| Denver School of the Arts | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 7111 Montview Boulevard, Denver, Colorado United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Magnet Secondary |
| Established | 1991 |
| School district | Denver Public Schools |
| Principal | William Kohut |
| Grades | 6 to 12 |
| Enrollment | 1,000 |
| Color(s) | Black and white, in addition to a separate color for each major |
| Athletics | none |
| Mascot | The White Siberian Tiger |
| Superintendent | Tom Boasberg |
| Website | http://dsa.dpsk12.org |
The Denver School of the Arts was founded in 1991 as part of the Denver Public School District. It was a pioneer of the magnet school concept.
Contents |
DSA began as a concurrent program at Manual High School, but was eventually transformed into a fully staffed school in the former mansion of William Byers at 150 South Pearl Street, which previously held the Byers Junior High School. Beginning in the 2003-2004 school year, DSA moved to its permanent home at 7111 E. Montview Boulevard, the former site of the Colorado Women's College and the Lamont School of Music. DSA continues to provide excellent academic and arts training in one of the nation's leading urban school districts.
DSA serves both middle school and high school students.
DSA requires an audition for prospective students competing to join one of its eleven offered majors, which include Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music (Full Band, Orchestra, Piano and Guitar), Stagecraft and Design, Theatre, Video Cinema Arts, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music. DSA is one of the most exclusive schools in the state of Colorado, and students must maintain a grade of B or better in their art to remain at the school. Its students consistently earn some of the highest CSAP and ACT scores in the state. DSA has rigorous academic and artistic standards, and students with deficiencies may be placed on artistic probation with the eventual possibility that they could lose their position at DSA. Students in some majors may be required to participate in the audition process each year in order to maintain performance standards and to ensure a fair and equal selection among all applicants.
Principal
Assistant Principals
Dean
Music
Dance
Creative Writing
Theatre
Visual Arts
Video Cinema Arts
Stagecraft & Design
DSA's extracurricular activities include Tri-M (Music Honor Society), Fellowship of Christian Artists, Animal Club, Gay Lesbian and Straight Alliance, History Day, and other clubs. There are many performance opportunities for students from the performing arts majors, including large events such as Orff's Carmina Burana and Elton John's Aida. DSA has a strong NHS program with its emphasis on community service. DSA has an award-winning debate team.
There are no extra-curricular sports programs offered at DSA, but DSA students are encouraged to participate in sports programs at other Denver high schools. Many of DSA's students run, swim, and play other sports at these schools. In the spring of 2006, DSA students made up more than half of the East High School girls' lacrosse team. Still other students are involved in the Denver Citywide Marching Band.
Most of DSA's students matriculate to an institution of higher learning. Many attend Colorado colleges and universities, but others attend some of the most prestigious arts conservatories and university programs in the United States, including the Capital University, University of Southern California, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, The New School, Ithaca College, Oberlin Conservatory, Berklee School of Music, Yale University, Mills College, California Institute of the Arts, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Pennsylvania, Hofstra University, Barnard College, New York University, Indiana University, Loyola University in New Orleans, the Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan State College of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, Sarah Lawrence College, and the College of Santa Fe. Other DSA graduates move directly into arts employment as musicians, visual artists, writers, actors, and technicians.