Best Arts Boarding Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 5 pre-professional arts boarding schools serving 1,281 students located within the United States.
While college-prep boarding schools generally have excellent arts programs, the schools below specialize further in helping students train and become artists in a variety of fields such as music, visual arts, theatre, ballet, and creative writing.
Students are prepared for entrance into either traditional colleges or specialty schools like music conservatories (e.g., Juilliard).

Top Arts Boarding Schools (2024)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Besant Hill School
Besant Hill School Photo - Besant Hill School is located in the Ojai Valley, on 500 acres of private land with beautiful vistas in every direction. Facilities include four dormitories, outdoor sports facilities including a new aquatic center, indoor theater, atelier, and classrooms nestled along winding paths and oak trees. We also have an eight acre organic farm.
(1)
8585 Ojai Santa Paula Road
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 646-4343
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 100 students
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo - Idyllwild Arts Academy is home to 280 students from 30 countries and 26 US states, all devoted to intensive study of the arts. Located 2 hours from Los Angeles, 2 hours from San Diego, and 1 hour from Palm Springs, the Academy is an artistic crossroads for Southern California.
(23)
52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
(951) 468-7223
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 280 students
4000 J Maddy Pkwy
Interlochen, MI 49643
(231) 276-7472
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 567 students
Iowa Conservatory
Iowa Conservatory Photo
123 N. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 52333
(319) 804-5943
Grades: 9-12, PG
8-12, PG (day)
| 50 students
12 Highland Street
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 650-5020
Grades: 9-12, PG
| 284 students

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