High School Options.?

Question:I'm going into high school next year (I'm in 8th grade now) and I'm thinking about going to a performing arts charter high school. The thing is, I don't know if I want to. I'm a dancer and I would go either for dancing or acting. If I go to the performing arts school, I'd miss my friends and all the "social" stuff. I'm popular in my school and I want to grow up with my friends. I want to go to the football games and be apart of student council. I want the whole experience. I also have to think about my future. Just because I don't attend a performing arts school doesn't mean I can't do it afterwards, but it's like a guaranteed scholarship on certain circumstances. I don't know what to do. Any advice on which school to go to? My local high school or the charter school? The open house and auditions are coming right around the corner so I have to make my decision and quick.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm going into high school next year (I'm in 8th grade now) and I'm thinking about going to a performing arts charter high school. The thing is, I don't know if I want to. I'm a dancer and I would go either for dancing or acting. If I go to the performing arts school, I'd miss my friends and all the "social" stuff. I'm popular in my school and I want to grow up with my friends. I want to go to the football games and be apart of student council. I want the whole experience. I also have to think about my future. Just because I don't attend a performing arts school doesn't mean I can't do it afterwards, but it's like a guaranteed scholarship on certain circumstances. I don't know what to do. Any advice on which school to go to? My local high school or the charter school? The open house and auditions are coming right around the corner so I have to make my decision and quick.

I'd say to do the auditions and open house. That way, you can personally see if the performing arts schools would be right for you. I would also talk with current students and alumni. I would also ask the performing arts school administrators what the job market is like for a professional artist (usually VERY competitive) and probability to attend a good university/college. I would also ask what their graduation rate is for their students and how many do continue on in college--and even how many stay as a fines arts major (or related field). Plus, you would also have to factor in the cost of going to the performing arts school. Do they have scholarships/financial aid available if your parents can't afford the tuition/housing fees? Will you have the opportunity to explore other fields such as chemistry, psychology, anatomy/physiology, english composition/literature, and the like? Does the school offer other organizations that you can join?

Another option to consider if you get accepted is to see if you can half of your school day at the regular high school and the other half at the performing arts school (if not far from each other). That way, you can do your basic courses in the morning at the high school, do your music courses at the performing arts school in the afternoon/evening, and still participate in activities at both schools (going to football games, concerts, etc).

Another option is to see if you can at least take private lessons and participate in the school ensembles at the performing arts school on nights/weekends. This might work out very well if you and your parents decide to not do the arts school, even if you are accepted. That way, you will be musically challenged (in a good way) while still getting your high school experience and classes. You could also still participate in the high school fine arts classes as a way to build up your experiences. It would still look good on college applications, no matter what area you decide to major in.

Good luck and I wish I knew about performing arts schools when I was your age!

If you really enjoy performing arts, then I suggest you do it now. If your friends are really your friends, then you'll still hang out and be able to go to football games. High school isn't as great as the movies try to make it out to be. College is far more enjoyable than high school.

I would go to the open house and audition, if i you get an acceptance letter then really think about it.
I got accepted to this school i really wanted to go to, but the following school year I transffered to my the local school were all my friends had gone.
Im really glad i did. Art schools and regular local schools are very different in terms of the people that attend and the events and oppurtunities held. But to be honest; they both offer the same things...both schools offer: APs, clubs, honor classes, sports,etc .. Even if you choose the regular high school you could still have a chance of scholarships you just have to look into what career pathway you want to do.

you can choose performing arts school ,GROW UP ALONG WITH YOUR FRIENDS.IT'S MY SUGGESTION.
No foot ball! Take some other active game like volley ball, shuttle badminton.Be active in the student's council,
REST LEAVE IT TO GOD.

My high school is a performing arts hgh school too. I went for dramatic arts, most of my friends went to the local high school but i went to one 45 minutes away from my house. I think you should go to the peforming arts school. If youre friends are true friend you will see them on weekends, you can be apart of student council at the new school, you can see football games with your friends at their school. Trust me in high school everything changes people change too so follow you dreams, you'll make new friends.

I would tell you to stay in your current high school. You can take private lessons for dance or theatre. Not only that, you can get involved in theatre and speech & debate in your high school for the drama tournaments, you can take part in musicals for dancing, and you can get involved where you want to get involved. Private instructors can guide you where you need to go and get you involved in shows where they think you should go.
If you happen to change your mind, you can transfer to the private school after your freshman year.

In the end, though, we can't decide for you. Decide what you find to be most valuable from each school opportunities and what situation you'd rather be in.

I No how you feel thats what im doing im going to a performing arts school aswell and im leaving my freinds behind cause i no im gonna make new friends at the performing arts school it matters about what you wanna do ive wanted to be a singer FOREVER since i was born this is something i really want im gonna miss my friends but this is what i wanna do and its where i belong its best for me so i think the performing arts is best for you you are probably very talented

you can do social stuff outside of school, and you can still keep in contact with friends... although it will be much easier to make new friends, and alot of your current friends might drift away. you can still go to your friend's football games since their schools will participate. As for the student council... maybe you can be a part of somthing different? this is only if you want to go to the preforming arts charter high school.

I went to an arts high school and these are my thoughts. Arts high schools are definitely better at the arts than a regular high school but you are bound to their program. That is four years of the same dance/acting class. What I found is that in four years, I was ready to move on to higher level study of the arts but was being pulled back and wasting time at school. Who are the teachers? Are they really experienced dancers/actors? What are their qualifications? You will still have lots of time for "social" stuff and your closest friends will probably be like-minded dancers/actors. Dance and drama majors (at my school) were the most active on student council and had lots of time for sports and extracurriculars.

To be a dancer, right now is a really important time. You need to be in the best physical shape and it is very difficult to make a career out of it let alone get into a post-secondary program for dance. Many applicants for post-secondary programs have taken a year or more off, built up their strength, which leaves very little room for people out of high school to be accepted. There are also people coming from the ballet schools that are following a much stricter training regiment than any performing arts school.

Good Luck.