Renaissance High School for the Arts

My daughter has not missed a day of school here. She loves it so much that she goes every day. We have a drive to get her there but it is so worth it. To have a school that your child loves so much she never wants to miss a day tells a story all by itself. I wish all the school would copy this school so that all our children could have this wonderful experience. Thank you Renaissance.
--Submitted by a parent

We have a senior at CAMS and a freshman at Renaissance, #1 & #2 in LBUSD API scores respectively. The difference between the two couldn't be more pronounced. CAMS is fraught with unnecessarily stressful situations for the students, not from the curriculum, but rather from a certain lack of involvement and coordination on the part of some teachers and administrators. Renaissance is extraordinarily nurturing while maintaining a stringent and focused curriculum. We feel our CAMS student has survived, while our Renaissance student is thriving. Just a brief campus visit to both schools will be enlightening. Both schools are difficult to get into. As far as we're concerned, only Renaissance is worth the trouble.
--Submitted by a parent

Renaissance is a relatively young high school - started in the fall of 2004. My daughter was a member of that first class graduating in 2008. I have another daughter that is graduating in 2011. From the start , I could tell the school was special. Teachers, administrators and support staff were then and are now fully engaged. Each year test scores have improved and Renaissance is now one of the top schools in the state. Artistic expression is encouraged -just visit the campus and you'll see... I have been involved with the parent group since the beginning in 2005. However more parents need to be engaged to help support the students and administration.
--Submitted by a parent

Renaissance truly is a gem of a school! The small community of students who love artistic expression, encouraging teachers who know and support the kids, and a principal who is completely on his game make this the place to go! Renaissance had the highest API scores of any high school in Long Beach and the commitment shows. Note that the program providing child care for teen moms (from several schools in the area) has been cut as of fall 2011. My daughter is extremely happy here (no drama except what's taught in class!) and plenty of opportunities for artistic and academic exploration. I am a very happy parent! I do wish more parents would get involved, though -- there is so much we can do to support this amazing school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great for Art students, hard to get into. They only accepted 150 kids this year, my daughter did not get in. Oh well. They also have a special program for teenage moms and their kids, don't know if that's good or bad.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a freshmen at renaissance and i absolutely love it there! yes it is small but that doesnt matter to me. At least you dont get lost:)
--Submitted by a student

im currently a freshmen at RHSA. it's a small school therefore each student gets more attention, academic and art wise. they have a really great curriculum and they offer bunch of art opportunities that other long beach schools don't offer. like piano, theater, dance etc...
--Submitted by a student

This is the jewel of LBUSD. I am so happy with all of the support for students, the rigorous curriculum, the awesome teachers... and great students and parents too! The talent is amazing!! You must see one of their productions or visit their gallery.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student at RHSA and i absolutley love it!
--Submitted by a student

To say I had qualms about allowing my 16 yr old daughter to move with her older sister to Long Beach from Orange County is to put it mildly. One of the stipulations was finding an excellent school. She did this by finding Renaissance high. They embraced her, and she gave back to them. There is simply no comparable school for artistic students in Orange or LA County. I give High Points, for excellent teaching, multiple creative outlets, and acceptance of a diversity of dramatic and high-spirited students. I was so proud of my daughter as she graduated this year with acclaim and honor. This school will grow in leaps and bounds in the years to come, and my child (and her mom) will always be proud to say she graduated from Renaissance high.
--Submitted by Libby, a parent