SCPA San Diego Offer Hope to Parents

It’s that time of year again, when many families get to squeeze in that long–awaited vacation before the dreaded school year begins. Then our kids get a case of the "back–to–school blues." But what if going back to school meant returning to your passions? As many of you know, I am big on the performing arts and music being part of any K–12 educational curriculum. Over the years, as budgets have been slashed in those areas in our schools, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has created two magnet schools with core programs that are dedicated to the arts. 

The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Paradise Hills offers programs for grades 6 through 12. Opening in 1978 on the grounds of the Roosevelt Middle School, SCPA started as a school within a school with just 1 administrator, 17 teachers, 1 counselor and 17 support staff for the 180 students in grades 4 through 6. 7th & 8th grade classes were added over the next year and in 1982 SCPA graduated its first class.

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The school bounced around the area a couple of times, but was so popular and successful that a new permanent campus was built for it in 1990. SCPA is now home to over 1,500 students with 72 teachers and staff of 78 to support them. The school offers an annual artistic season of dance, choral and instrumental concerts, art exhibitions, musical theatre and dramatic productions. SCPA has a 500–seat theatre, 6 dance studios, a TV studio, art and music rooms, a library, as well as traditional academic classrooms with computer and science labs.

If the South Bay is too far, the SDUSD has another public magnet school program in Clairemont, the Creative, Performing and Media Arts Middle School (CPMA). CPMA is smaller then its cross–town counterpart, offering classes from just grades 4 through 6. Their program focuses on specialized training in the creative, performing and media arts. The integrated curriculum allows students to develop artistic and technical skills while meeting demanding academic standards. 

If these San Diego performing art schools don’t meet your needs, our city boasts a great number of charter schools that offer high education standards while tailoring a program to fit the creative path your child wishes to pursue. Whatever you choose, our schools are making a valiant effort to ensure that the arts will not be lost to our students and that somewhere the right program for them is readily available. 

In our May issue, I wrote about our beloved Speckles Organ and "The Drive To 5000" campaign. In May, just 96 pipes were left to reach the 5,000 pipe goal. I’m proud of you San Diego! As of June 22nd, the last four remaining pipes were purchased and when these latest pipes are installed the mighty Speckles Organ will once again reclaim its title as the World’s Largest Outdoor Organ. Well done San Diego and a big thanks to the Speckles Organ Society for bringing this all together!