Creative and Performing Arts

It's the end of junior year and now my son is a senior. The school has helped him be more outgoing,not as shy. 12th grade will be his best year with all that CAPA has to offer. Great kids,great staff.
--Submitted by a parent

My son, who attended a private school for elementary and Masterman for junior high, just completed his freshman year at CAPA, and we couldn't be happier. Unlike Masterman, where teaching is uneven and the environment is rather factory-like, the teachers were consistently top-notch and the principal is deeply involved, as is his administration. My son's skills as a reader and writer easily improved 100%, and he was regarded as a strong writer at Masterman. The school is diverse, welcoming, and engaging, and small enough that everyone knows your name, not just the students--the parents!
--Submitted by a parent

CAPA provides a nurturing environment for all students.
--Submitted by a teacher

Gorgeous physical plant, tolerant, supportive environment for your budding artist.. Great parental involvement. Zero or near zero (serious) discipline incidents. Academics above-average for PHL public schools but lag behind the rigor of area private schools. All teachers and administrators we've interacted with have been engaged, helpful and courteous. If your kid is headed for the arts, this is THE one school in the city to go to. If more traditionally academic focused, look elsewhere. One star off for good but not great academics.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school =) I am now a senior currently at capa and it is a great experience. It is not like the other schools. You can send your child here and not have to worry about bullying or anything like that! I cant wait to graduate.... But I would do anything to be here at least one more year! =)
--Submitted by a student

This is one terriffic school. Even though there is a lot of focus on the Arts portion of education, there is also a major focus on academics, which I love. my daughter is doing really well here and I am proud of her, the teachers and the students she attends classes with.
--Submitted by a parent

I love the students! Though culturally diverse, they are tolerant and kind to each other, and they are focused on succeeding at their artistic discipline as well as their studies!
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers are passionate about their subjects, and are always willing to teach and help while at the same time harboring a sense of independence. This is an environment where students can always fit in with people who share their interests in whatever major they choose.
--Submitted by a student

My child graduated from CAPA Cr. Writing. Academically speaking we found it not on par with Jr High (Masterman), but many of the unique offerings -poetry, screen-writing, fiction & non-fiction--provide an excellent 'workshop' for aspiring writers. Administratively, though, the school lacks professionalism. Jr and Sr year, we attempted (largely unsucces-sfully) to resolve frequent issues of what amounted to haphazard record keeping & then contentious follow-up. The least serious was being charged over & over for dues/fees already paid -- generating notices of being dropped from prom. The worst saga was our attempt to rectify an error in the recording of a final exam score --an error faculty admitted was improperly entered, & would be fixed in a snap. 1 yr & many meetings later, the incorrect score was averaged with my students final GPA/class rank. 1 concern was literally laughed at to our faces. The lack of accountability was most distressing.
--Submitted by a parent

It is the best public high school academically to send your child in Philadelphia, I would say, behind Masterman and Central. The quality of academic education depends largely on the teacher you are assigned to - many are amazing, but there are the few who just are not good at their job. The arts are excellent - the feeling of being in the midst of all that talent is indescribable. And responding to student below, it was decided that the induction for the National Honor Society will take place in the beginning of the school year rather than at the end of the previous year, and I don't see what that has to do with academic quality. Discipline isn't strictly enforced because it really doesn't need to be - the general student population knows not to act stupid. Overall, this is a good school. I would recommend it.
--Submitted by a student