school is a specialized academic institution that integrates traditional education with focused training in artistic disciplines such as music, dance, theater, and film.
These are schools that support students who are passionate about the arts by providing daily access to professional instruction, creative collaboration, and real-world performance opportunities
A performing arts education gives students daily exposure to peers who share similar passions while fostering inspiration and creative collaboration in an environment where artistic pursuits are celebrated and prioritized. Students can benefit from an integrated academic and artistic education that helps them develop life skills, independence, self-confidence and a strong sense of community.
Why Performing Arts Education Matters
93% of Americans believe that the arts are essential to a complete education (aate.com). As schools prioritize STEAM over STEM, it is important to integrate arts into a holistic curriculum. An arts school education allows high school students to supplement the traditional curriculum with opportunities for personal growth and creative development that undoubtedly prepares students for college and life readiness.
The benefits of a performing arts education are many. Because students have access to performance facilities and experienced faculty and working professionals, they are uniquely positioned to refine their artistic skills and develop their creative voice. Performing arts opportunities include showcases, recitals, exhibitions, and productions which all serve to help students gain performance experience while building a professional portfolio. Students can also network with faculty, alumni and guest artists who provide insight into industry standards and practices.
A performing arts education also provides the added benefit of self discovery and personal growth. The immersion into creative and artistic exploration results in stronger emotional intelligence, self-awareness, resilience, self-confidence, discipline and problem-solving skills.
Discover the Idyllwild Arts Difference
Balancing Artistic Passion with Academic Excellence
Ranked by Niche as the #1 High School for the Arts in America, Idyllwild Arts Academy empowers students to become multidimensional thinkers, creative problem solvers, emotionally intelligent leaders, and globally-conscious collaborators–through the transformative power of art. Nestled within 205 acres of pristine pine forest located in the renowned arts village of Idyllwild in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains, Idyllwild Arts is an international and multicultural community for creators, and is home to over 250 students from 30 countries.
At Idyllwild Arts, students learn that art, science, literature, and self-development inform each other. Our curriculum is a launchpad for innovation, empathy, and relevance. We believe that art is the greatest teacher of humanity, and we embrace its power to develop empathetic citizens of the world.
At Idyllwild Arts, students experience learning as it exists in the real world – interconnected, dynamic, and designed for impact. Our seven art majors are structured to support every student’s personal creative journey, whether you choose:
Idyllwild Arts gives every student an integrated education, a global peer group, a personal sanctuary, and a real future. Our graduates are living proof that the practice of creativity can drive global change.
Real World Opportunities: Performing Arts Schools Benefits
Idyllwild Arts provides students with real-world training through public-facing events, recitals, collaborations, and more! Our students have the opportunity to travel across the country to compete in competitions – the Reno Jazz Festival, All American High School Film Festival, The Jimmy Awards, and more – supported all along the way by their experienced faculty. Students also have the opportunity to practice applying for grants to fund their projects through our one-of-a-kind grant program, Arts Enterprise Laboratory.
How Performing Arts Benefit Students Applying to College
One of the major benefits of a performing arts education is that students perform higher in academics than they would in a traditional school. Students involved in drama performance coursework or experience outscored non-arts students on the 2005 SAT by an average of 65 points in the verbal component and 34 points in the math component according to the Student Descriptive Questionnaire, a self-reported component of the SAT that gathers information about students’ academic preparation (aate.com).
Idyllwild Arts’ integrated curriculum teaches that art, science, literature, and self-development inform each other, preparing students for limitless possibilities after graduation. With a focus on critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, Idyllwild Arts Academy empowers students to think across disciplines–just as the world demands. Idyllwild Artists think holistically and problem-solve with agility and imagination, approaching the world with wonder, critique, inquiry, and innovation. We offer a competitive college-preporatory curriculum, including Honors courses in all subjects.
Students graduate with strong portfolios, audition skills, and professional experience giving them a competitive edge in college admissions or entry into any professional industry.
A Culture of Creative Collaboration
The Idyllwild Arts campus is a safe and inspiring hub of creativity, culture, and community. Here, belonging means being seen for who you are– and learning to see others with clarity and compassion. Our students hail from all corners of the globe and grow together as artists, friends, innovators, and problem-solvers. Our culture promotes empathy-driven competition where students learn how imagination becomes intelligence and the drive to excel includes lifting others up, creating stronger people and stronger artists.
Idyllwild Artists are able to collaborate with their peers across all departments on student-led projects! Filmmakers, dancers, actors, and musicians worked together to create the award-winning music video “Off the Record,” funded by Arts Enterprise Laboratory.
Gaining Independence at a Performing Arts Boarding School
According to the Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), 87% of boarding school graduates reported feeling “very well prepared” academically for college, compared to 71% from private day schools and 39% from public schools.
Additionally, 78% of boarding alumni felt prepared for non-academic college life skills, like independence and time management, compared to 36% from private day schools and 23% from public schools. In addition, alumni of boarding schools are 26% more likely to say their school helped them achieve their goals.” (School Life in Focus: The Boarding Advantage p. 9). The impact of a boarding arts high school is that graduates report being more confident leaders with increased confidence, higher emotional intelligence and better problem-solving skills.
Idyllwild Arts is a unique refuge where students can breathe, focus, and grow as they study independently in the mountains away from urban noise and distraction. Students at Idyllwild Arts learn inside and outside of the classroom, engage with the world directly, maturing within its complexities. At Idyllwild Arts, the world gets smaller and empathy grows bigger.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore our campus, meet our community, and discover the opportunities waiting for you or your child at Idyllwild Arts Academy. Who will you become as an Idyllwild Artist?
