Ricardo Pedro, Principal

About Our School

Visualize a public high school with a deep-rooted passion for pursuits both artistic and academic; a high school with a long and distinguished history of producing talented, creative individuals who pursue their dreams with a fervent desire to make a difference; a visual and performing arts high school established in 1931, the first of its kind in the United States.

As the artistic flagship of the Newark Public Schools, today’s Arts High offers a rigorous program for grades 9-12 in dance, drama, music, TV production and visual art. The interdisciplinary studies in which our students participate enable post-secondary matriculation to many of the best conservatories, colleges, and universities in the country.

Welcome to Arts High School!

Our School in the News

Class of 2020 – Virtual Commencement Ceremony

June 19, 2020

View the Virtual Commencement Ceremony

Arts High School Black History Month Performance of “Strange Fruit”

March 3, 2020

Stephen Haley, grade 11 performs a dance he choreographed to “Strange Fruit” sung by Jamilexx Fleming, grade 12 at Arts High Schools Black History Month program.

Arts High School Choir Performs for the New Jersey State House in Honor of Black History Month

February 27, 2020

Special thank you to Assemblywoman Speight.

Arts High School – 2019 Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Brigade

November 27, 2019

From Left to Right (Bottom)- Dayarit Taveras, Kourtney Giles, Jayliene Agosto, & Coach Frank Adragna From Left to Right (Top)- Coach Christopher Palma, Gabriela Rodriguez, Daissy Alvarez-Calle, Sarah Costa, Nayellie Collazo, Euda Dongo, & Alissandra Agosto. The Arts High School softball team participated in a community service project at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville, […]

Kaelan Roberts, Arts High School Student

November 14, 2019

Congratulations to Kaelan Roberts who has been cast as a lead in the Two River Theater production of “A Little Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night”. Kaelan aims to move on to AMDA with a major in Musical Theater upon his graduation in 2021. Kaelan is a junior drama major at Arts High School. He has had a […]

Arts High School Student Receives Exclusive Invitation to Play at the Kennedy Center Along with Jazz Greats

November 30, 2018

[NEWARK, NJ – November 28, 2018] The Thelonious Monk Institute has selected Arts High School senior Jalin Shiver for the 2018 National Peer-to-Peer All Star Jazz performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance will be held on Monday, December 3. Jalin is an Instrumental Music major at Arts H.S. Jalin, along with […]