| Another DSOA mom here and I think dramatica did an excellent job providing info about the school.
Though neither of my kids were in the Visual Arts program, they had friends that were. I think the success of the students has been due to dedicated and talented teachers, the creative and accepting atmosphere school culture, support from parents and community, but most of all...that these kids truly look forward to coming to school everyday and really challenge themselves not only creatively, but academically. Though the kids are very competitive, they are so in a way that is positive and supportive of each other.
While I do know of some who have moved to our county specifically for their kids to have the opportunity to audition for DSOA, that's a big risk with the acceptance rates being so low. However, I think it's possible to incorporate some of the things that make our students successful into another school. You may want to look at forming a parent group to support school programs and events. Our visual arts parent group does fundraisers, helps to arrange events for students to show their work at galleries among other things. You may also want to supplement your students coursework in high school by dual enrollment at a local college, online courses or a summer program (there are some good scholarships for those). But when it all comes down to it, I think the most important factor is your support and encouragement for your student in providing the most accepting and open environment to foster their creativity. |