Studio Academy High School

Letter to the editor :

Studio Academy High School; a real high school, a real

option

Studio Academy High School with an emphasis on the arts,

academics, and community service is first and foremost a

public charter high school serving Rochester and its surrounding

communities. Studio’s trademarks are its small class

size and its ability to help students who are struggling at their

much larger schools. As are other public schools, Studio

Academy is free, nonprofit, and open to any family looking

for an alternative to traditional schools. It is another choice

available to parents.

In the area of academics, a student attending Studio

Academy will take regular Math, Science, English and Social

Studies classes. In addition there are electives such as Science

of Art and Math and Art. Teachers integrate the arts into all

classes, and the classes meet national and state standards. Our

students have to take and pass the state tests just like other

high school students in Minnesota. During the past two years

our students have continued to show improvements in their

reading and writing MCA results. Every year, Studio graduates

more than 80% of the senior class, and upon graduation,

our students attend post-secondary schools or join the military

or work force. In essence, Studio Academy is a regular 9-12

high school.

Our students are required to take five art credits to graduate,

which may include visual arts and music. Schools tend to

require one credit and many are cutting their art/music programs

in order to balance their budgets. Out students can still

take all their required art classes despite budget cuts. Our art

program is quite flexible and based on the students’ needs and

talents. Students come to Studio with different degrees of talent

and interest. Some students come to Studio with very little

interest in the arts, but they learn to appreciate the arts and

to make art. Studio Academy is not an elitist art institution but

a school where we love art and use it as a way to reach students

where they are.

Community service is a tool to integrate disengaged students

with their school and community. Students who before

coming to Studio would not do any community service, are

now volunteering with many local organizations. It is about

giving back to our community and our students are excelling

at it.

Studio Academy is a welcoming school that will take any

student; a student who loves art and is looking for a place to

do more art, a student looking for a place to belong, a student

searching for a place to catch up with life and graduate from

high school. Any student with an open mind and heart to others

will find a home at Studio Academy.

Ronald Salazar, EdD

Director

Rochester, MN