I am interested in your school. How do I obtain more information?
Finding out more about Arts High School starts with browsing our website. Information is updated regularly and performances/ gallery showings are listed on the home page.
Please note: You must provide proof of Newark residency to complete the Newark Enrolls application and be considered for enrollment in Arts High School.
Who can audition?
Arts High School is a magnet school serving residents of Newark, NJ. All students entering 9th and 10th grades can audition for placement.
- 11th and 12th graders cannot be considered, unless they are transferring into the district from an equivalent visual and performing arts high school program.
- Our 7th and 8th grade programs are being phased out, so we are not accepting any new students into those programs.
We are planning a move to Newark. Can I still audition?
Please contact the enrollment center for information about filling out the Newark Enrolls application, as a future resident.
Arts High School will certainly consider all applicants, but we cannot accommodate any auditions outside of the prescribed times and dates.
Is there an Open House or Tour that I can attend to get more information?
Absolutely. Please visit the Visit Arts High School page here on our website.
Can a student audition for more than one arts department?
Yes, students may audition for up to (2) two different departments. However, if successful in both auditions, the student can only be admitted into one department, which will be determined by audition scores.
Do I have to prepare for my audition or portfolio review?
ABSOLUTELY YES! Entrance to Arts High School is extremely competitive! Review the audition/portfolio criteria as soon as possible. Be prepared to show the Adjudication Board your best and most complete work. There are audition workshops offered to help students prepare.
Do I need good grades to get into Arts High School?
Arts High School does not use any academic criteria as a basis for admissions. Only a successful audition/ portfolio review AND school assignment through Newark Enrolls will be used for admissions to Arts High School.
Although our students are not initially accepted on the basis of their academic records, there is a rigorous general education program in place here at Arts, which students must maintain, in addition to their major.
For appropriate students, the academic program includes many honors and AP courses, and we find our students to be quite competitive with students of similar age in Newark, in NJ, and on the national level.
How do I prepare for my audition/portfolio review?
You will find a detailed breakdown of the criteria required for auditions/portfolio review under each department heading on the Audition Requirements tab. You can also sign up for an Audition Workshop.
How are the auditions judged?
Each applicant is adjudicated by Arts High School faculty and industry professionals, based on each department’s specific needs and requirements. The applicants with the highest overall audition scores, and who have met all other application requirements, will be considered for admission.
Again, please remember, school placement is partially contingent upon a completed application in Newark Enrolls (which includes proof of Newark residency).
WHEN and WHERE are the auditions?
Dates for the 2018-19 School Year will be announced, as they become available.
Auditions will be held at Arts High School.
We are located at 550 Martin Luther King, Jr, Blvd. in Newark, between St. Benedict’s Prep and Whigham’s Funeral Home.
How many openings are available for new students?
Arts High School has a total enrollment of approximately 700 students. Each year, Arts High School expects to have spaces for approximately 175 incoming students. Spaces become available through graduation, attrition, and departmental need.
My child has an IEP or a 504. If my child is accepted, will Arts High School be able to provide services?
Arts High School will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities, on the basis of that disability, in its services, programs, or activities, in accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
That being said, there are accommodations we are not staffed, or set-up, to provide in-house. These will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Are Arts High School students required to wear uniforms?
Yes. Like all NPS students, Arts High School students must adhere to a uniform policy.