If you desire high academic achievement and are interested in developing your artistic talents, then School of the Arts is the place for you. Students at SOTA carry a full academic course load in addition to a rigorous Fine Arts sequence in one of six subject areas: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Music both Instrumental and Vocal, Theatre Technology, and Visual Arts. Each semester, students are required to participate in performances, showcases, recitals, and exhibitions within their major field of study. Due to the extensive Performing Arts calendar, SOTA students commit to instruction that extends well beyond the school day. Students may also wish to participate in the many athletic teams, clubs, and performance events throughout the school year. SOTA has been awarded the New York State Seal of Biliteracy and the Seal of Civic Readiness. SOTA’s outstanding faculty and staff create an educational environment that is safe, nurturing, and promotes lifelong learning.

Program Features

Foreign Languages: Spanish, Virtual American Sign Language, Virtual Mandarin Chinese
English Language Learners: Yes
Honors/Enrichment Classes: New York State Regents, Regents Honors, and Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Language and Composition, Music Theory, Physics I: Algebra-Based, Research, Seminar, United States Government and Politics, United States History, and World History.
AP Offerings: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP Music Theory, AP Physics 1, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP United States Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP World History: Modern
Virtual AP Offerings: Art History, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, English Literature, Environmental Science, Psychology, Spanish Language and Culture, and Statistics.
Chorus: Yes
Band/Orchestra: Yes
Instrumental Music Lessons: Yes
Sports: Yes
Step Teams: No
Extended/Expanded Day - Yes
Saturday School – Yes
On-Site After-School Care – No
Summer Programs – No
Business/College/Faith Partnerships – Yes
Friends of School of the Arts, Eastman School of Music, Memorial Art Gallery, Hochstein School, Writers and Books, Geva Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Rochester Broadway Theatre League, Garth Fagan Dance, Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester Museum and Science Center, Strasenburgh Planetarium, University of Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan College, Nazareth College, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fisher College, Corning Museum of Glass, Rochester Oratorio Society, The Lilac Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester Fringe Festival, Leisure Care The Village and Mill Landing at Unity, Rochester Regional Health, Center for Youth, Hillside Family of Agencies, and Therapy Dogs International

Unique Features

Chosen as one of America’s Best High Schools by Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and U.S. News & World Report, SOTA continues to be a beacon of hope and a source of pride for our city. In recognition of our commitment to excellence in arts education, SOTA has also been named a GRAMMY® Award–Winning Signature School—a national honor celebrating outstanding music and arts programs across the country.

In This Section

School of the Arts