Research Denver School of the Arts Public Schools in Denver, Colorado

“I have been attending Denver School of the Arts since I was in 6th grade, making this my fourth year. Denver school of the arts is an excellent school for students dedicated to their art and want to get professional help for your art. It provides over the top education both for academic and in your major. Some students may not agree, but in order to truly enjoy this school, you must have a strong passion for it. I love Denver School of the Arts, and I hope you decide you do too.”

“Hello!! I go to D.S.A and right now i'm in 6th grade. The most heard rumour outside is that this school is for preppy kids. That is not true. i have many friends who don't even get enough money to liv ein a small house. The elctives and teachers there are great too. Especially Mr. Mediatore, the math teacher. if your kid never liked math like i did, they will when you get in 6th grade math. Mr.Mediatore is a very generous person. He is funny, and every body at our school thinks he is awesome. The electives can teach great things too, like piano or typing. Those are just one of many electives. If your kid gets in ti D.S.A, Congrats!!!”

“My student has been at DSA for 3 years and will graduate next year. I would not recommend DSA for every student. What I usually tell friends who ask is, 'If you are happy where you are and feel you are being academically challenged, then stay put.' Otherwise, DSA is a good option. Academically it is adequate and AP classes offer some challenge. What makes the school special is the environment. Nobody is considered 'popular' because everybody is generally accepted for who they are. The diversity prepares students for the real world. My student has loved it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.”

“hi, i'm a student at DSA and i've been attending since sixth grade. although things are kid of disorganized at school once your in the rhythm of you students and teachers you know your way around. Fitting in isnt hard at all because in the end you always have something in common with everybody in your major. Although as a student, we complain its really the best school you can attend if your passionate about your art form. There is rumor that the acedemics are weak because of our arts but i've had a pretty great education because the teachers acknowledge our demands of our art major and try to encorporate the majors into their projects and classwork. When in your major they can be pretty demanding because all the majors have some sort of deadline or another but when you love your art it doesnt seem like school work anymore!”

“Great school for the artistic. My granddaughter attends with a dance major. My concern is that at DSA they are required to pick up so many dance class outside of the school. She just participated in the International Association of Black Dancers and the more proficient performers attended schools (i.e., Duke Ellington and Cleveland Schools of Arts) where all their requirements were met in the school. They took their academics during regular school hours and they danced three hours at the end of the day. This frees up students to do homework and be kids as well. Maybe DSA could incorporate this into their curriculum.”

“I attend this school and believe that im not challenged at all! The teachers seem to all have issues and i dont enjoy it at all”

“just commenting on the comment made on Nov. 26 DSA is an amazing school. I am a new student this year, and it is weird. It took me a month to adjust to the diversity and freedom. It does not lack disipline! they just alow use to be ourselves. also passing period is a time to socialize and let extra energy out, because we work llyrea hard during class, and can't be to crazy during that time. Also you are correct most kids wouldn't be accepted socially in 'normal' schools, but give me a definetion of normal... its common... like everyone else... but 'normal' people don't have exciting careers. They work at stores and restraunts. DSA is a fabulous school for anyone wanting to pursue a vigorous career in the arts!”

“I can't imagine going to any other school, I've always struggled academically, and through DSA I have been able to really except my education and become motivated to make good grades. My major, although very demanding, has taught me so much about who to achieve and meet my deadlines. I've met the greatest people at DSA: the most wonderful teachers and lifelong friends :)”

“I am a recent graduate of the Theatre program at Denver School of the Arts, and I could not have asked for more out of my education. Having attended the school for 5 years, I experienced many changes that took in the program, but through these adjustments, I was continually pushed by both my academic and acting teachers. I now attend one of the top Theatre Performance schools in the country, on a high talent scholarship, and am achieving much success here, due to the training I received at DSA. I can only talk about the Theatre Major, but know that it is not for the light of motivation and skill. For those looking to audition, be extremely sure that this is not just an extracurricular activity for you, rather a life / career choice. If so, grow for it! It is a wonderful place to grow and learn!”

“I having experience of cheater school, public and this school is the best school that I ever meet and I love that my douther could be attend in this school.”

“I have been going to Denver School of the Arts since 6th grade and I am in 8th now. If you are looking for a safe, diverse, artistic school accepting all walks of life, D.S.A. is the place to go!”

“Having experience in public, private, and charter schools, I can say that this school is truly amazing. Our daughter is in her second year of middle school and we as parents are thrilled. The teachers are dedicated, the students are wonderful, and the productions are amazing. I do hope that the school continues on its mission to provide specialized arts-intensive programs and does not bow to the vocal minority to designated it as a GT program. My daughter is thriving and receiving a first-class education in a very diverse setting where individualism is respected and high achievement is honored.”

“I've gone there for years and have never been tired of my major. We do different things every year!”

“I am a former student of DSA and recently left in the middle of the year to attend my local middle school because of DSA. They failed to meet my academic needs and the teachers were really mean and very rude to me and my peers. Along with the teachers being rude the students were also extremely mean. They bullied me and made my life very hard. I would come home everyday and cry. It makes me sad that I tried so hard to get in and then find out that I hated it. Overall I had a really awful experience at Denver School of the Arts.”

“When I heard about this school, I immediatly wanted to audition. Violin has always been my passion so I tried out, and got in! I love this school. The teachers, both academic and major teachers push you to do your best. That's just what I needed. Before being here, violin was many times annoying, but now I have friends that do the same. I love being around people who want to pursue their dreams. I've seen the most amazing kids here who have done so much just to be here. This is my favorite school ever! Plus, you can dance or sing in the hallways and you won't get yelled at!”

“I'm a third year vocal major at DSA and that school is my life! This is the best school i've ever been to. I will be going into Highschool next year and i cannot leave this school. It is my home.”

“This is our daughter's 7th. year at DSA. For a student who has a desire to pursue the arts, this is the place to be. Academics are equal to any of the best schools. These kids are very busy, and on the whole they love it. Great school spirit and loyalty. Great parent involvement.”

“I have two children who have attended DSA. We have had overall positive experiences. The school has very high expectations of students, in both their academic work and their art work. There are no sports programs at DSA, however students can elect to participate on their 'home school' sports teams. This school is leaps and bounds better than the 'home school' that my children would have had to attend.”

“I go to DSA, and I find it an extremely good program. It is a magnet school, so be prepared to audition for you spot here. Sometimes I do feel that the academics are lacking, but I have still managed to get a quality education. The school is separated into 9 majors, Visual Arts, Theatre, Band, Orchestra, Piano, Dance, Video Cinema Arts, Stagecraft and Design, and Creative Writing. Most parents are involved and most students are dedicated. It truly is a great school.”

“Having one child there who just matriculated into the school, I think that DSA academics are overrated. It is also very difficult to keep up with the posting of class assignments, as some teachers use their website spots and some don't. Summation: DSA has alot of in-house work to do to make it a truly great school. Parents should push hard for it.”

“As an alumni of DSA now attending a major conservatory for music, I can assure you that the quality of education DSA has to offer is phonominal. It's not for everyone, but if your child fits, encourage them. DSA alone will not make them great, but it provides amazing opertunities and a chance to experience a semi-professional setting. DSA students are well prepared to compete in both academic and artistic fields after graduating.”

“As parents of a 13yo girl, middle school is scary. For many years we heard fantastic things about this middle/high school but what we (and our daughter) looked forward to most was the small size and devotion of students to the arts. As DSA became the top rated school for academics, more and more parents pushed kids to audition for fewer openings. There is tremendous pressure on the school to expand beyond the size that made it wonderful, and to incorporate two opposing missions. There is controversy over whether DSA should remain a special facility for those with an unusually stong creative drive or a much larger and more typical urban school that offers ambitious parents a highly touted curriculum, even for children who have not previously felt compelled to explore their creativity enough to develope 'demonstrable' talent at auditions. There are frequent charges of elitism. For my child who is obsessed with Shakespeare it has been a bitter dissapointment to spend 90 minutes a day in an acting class with more than 50 other middle schoolers when half of them make fun of her more serious interest in learning. Far too many parents freely admit to me their child is there because there are no other acceptable district middle schools. Current graduating seniors in theatre have taken my child under their wings to mentor her and assure her it will be much better in high school, but they freely admit the school is losing much of what they loved most about it back when students begged their parents to let them go there. Now they claim even suburban parents pay professionals to identify and package any sort of 'DSA worthy' talent for bored, reluctant kids. We remain optomistic that other schools will finally improve options for those students who are less passionate than their parents about DSA. The academic programs are quite good, and parental involvement is reportedly higher than at any other school, but DSA risks being a victim of it's own success if it has to become all things to all ambitious parents, who in many cases would really hate to see their kids end up as actual artists.”