The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) is an audition-only public arts magnet school in southeasternSan Diego, California. It is a non-tuition school in San Diego Unified School District. It provides pre-professional training in the arts alongside a college preparatory curriculum. All students audition and complete a required series of specialized arts training in theater, music, dance, visual arts, or creative writing.
Enrollment
Middle school
Middle school applicants must complete the San Diego Unified School District Open Enrollment application and then contact artistic director, Richard Trujillo, to set up an audition. Auditions usually take place in the Fall. Acceptance is via audition only.
High school
All students must first complete the San Diego Unified School District Open Enrollment Application. Prospective high school students must audition for a specific program in one of five majors: Creative Writing, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Music, and Visual and Media Arts. Students may audition and be accepted into several programs, but must choose which one they will pursue while at SDSCPA. Each program has its own audition panel.
Productions
Mainstages
Each spring the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts releases their upcoming performance season. Shows are typically staged in one of two main locations - the Florence Johnson Grand Theater or the Ole Kittleson Little Theater.
Arts
Music
Students can choose from four main forms of music: Band, Jazz, Orchestra, and Voice. The advanced musical groups go on annual tours to compete against other schools from around the nation. These tours can be to places as close as Anaheim and Las Vegas, or as far as Boston and Hawaii. The most notable tour was in 2016 to New York City, featuring the school's Jazz Band at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Competition.
Dance
Several dance classes are available. These classes, ranging from beginning to advanced levels, are not limited to only one or two types of dance. Classes include Theater Dance, Ballet, Modern, and jazz tap.
A professional strand dance class is two periods long. These are meant for more serious dancers who want to get the best of their training.
In 2015, the SDSCPA opened a new multimillion dollar film studio, launching the Cinematic Arts program.
Theatre
Students majoring in Theatre complete courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, or Technical Theatre.
Creative Writing
Students majoring in Creative Writing take courses in Creative Writing and Journalism. Students may also elect to take courses in Broadcast Journalism.
