Arizona School for the Arts is a non-profit public charter school in Phoenix, Arizona. Emphasis is placed on a college preparatory curriculum and the performing arts. Its mascot is a one-legged pigeon named Stumpy.
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History
It was founded in 1995 by Dr. Mark Francis, with 155 students in grades 7–10. By 2002, it had grown to 280 students.
In 2005, it was honored as a Blue Ribbon school.
In 2008, it bought two buildings adjacent to its existing campus as demand for growth increased. This growth has allowed ASA to expand its enrollment by 80 high school students between 2007 and 2010.
Format
School begins at 7:45 AM. Students in grades 8-12 attend five academic classes in the morning and two to three arts courses in the afternoon. Grades 5-7 attend two academic classes and two arts in the morning then the three remaining academics in the afternoon. All students take math, English, science, and social studies; high school students take French or Spanish; and middle school students take a class on life skills (CCR, College and career readiness) in place of a foreign language. All students may choose two arts, though 5th through 7th graders must have either choir or piano as one choice. The current choices for arts include choir, piano, string orchestra, band, dance, and theatre (theatre consisting of multiple branches, such as lighting and sound design and musical theatre). Every student is allowed the opportunity to elect for a third art, taking place from the end of normal school hours, 15:30, to 16:30 for an additional charge. Starting sophomore year, high school students can be selected to take AP classes to earn college credits. School operations, apart from after school clubs, cease at 4:30 pm unless specially noted.
Performances
Choral Collage
Each winter, choir students in all grades perform a winter themed concert at Brophy College Preparatory or Camelback Bible Church. The concert takes place in December and usually begins at 7:30 PM. It usually ends at 9:30 PM. Specific students from band, orchestra, and dance are sometimes asked to provide accompaniment/dance entertainment during the pieces. There is usually an intermission halfway through the performance.
Showcase
This is the school's biggest performance of the year. Every student participates and performs their art in some way. There are two performances and they are both different. It is a performance for family and friends to attend to see their hard-working students. It is performed at the Orpheum Theatre near the school. The rehearsals for the performance begin after the last day of academic classes, in late May. Students rehearse for two weeks until the performances which happen in late May or early June. The show is run backstage by students in technical theater, and for singing acts, band or orchestra students play in the pit. The show sometimes has a plot behind it, but it is mostly a revue of sorts with an overall theme.
Notable alumni
Astrud Aurelia - Drag queen
Matt Dallas - Actor, ABC Family TV show Kyle XY
David Hallberg – Ballet dancer
Kacy Hill - Singer/Songwriter
Alexandra Shipp – Actress
Taylor Upsahl - Singer/Songwriter