DenverSchool of the Arts is a comprehensive, public, arts magnet school, serving grades 6–12. Located at 7111 Montview Boulevard in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, the school is operated by the Denver Public School District. The school has a dual mission of arts and academics, preparing students for a career in the arts or conservatory study as well as a pursuit of higher education. DSA currently offers 11 arts majors – bands, creative writing, dance & movement, guitar, orchestra, piano, stagecraft & design, theatre, video cinema arts, visual arts, and vocal music.
History
Denver School of the Arts began as a concurrent program at Manual High School in the late 1980s, but was eventually transformed into a fully staffed school in the former Byers Middle School at 150 South Pearl Street – the former site of Byers Mansion. During the 2003–2004 school year, DSA moved to its current location at 7111 E. Montview Boulevard, the former site of the W. Dale and W. Ida Houston Fine Arts Center built by the Colorado Women's College and later used by the Lamont School of Music. DSA continues to provide rigorous academic and arts training to its students, and it consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state of Colorado.
Students
DSA serves both middle school and high school students. Graduating class sizes are small, with approximately 140 students comprising the Class of 2018.
Audition process
DSA requires an audition for prospective students competing to join one of its eleven offered majors, which include creative writing, dance, instrumental music, stagecraft & design, theatre, video cinema arts, visual arts, and vocal music. DSA maintains rigorous academic and artistic standards. Each student is required to maintain at least a 'B' letter grade in their major class as well as an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher. A student with deficiencies may be placed on artistic or academic probation, with the eventual possibility of losing his or her position at DSA.
Each performing arts major holds its own performances throughout the year. The Theatre department holds an "All-School Musical" each year, wherein members of any major can audition for acting, ensemble, and pit orchestra roles. Musicals have included Chicago, Shrek The Musical, In the Heights, The Producers, and Oliver.
Majors
DSA offers majors in Guitar, Vocal Music, Piano, Creative Writing, Video Cinema Arts, Stagecraft and Design, Dance, Visual Arts, Band, Orchestra, and Theatre. All majors are chosen at 6th grade except for Stagecraft and Design, which is only offered for 9th grade and above. Students may switch their major by going through that major's audition process, but a spot in that major is not guaranteed.
Sports
Denver School of the Arts does not offer its own extracurricular sports programs, nor does it offer in-school physical education. DSA students are encouraged to participate in sports programs at other Denver high schools and middle schools. Many students at DSA play sports at the sister school of East High School or at their "home" high school.
