Lehigh Valley Charter High School for Performing Arts

I went to LVPA all four years of high school and am now at my first year at college. For anyone wondering, the visual arts program is a gem. The teachers are talented, dedicated, and responsive. The academics are definitely not sub-par. I think the real difference is that you can CHOOSE to work less. If you're willing to put some effort into your education, you won't be disappointed (bar a few bad apples, but you'd find those people anywhere.) The work ethic and skills I learned at LVPA have helped me amazingly through my first semester, and I'm proud of my teachers and my time there. The administration is the real problem. They don't know how to handle problems tactfully or efficiently and panic at any mention of scandal or teacher/student difficulties.
--Submitted by a student

Attending LVPA has been one of the best choices of my life. Having half the day for the arts is a gift. Its hard to find more talented students at the high school level. If students takes on honors and AP classes, academics are challenging. I am going to miss LVPA when I graduate. However, I am proud to say that I feel extremely prepared for a career in any field- not just my art.
--Submitted by a student

The students and teachers work together to achieve great things...music, dance, theatre, art. Everyone there wants to be there. How many schools can you say that about?
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter just graduated from LVPA and will be attending college in the fall. I give all the credit to LVPA. They worked with her learning disabilities and were able to teach her to overcome them. I sent her there for the 'Arts' part of it, but we stayed for the academics.
--Submitted by a parent

This school gives students an opportunity to learn theory and history of their chosen art form, which I applaud. The school is very small. The student and staff populations are very eclectic. There isn't a strong sense of professionalism displayed by staff in terms of their communication with parents. Their academic standards are very low in English and science. It's a wonderful place from a students perspective because the expectations are low. From the perspective of an educator and parent, it's probably not a great college prep school. You will definitely need to supplement the academics with outside tutoring.
--Submitted by a parent

There is no other school I could go to that has such a diverse student body and where I can get both my academics and my major, dance. The staff is warm and welcoming and very easy to talk to about most anything. The students are much more accepting to any different interests and such that you may have. No one will be left here without a friend they can confide in.
--Submitted by a student

i love this school so much. you can just be yourself and nobody will talk about you or think of you different than you are. its a small school so you know everyone!! the teachers are great to. its overall a great school you just got to do your part.
--Submitted by a student

As a parent and educator, I am aware that an excellent school can put out a sub-par student and a sub-par school can put out an excellent student. It's all about what you make of any situation. LVPA provides a caring, small, dedicated environment where my children can grow and learn. As my son once said, while driving by the high schoolers at another bus stop, 'Why does everyone else look so sad to be going to school?' That is what means the most - instilling the life-long love of learning, curiosity, and acadmic discipline. All of these I find at LVPA. I am sending my second child there now and have not regretted a single thing about LVPA and our family's decision.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to LVPA all 4 years. I absolutely loved the experience and cherish it deeply, but upon entering college this year I realize i'm suffering academically because of my choice. Of course I'm ahead in music but thats not all college is about. Academic wise lvpa has a decent English department. It's not that lvpa doesn't prepare you at all, just not enough. I would suggest definitely enrolling in college courses over the summer between junior and senior year, youll get ahead in credits and ahead in your classes. I love LVPA but its not the best for college prep.
--Submitted by a student

They told us and made us believe that my son would get the skills he needed to be a performer then they told me to keep him enrolled with his private teacher [in the community - who was not a member of the faculty] well, who was giving my son the real skills? Our teacher in Allentown. They have a lot of teachers who are academically gifted but they are not performers nor entertainers and do not know how to teach this skill. I do not think this hs skill should be a college prep school -it should be vocational. LVPAHS is 0% vocational. Stay in your main school - you will get more out of your music program there. Oh, and stick with your teachers in the community. We have found an awesome teacher that fulfills my sons goals in Allentown at the Metropolitan Music Academy. Singing & Performing.
--Submitted by a parent