The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts Magnet is a school for students with a strong interest, talent and passion in the arts, along with the discipline and enhancing their own individual style. SCPA offers a balanced curriculum in a multicultural setting. A rigorous academic program is offered in conjunction with a comprehensive study in the visual and performing arts, taught by teachers who are active professionals in their respective fields, as well as credentialed educators. A wide variety of opportunities in the arts is available to the student, including: (1) classes in choral music (with an emphasis on vocal jazz in addition to traditional choral literature); (2) dance (Irish, Mexican, Spanish, modern, jazz, theatre, tap and ballet); (3) drama; (4) instrumental music (band, wind ensemble, chamber and symphony orchestras and jazz band); (5) piano; (6) technical theater; (7) music theory and harmony; (8) video production; and (9), visual arts (photography, graphic arts, color and design, three dimensional design, commercial art and ceramics). GATE and Seminar programs are available in grades 6 through 11 as well.

SCPA seeks to provide the highest quality academic and artistic instruction. The school encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences and strives to enable students to discover and enhance their own individuality in an atmosphere of mutual support. Over the past thirty years, SCPA students have consistently demonstrated these ideals and have successfully continued their studies in some of this nation's most prestigious universities and conservatories, including UCLA, Juilliard, the Cleveland Institute of the Arts at Philadelphia, and the Tisch School of the Arts to name just a few. In addition, SCPA counts 5 Tony Award Winners among its alumni, along with countless others working professionally in the artistic arena.

In addition to the classroom experience, students have numerous performance opportunities both on and off campus. Throughout the year, students perform live productions and concerts on campus in the Florence Johnson Grand Theater and the Ole Kittleson Little Theater. Visual Arts students exhibit their work throughout the campus, and SCPA's partnerships with The Old Globe Theater, the California Ballet, Starlight, and the San Diego Lyric Opera Company likewise create many opportunities for students to view and engage in live performances and attend workshops, as well as to work as interns. SCPA programs and teachers have also been the recipients of numerous funding grants and awards including the Fulbright Scholar Program, Surdna Teaching Fellowships and the Grammy in the Schools Signature Schools award.

Entrance Requirements

 
Students entering at the middle school level (grades 6-8) must also complete an Enrollment  Options Application, but are not required to audition for the Middle School Program at this time.