Las Vegas Academy of Int'L Studies Performing And

From what I can tell, if your child is already highly talented before they arrive then they will be fine. However, if your child needs any guidance whatsoever the school will do little to extend itself. In a parent teacher meeting( which I had to pursue for over month) I had a teacher tell me point blank that she doesn't like children and that she doesn't like being responsible for other people. I had another teacher essentially tell me that she didn't bother to call me back when my daughter started experiencing academic difficulties because she decided that my daughter was self-sabotaging and wasn't worth the effort. Finally, yet another teacher flunked my daughter on a project that she worked extremely hard on with the help of her sister who graduated from a prestigious college with high honors. This despite the project going above and beyond what was asked for. All in all I have been extremely unimpressed by Las Vegas Academy. The counselors mean well but the teachers are on the whole completely subpar. In my opinion LVA is a school that is far too pleased with its own self-generated hype despite its offerings being mediocre at best.
—Submitted by a parent

Admittedly Las Vegas Academy is one of the highest rated schools in the Las Vegas Valley. I would like to point out however, that this is due mainly to the fact that they only admit top performing students to their program. Having had a sibling attend this school I would say that it's high rating is not the result of a superior administration and faculty but rather, the byproduct of kicking out the under performing students within their first two years of attendance. In fact, from what I can tell the teaching staff is no better or worse than the teaching staff at any of the other highly rated schools in the valley. What is in fact worse is the attitude of the staff associated with the school. They seem to have gotten the idea that they are on the same level as the highly selective private schools in the valley. This simply isn't the case. They lack the resources and the programs to compete. It does make the school exceedingly difficult to deal with though as almost everybody there seems to have some sort of superiority complex. Save yourself the time and effort. If you live in a zone that already has a decent high school send your child there. LVA is not worth the extra trouble.

Our son, a sophomore, LOVES this school, and we do too! It is a fantastic school for any kid that is passionate about his/her talent, wants challenging academics, and enjoys diversity and positive attitudes. The teachers are impressed by the kids' dedication to their majors and commitment to academics; the principal pushes the teachers and students to excel in all areas; and parents have many opportunities to get involved. It's worth the extensive daily travel time!
—Submitted by a parent

Can't believe we aren't paying for this top notch education. There aren't enough words to express our complete elation with this fabulous school!
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a student graduating this year and one who graduated 4 years ago, I can state without question this is an amazing school.The full staff is so helpful,the teachers-caring and the students remarkable.To go to this school you have to audition be it in any of the arts or international studies.Yes, the atmosphere is interesting ,but lets not forget it is a school which specializes in the arts.Zero bullying the kids are all different in MANY ways so no one stands out.Teachers will push you as far as YOU want to go.the sky is the limit.Yes downtown is close ,but it is in a safe urban environment.
—Submitted by a parent

Academics are very good at this school. Teachers and staff are excellent! Counselors very, very good as well. The problem with this school is the location. Right down town next to Fremont Street. This can create a problem. There are unfortunately opportunities for drugs such as drug houses very close as well. It is a very, very good school but if you are sending your child here make sure they are mature and able to handle a college like setting!
—Submitted by a parent

LVA is the best school Clark County has to offer. Having recently graduated after spending all four years of high school there, I believe I am qualified to make that assumption. Yes, some of the teachers can be irritating to deal with on a daily basis, but they are doing their jobs. Yes, the classes can be hard, but would you rather your child not be challenged? This high school became my second home for four years. I do not know what I would have done at another school. You become so close to the class you are with since there aren't really that many students in the first place. I graduated with around 350 students. We all grew together and became very close friends. LVA has the best to offer regarding art programs AND education. As long as you keep your interest in your major, the high school experience will be the best you will ever have. Regardless of not having any sports. I would recommend this school to any parent or student. It is worth giving a shot at.
—Submitted by a student

Clearly the best public high school in Las Vegas, LVA rivals Bishop Gorman, Faith Lutheran, The Adelson School and The Meadows School - all private and charging tuition. What a remarkable place!
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. LVA is the best high school in clark county. My son attends the school this is his junior year. They prepare the kids for college which is something that I have been looking for. With the economy in a bad situation, LVA does it's best to keep good teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

LVA is an amazing school filled with people who are not just acquaintances, but a family. The students and staff at LVA are so accepting and caring, it's almost unreal. As a student at the Las Vegas Academy, I am proud to say that I attend a school that actually feels like a loving, supporting environment. There is generally no bullying or judging because, even though the school is large, we all know each other, or know people who know us. We don't look at others and automatically assume they are different. We look at them and think 'Hey. That person knows who they are and they're proud of it.' After all, who are we to judge? Who are we to assume? At the Las Vegas Academy, that's we live by. We're a family. We treat each other like family. That's how a school should be.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from Las Vegas Academy in 2008 and attended the school for all four years. LVA does so much for its students by preparing them for college and giving them the social skills to also conquer the real world. Every concentration--or major--requires dedication from each student, which teaches them what plain hard work is, from time management to the importance of practice. Each major also has corresponding extracurriculars and typical school clubs are offered too, such as Student Council and Key Club. On top of that, if students want a new club, they can form one! In my day, there was a Magic Club--how cool is that?! The teachers in majors as well as academic are quality instructors as well as individuals. They truly care and try to push students to learn more and work harder. The same goes for the administration--they constantly sit in on classes, attend student performances, show tons of support, and know many of the students by name. As in many schools, you get what you give. If your child tries out for a musical or join any club, you ll see him/her blossom into a responsible adult who can always rise to the occasion.
—Submitted by a student

I don't like LVA...I love it! I'm a freshman theater major and my school is the bomb(: the teachers encourage you to push beyond your limits and break free of the mold. whoever said that our school is too liberal and is pushing the boundaries, we sure do! Mr. long, our fabulous principle, really knows what he's doing! he makes sure that the classes are going well and sits in on them a lot! He was in my theater class when we were doing improvisations and he was hysterical! He congratulated us at the end of class and it made me feel really good about myself. I will be at LVA til they force me to leave when I graduate, but I'll never want to(:
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from LVA, and I firmly believe that no other high school could have better prepared me for college on every level. It has not only strengthened my creativity and dance skills, but it has made me a more open minded, tolerant, respectable, and (frankly) tough-skinned person. The teachers truly care about their students, academic and major alike. You have to work hard and yes, suffer some emotional damages (not getting the lead, knowing somebody is more advanced than you). There is a positive pressure put on every student to be the best they individual they can be. All of my teachers and my counselor helped me in choosing, applying, and getting into college. They did this without reluctance; they genuinely cared. I find that I am more mature than other students at my college, and that I was much more prepared for college than my peers who did not attend LVA. I will not be a professional dancer, and I still believe that LVA has done me worlds of good in the classroom, studio, and society.
—Submitted by a student

My child has attended LVA as a Choir major for the past two years. While there have been some upsetting changes, overall we are pleased and feel this is the best high school option in the area. We do pay out of pocket for athletics since there is NO athletic program. One concern worth mentioning to anyone considering this school is the very liberal "freedom of speech" policy. At what point do political correctness and promotion/endorsement of homosexuality cross the line and become inappropriate in a high school setting? There also seems to be a prevailing lack of respect for this nations principles, traditions, and history. Some faculty members teach these young, impressionable minds that it is OK to not stand for the Pledge of Allegience. This, in my opinion, is simply unacceptable! This is NOT true for all faculty, but it often seems that religion or the traditional morals and values of mainstream America are frowned upon or regarded at "antiquated." Overall, this IS a good school, but be prepared to be frustrated!
—Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of two kids at LVA, in different majors. This is a wonderful environment for our children. Not all of the academic teachers inspire great achievement and learning, but for a public high school in Clark County, they do fine and there are challenging honors classes and many dedicated teachers. Mr. Long, the Principal, is terrific on all levels from a parent perspective and works very hard to address parent concerns.
—Submitted by a parent

its the best school ive ever seen in my life the best everything
—Submitted by a parent

I love Las Vegas Academy because it's a one of a kind type of school. The students work really hard at their majors and with their academics. It is a magnet school for performing and visual arts so we differ from a regular high school. The students are all unique and living in Las Vegas it's hard to find a school where everyone fits in somewhere. It's not a regular high school which is why I love it.
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a sophmore at LVA, and I have found that in order to go here, you have to be severely committed to your major(Im a theater major). They have stressful schedules, and lots of requirements, but at times it pays off. I have found that if you want to have qan agent or go on auditions out of state for auditions, the theater teachers frown down on it and the school isnt very flexible when it comes to you missing school for a few days, like a regular high school. This is why I have to go to my zoned high school, so my grades won't slip and I can get the experience of an actual actress going on audionions in california and elsewhere instead of just learning about it in school.
—Submitted by a student

I am a student currently attending here They are most certainly not sub-par in academics, they put academic classes far ahead of any major. If you are not doing well in your core classes, then you cannot participate in your majors activities
—Submitted by a student

This is a fantastic public school. I couldn't disagree more with the parent who said the school is sub-par in gearing their students for the world outside of entertainment. Just check out the accountability report. My daughter is a straight A student who is in all honors classes, is studying theater and is also learning Japanese. We wouldn't want our child to go anywhere else!
—Submitted by a parent