Schools with strong arts programs

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for this for my child, who will be a rising K. Could be public or private. Very curious--I grew up in Miami where there were strong music, dance, and visual arts programs EVERYWHERE, even at young ages. Here, it doesn't seem that way. Are there any public or private schools that have good arts reputations?

[Anonymous]

Norwood has excellent visual arts and music programs. In K I think my kids had music four times a week (although short-term memory is the first to go, so I could be wrong).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for this for my child, who will be a rising K. Could be public or private. Very curious--I grew up in Miami where there were strong music, dance, and visual arts programs EVERYWHERE, even at young ages. Here, it doesn't seem that way. Are there any public or private schools that have good arts reputations?

What gives you that impression? Have you visited many independent schools in the area? Many of them have good to excellent art departments.

[Anonymous]

There's is a public school in Fairfax that has a partnership with the Kennedy Center. Somewhere down GW PArkway. Maybe someone else can name it.

[Anonymous]

Many of the private school have strong arts programs. Of course there is Ellington at the high school level. And there are so many art oriented extracurrics you can do in this area, from camps at the Corcoran and Arena Stage, to the Holton Creative Summer program. Lots of classes and programs during the school year too. Probably best to focus on your neighborhood/area.

Luckily MD and VA have very highly ranked school systems so perhaps there will be some redeeming qualities of the education your child gets in this area relative to FL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Norwood has excellent visual arts and music programs. In K I think my kids had music four times a week (although short-term memory is the first to go, so I could be wrong).

I was also going to recommend Norwood. Landon is another school that comes to mind, but it's boys only and doesn't start until 3rd grade. In D.C. Sheridan has a strong music program.

[Anonymous]

This comment seems to be more of a criticism than anything. There is no info on where the OP even lives. Is she moving to the area and primarily concerned about the arts? Seems a little strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This comment seems to be more of a criticism than anything. There is no info on where the OP even lives. Is she moving to the area and primarily concerned about the arts? Seems a little strange.

Agree - and I wasn't aware that Miami was known for the quality of its schools.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you for the information about Norwood. I will be sure to check it out. We're in AU park, so I know that Sheridan is close to us too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's is a public school in Fairfax that has a partnership with the Kennedy Center. Somewhere down GW PArkway. Maybe someone else can name it.

Fort Hunt Elementary. They also have Spanish starting in 1st grade. I can say there is a definate emphasis on integrating art education across all subjects.

[Anonymous]

Holton...

[Anonymous]

Kensington Parkwood has an arts integration program...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This comment seems to be more of a criticism than anything. There is no info on where the OP even lives. Is she moving to the area and primarily concerned about the arts? Seems a little strange.

Agree - and I wasn't aware that Miami was known for the quality of its schools.

I actually agree with the OP. When I look at other areas, arts magnets, art based charter schools, etc . . . seem common and yet here we have very few. None of the Charter schools in DC that claim an arts based focused (Doar, SAIL, Children's Studio School) have been even slightly successful. The arts magnet at Hardy is over. MD and VA don't even have high schools of the performing arts that I know of. In the private school while there are certainly schools that do a good job with arts (Lowell, Norwood, in fact many schools) there aren't any that have arts as the cornerstone of their curriculum.

In fact, I'd say that the only truly arts based school (that is a school where arts are the heart of the curriculum, not one of many equal pieces or an add on) is Ellington which is limited to a small age group, and a certain geographic region.

[Anonymous]

Are you in DC or elsewhere in area? I think the Arlington publics have a great arts program, and I would be willing to bet that many other public districts do too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you in DC or elsewhere in area? I think the Arlington publics have a great arts program, and I would be willing to bet that many other public districts do too.

Really? Could you please tell me more about the Arlington arts programs? I was under the impression that kids had art and music one time a week each? Is this not right?