Mission Statement
Students at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, through powerful learning experiences, will embrace and excel in the arts and academics while working towards their visions of the future.
The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Arts High) offers a specialized program combining college-preparatory academic instruction and conservatory-style training in the visual and performing arts. Founded in 1985, the tuition-free public school is run by the Los Angeles County Office of Education in partnership with and on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).
Recognized as the premier public arts high school in the western U.S., Arts High is the recipient of numerous awards, including: California Distinguished School for academic excellence, Golden Bell Award (visual arts program), Grammy Signature School (music program) and Bravo Award (Music Center of Los Angeles County) for excellence in arts education.
The school serves over 570 culturally and socioeconomically diverse teens from more than 60 school districts in the region. Prospective students must meet minimum academic, attendance and behavior standards, and must audition for acceptance into one of four departments: music (vocal and instrumental), theatre, dance or visual arts. Each department selects its own students through a juried audition or portfolio review process. Once admitted, students can elect training in TV/Film and/or audition for musical theatre productions.
Arts High is a model small learning community fully integrated within the campus of CSULA, offering students a direct connection to higher education. More than 95 percent of graduates — significant numbers with university credit earned at CSULA — go on to four-year colleges and universities. In addition, many are recruited with scholarships to the world's finest arts institutions.
The nonprofit Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation raises funds to support the conservatory-style arts training offered to students free of charge. Each year, the Foundation works to bridge the gap between available state funding and the actual cost of the arts programs by cultivating and soliciting gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.
