News Release
Oct. 25, 2004
DSA To Hold Information Night For Prospective Students Tuesday, Nov. 2; Applications For Next School Year Due Friday, Dec. 10
Denver School of the Arts (DSA), a DPS magnet school for students in grades 6-12, will host an information night for prospective 2005-2006 students at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2. Those attending will get general information about the DSA academic and arts program. Questions about the curriculum, extracurricular opportunities, program design, district transportation options, special needs services, and other areas will be answered. The deadline for all 2005-2006 middle and high school magnet applications is Friday, Dec. 10, 2004. The deadline for all 2005-2006 elementary school magnet applications is Monday, Jan. 31, 2005. DSA students develop their creative abilities through a combined academic and arts curriculum and have the opportunity to be mentored by professional artists and scholars. Students are accepted into the program based on their audition in an artistic specialty. DSA has a rigorous academic curriculum and is ranked as one of the top schools in Colorado. In August 2003, DSA moved into a new venue that features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the arts and academic programs.
"After over 1,300 students applied to DSA last year, we met with our school board, focus groups made up of community, parents, teachers and our own staff to determine how we could best meet the volume of applicants and have an equitable audition process for all," said principal Patti Bippus. "This information night, which is occurring one month earlier than it has in the past, is the beginning of, what we strongly believe, an improved process." Another new feature to the audition process will be the mandatory pre-audition meetings that will take place Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 13-15 for those who submitted their applications by the Dec. 10 deadline. Applicants will meet directly with the arts directors in each major and given specific audition expectations and audition criteria, participate in a "Question and Answer" period, and be assigned their February 2005 audition time. No longer will applicants have to wait to receive such in the mail in January. Being equipped with specific audition criteria beforehand should help all applicants be better prepared.
"We are committed to improving our diverse, talented group of students," said assistant principal Rory Pullens. "Sure, we anticipate only having
140 to 170 openings for next year, but if applicants possess skill in and passion about an arts area, then they should pursue their dream." DSA will be in a better position to help more students fulfill that dream when the old Byers building in south Denver is restored in fall
2006 and DSA can expand. Denver School of the Arts is located at 7111 Montview Blvd. For more information, contact the school at 303-321-9435.