San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts
Features at a glance
Foreign language instruction
Career technical education courses
An organic garden on campus
Ecology and environment learning programs
Wellness programs and onsite wellness coordinator
Safe and inclusive anti-bullying leadership programs
Community and business partnerships
Internships with local companies in STEAM fields
Dual college enrollment enabling students to earn college credits
After-school learning enrichment opportunities
Opportunities for internships and apprenticeships
Additional Visual and Performing Arts clubs, partnerships, and opportunities
Gifted and Talented Education
Integrated project-based learning
Music
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) is a San Diego Unified School District college-preparatory, arts-focused public magnet school for students in grades 6 through 12 who have a strong interest and talent in the arts. Successful SCPA students have the passion and determination to make the most of the school's unique arts training, encouragement, and support while balancing the demands of an academic and arts program in a seven period day.
SCPA occupies a 12 million dollar facility in southeast San Diego (Paradise Hills) that maintains a fully equipped 500 seat theatre, a 100 seat black box, box office, 6 dance studios, TV studio/video recording booth, art and music rooms, library, computer labs as well as traditional academic classrooms and science labs. The school now boasts 1500 students, an administrative team of 4, 72 teachers, 4 counselors, and a support staff of 70.
The school offers annually an artistic season consisting of dance, choral and instrumental concerts, an art exhibition, and musical theatre and dramatic productions presented in both the Florence Johnson Grand Theatre and the Ole Kittleson Theatre.
All prospective SCPA students must submit an School Choice Application available online at https://www.sandiegounified.org/school-choice-application.
All prospective high school students are required to audition. Audition information is available here.
The Faculty at SCPA includes GATE Certified Teachers and AVID trained instructors.
We are very proud of the fact that SCPA graduates have been accepted to many prestigious colleges, universities and conservatories such as Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, University of Pennsylvania, the New England Conservatory, Emerson College, Pepperdine University, University of the Arts Philadelphia, Boston University, the University of San Diego, San Diego State University and all UC and CSU schools.
Distinguished Alumni
Janine Montag (2012) First freshmen to be accepted into McKayle's Etude Ensemble
Andra Day (2003) Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and Golden Globe Best Actress
Joshlyn Turner (2003) An experienced stage manager, producer, director, and screen/playwright.
Erin Blakemore (1998) Highly noted by the Washington Post for her debut book The Heroine's Bookshelf.
Sara Ramirez (1993) Callie Torres on TV's Grey's Anatomy, Tony Award winner for Spamalot.
Albert Thorne (1995) Graduate from the University of California Irvine and held the starring role in Red Tails
Ray Campbell (1985), Screen Actors Guild Award nominee for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama for Breaking Bad in 2012.
Christian Hoff (1986) Tony Award winner for Jersey Boys.