Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA)
Address
1010 N. Main Street

Santa Ana
,
California
92701

United States
Coordinates33°45′14″N 117°52′05″W / 33.753864°N 117.86798°W / 33.753864; -117.86798
Information
TypePublic charter school
MottoWe Are OCSA
Established1987
FounderDr. Ralph Opacic
Sister schoolCalifornia School of the Arts - San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV)
School districtGoverned by the Orange County Board of Education
DeanBecca Freeland (Student Services)
Michael Ciecek (Principal)
Sally Lopez (Instruction)
Maria Lazarova (Arts)
Executive DirectorTeren Shaffer
Faculty100
Grades7–12
Enrollment2,200
CampusUrban
Color(s)      yellow, orange, red, purple, blue
NewspaperEvolution
YearbookDreamscape
Websitewww.ocsarts.net

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA, /ˈoʊʃə/ OH-shə),[lower-alpha 1] is a 7th–12th grade public charter school located in downtown Santa Ana, California. The school caters to middle and high school students with talents in the performing, visual, literary arts, culinary arts and more. The educational program prepares students for higher education institutions or employment in the professional arts industry. In 2010 the school's academic and arts programs were ranked with silver medal status in the U.S. News & World Report "Best High Schools" list.[1] In 2012 the school changed its name from Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) to its current name, Orange County School of the Arts.

History

Originally, this arts program began in 1983 as Los Al Players, a summer musical theatre camp for ages 4 – 16 founded by Terry Bigelow, Jean Parks, and Ralph Opacic in Los Alamitos, CA. Los Al Players grew into the Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) in 1987 and reorganized as a public charter school on April 20, 2000. In the summer of 2000, Francis Ford Coppola served as a guest artist at the school, directing and writing a production of his musical, Gidget, with songs by John Farrar and starring Krysta Rodriguez (a student at the time) and Dermot Mulroney. During that time the school was relocated from its primary facility at Los Alamitos High School to the Santa Ana Unified School District.

OCSA is a tuition-free, donation-dependent public charter school governed by a board of trustees representing parents, the community, educators and the Orange County Board of Education. The school is supported by The Orange County School of the Arts Foundation which is a non-profit organization for the financial support of the school's tuition-free artistic programs as well as its ongoing expansion plans. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors.

In the summer of 2012, the name of the school was changed from OCHSA (Orange County High School of the Arts) to OCSA (Orange County School of the Arts). This was done to account for the grades 7-8 that are also in attendance at the school.

Academics

The Orange County School of the Arts students attend standard academic courses under a block schedule system with three academic classes per day alternating each day for a total of six classes. Honors classes are offered as well as many Advanced Placement classes. OCSA also has a selection of electives including Acting, Ceramics, Improv, Graphic Design, Zoology, Vocal Ensemble, Beginner Piano, Journalism, and Photography.

OCSA's 2012 Academic Performance Index (API) score of 908 ranked the school as one of the top five ranked high schools in Orange County and in the top 10 percent in California.

OCSA was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education. OCSA was one of 250 Blue Ribbon schools recognized nationwide in 2006 among 35 schools in the State of California and five public schools in Orange County. OCSA was also named a California Distinguished School.

In 2021, 95% of OCSA alumni continued on to college, with 76% going on to a 4-year university, 13% going to a 2-year university with plans to transfer to a 4-year university and 11% going directly into the workforce.[2] Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to continue participating in their artistic studies.

Arts

Art Attack Live set redecorated to fit the campus' western-themed spirit week.

After 2:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday, the school focuses on arts education which is divided into 16 conservatories: Production and Design, International Dance (was Ballet Folklórico), [3] Classical and Contemporary Dance, Commercial Dance, Creative Writing, Film and Television, Integrated Arts, Instrumental Music (divided into Strings and Orchestra, Piano, Wind Studies, and Jazz), Popular Music, Musical Theater, Acting, Classical Voice (was Opera), Visual Arts, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Digital Media, and Arts and Enterprise (New to the 2022-23 school year).

Notable students and alumni

Notes

  1. ↑ Retained from a pronunciation of the previous acronym for the previous name of the school (respectively "Orange County High School of the Arts" and "OCHSA").

References

  1. ↑ "Orange County High School of the Arts: Best High Schools - USNews.com". Archived from the original on 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  2. ↑ "ACADEMIC PROFILE 2021-2022" (PDF). Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Overview | Classical & Contemporary Dance". OCSA.
  4. ↑ Pasles, Chris (February 29, 2000). "Composing? Child's Work; The Orange County High School of the Arts Chamber Orchestra will premiere a piece by its youngest student, 7-year-old pianist Kit Armstrong". Los Angeles Times. p. B8. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "Best Radio Personality - 2011 Scott Aukerman". OC Weekly. 2011. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Catherine Gewertz (December 26, 1992). "The Fine Art of Fame". LA Times.
  7. ↑ "Orange County arts school draws talented kids from San Diego". San Diego Union-Tribune. 11 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Lori Basheda (December 2, 2008). "Fancy Nancy goes to high school". OC Register. Archived from the original on 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  9. ↑ "Kara Crane". Backstage.com.
  10. ↑ Sherri Cruz (March 19, 2007). "Piano Man". Orange County Business Journal.
  11. ↑ Laura Weinert (August 29, 2002). "OCHSA's New Direction". Back Stage West.
  12. ↑ Nguyen, Tina (July 31, 1996). "Child Stars Commute to TV From O.C." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  13. ↑ "Lauren German". "Chicago Fire" Bios. NBC Universal Media. 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  14. ↑ Jocelyn Vena (October 22, 2008). "High School Musical' Was Vanessa Hudgens' Only High School Experience". MTV.
  15. ↑ Larsen, Peter (October 9, 2012). "O.C. teens make their marks on 'X Factor' and 'The Voice'". Orange County Register. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "'Smallville' actor released from prison for role in sex-trafficking case tied to cult-like group". Associated Press. July 5, 2023. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Orange County School of Arts breaks ground on $20 million building". 19 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Gardner, Chris (December 13, 2023). "After a Year of Controversy, 'Orange Is the New Black' Star Taryn Manning Is (Mostly) Keeping It Together". Hollywood Reporter.
  19. ↑ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (October 8, 2007). "Locally World Famous: Pop Noir". Orange County Register. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  20. ↑ Kruly, Janelle (October 5, 2020). "OCSA's 20-2021 Master Artist Series Brings..." Orange County School of the Arts. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Grace McLean, Music and Theatre '02". Orange County School of the Arts. 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "'Monarch': Martha Higareda & Emma Milani Board Fox Musical Drama". 23 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "OCHSA Alumni". August 26, 2009. Archived from the original on August 11, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  24. ↑ "Official Matthew Morrison website". August 26, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
  25. ↑ Ito, Robert (28 March 2014). "Pedro Pascal Becomes Red Viper on 'Game of Thrones'". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ Loomer, Abbe (September 2001). "Raising the Curtain on OC's High School of the Arts: Musical Theatre". Orange Coast Magazine. 27 (9): 84. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  27. ↑ Larsen, Peter (April 2, 2013). "Actress from Orange gets a break on 'Smash'". Orange County Register. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  28. ↑ Vire, Kris (October 22, 2009). "The Addams Family: Q&A with Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor". Unscripted. Time Out Chicago. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  29. ↑ McTavish, Brian (January 11, 2007). "In short, he's hot 'Stomp the Yard' star was born in KC but is finding work all over L.A.". Kansas City Star. p. 16.
  30. ↑ "Anaheim actor Justice Smith rides edge of stardom in new Netflix series, 'The Get Down'". 12 August 2016.
  31. ↑ Theresa Walker (May 9, 2006). "People making a difference: Acting out her message". OC Register. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Famous Orange County High School Of The Arts Alumni". Ranker.
  33. ↑ "The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards 2002". ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  34. ↑ "Celebutopa". www.celebutopia.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
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