Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #9 - The Music Department offers concentrations in Classical Music, Voice and Piano; Jazz Music, Voice and Piano; and Songwriting. Our curriculum combines performance opportunities with music academics and private lessons with some of the top musicians in Southern California.

Idyllwild Arts Academy

52500 Temecula Road
Idyllwild, CA 92549
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Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #1 - 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.
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Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #1 - 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.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #2 - The Film & Digital Media program offers pre-professional training in film, television and new media production. As the industry is undergoing constant change, in both production technology and business practices, the program gives special attention to preparing students for a career that is not entirely predictable. Applying traditional skills to new digital environments and global platforms is the key.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #3 - Krone Library is home to countless resources and study spaces for IAA students as well as the College Counseling Office. Our College Counseling staff work with our students throughout their time at the Academy, helping them prepare for the next step in their artistic journey.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #4 - The Academy's Dance Department offers students training in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. Students spend many hours in the studio each day, honing their talent with American Ballet Theatre trained faculty.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #5 - There are performance opportunities on and off-campus throughout the school year.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #6 - InterArts and Fashion Design offers students the chance to explore and combined multiple art forms or to focus in Fashion Design. Students present their work in two fully choreographed Fashion Shows each year.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #7 - The Visual Arts at Idyllwild Arts Academy encompasses many things. Our students ground their work in Drawing and Painting, but also explore Sculpture, Ceramics, Printmaking, Graphic Design and Photography.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #8 - Creative Writers have the chance to study fiction, nonfiction, poetry, dramatic writing, and screenwriting in an intimate, workshop-driven department.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #9 - Theatre students can choose to focus in Acting, Musical Theatre or Theatre Design and Production while at Idyllwild Arts. With at least 9 performances a year, our students stay busy learning about all aspects of theatre and graduate with resumes that show skill in performance, costume design, lighting, sound, set construction, stage management and directing.
Idyllwild Arts Academy Photo #10 - The Music Department offers concentrations in Classical Music, Voice and Piano; Jazz Music, Voice and Piano; and Songwriting. Our curriculum combines performance opportunities with music academics and private lessons with some of the top musicians in Southern California.
Idyllwild Arts Academy offers intensive, specialized arts training and challenging college-prep academics to talented young artists from around the world.
On our idyllic mountaintop campus, students learn from a distinguished faculty of working professional artists.Graduates of Idyllwild Arts excel in every professional arts discipline, including Broadway theatre, primetime television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, dance, and more.
Our arts majors include: MUSIC | VISUAL ARTS | THEATRE | CREATIVE WRITING | DANCE | FASHION DESIGN | FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA | INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS Outside of our regular school year, Idyllwild Arts offers summer workshops that include Jazz in the Pines, ESL, Native American Arts, and a full menu of Arts Intensives.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 280 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $75,900
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $34,000
  • Acceptance rate: 65%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Idyllwild Arts Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1986
1907
Campus Size
205 acres
125 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
280 students
314 students
% Students of Color
20%
27%
% International Students
50%
20%
% Students Boarding
90%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
No dress code
Casual
Average Class Size
12 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
90%
71%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$7 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$75,900
(California Residents: $65,600 2024-25 Academic Year. Does not include fees. )
$66,200
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$34,000
(Does not include fees. )
$35,600
Tuition international students
$78,700
$57,500
% Students on Financial Aid
60%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$30,000
(Based on merit and/or need.)
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
None / Rolling
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
65%
60%
Director of Admissions
Tara Sechrest
Associate Director of Admissions
Megan Berg

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
18
Courses
Advanced Honors Biology, Honors Acting Seminar (Theatre Majors), Honors American Literature, Honors Calculus, Honors Calculus II, Honors Chemistry, Honors Classics in Western Literature, Honors Counterpoint (Music Majors), Honors French, Honors Gov & Econ, Honors History of Western Civ, Honors Literature of Western Thought, Honors Physics, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors Spanish, Honors Technical Theatre Seminar (Theatre Majors), Honors U.S. History

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered
2
16
Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
13
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Activism Club, Asian Culture Club, Black Student Union, Environment Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Indigenous Peoples Club, National Honor Society, Prefects, School Magazine, Soccer Club, Student Government

Arts and Music Programs:
Arts Enterprise Lab, Arts in Society

College Matriculation

Year: 1999 - 2003
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
Juilliard
16
USC
16
NYU (Tisch)
10
University of Michigan
10
San Francisco Art Institute
8
Curtis Institute
6
Rhode Island School of Design
6
Eastman
5
Emerson
3
Stanford
3

School Notes

  • Idyllwild Arts Academy sits a refreshing mile above sea level in the San Jacinto Mountains, two hours from Los Angeles and San Diego and an hour from Palm Springs.
  • Graduates go on to Juilliard, Brown, University of the Arts London, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Parsons School of Design, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Berklee College of Music, CalArts, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU, Tufts, Swarthmore, and other outstanding colleges.
  • Idyllwild Arts Academy accreditations: WASC, Western Boarding School Association (WBSA), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), NETWORK of Performing and Visual Art Schools, Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), Counci
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Shepard Fairey - Graphic Artist and Designer
    • Neal Beasley - Princess Grace Award Winner - Modern Dance, Trisha Brown Dance Company
    • Orpheo McChord - Percussionist, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros
    • Casey Abrams - American Idol 2011 Finalist
    • Trevor Hall - Recording Artist
    • Marin Ireland - Tony Award Nominated Actress
    • Elora Hardy - Founder of IBUKU in Bali, Indonesia
    • Cristy Candler - Broadway Musical Theater Actress
    • Vesselin Gelev - Associate Concertmaster - London Philharmonic
    • Liang Wang - Principal Oboe - New York Philharmonic
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Idyllwild Arts Academy cost?
Idyllwild Arts Academy's tuition is approximately $75,900 for boarding students and $34,000 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Idyllwild Arts Academy?
The acceptance rate of Idyllwild Arts Academy is 65%, which is higher than the boarding school average of 60%.
Who are famous alumni from Idyllwild Arts Academy?
Idyllwild Arts Academy famous alumni include: Shepard Fairey, Neal Beasley, Orpheo McChord, Casey Abrams, Trevor Hall, Marin Ireland, Elora Hardy, Cristy Candler, Vesselin Gelev and Liang Wang.
What sports does Idyllwild Arts Academy offer?
Idyllwild Arts Academy offers 2 interscholastic sports: Ballet and Dance.
Does Idyllwild Arts Academy offer a summer program?
Yes, Idyllwild Arts Academy offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Idyllwild Arts Academy's ranking?
When is the application deadline for Idyllwild Arts Academy?
The application deadline for Idyllwild Arts Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2020
5.00
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild Arts Academy's focus on the arts is well-known. Intensive training in a variety of artistic disciplines, such as dance, music, theater, visual arts, and creative writing, is integrated into the curriculum. Along with intensive. . .

Class of 2016
5.00
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Comprehensive Arts Education: Idyllwild Arts Academy's dedication to providing a comprehensive arts education is one of its standout features. The academy offers a wide variety of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, visual arts, drama, film. . .

Class of 2018
5.00
Idyllwild Arts Academy
The academy lays a lot of emphasis on encouraging its students' creativity, focus, and artistic expression. A strong academic program is combined with a demanding arts curriculum to give children a well-rounded education. Students are. . .
Show more reviews (20 reviews)
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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 280 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $75,900
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $34,000
  • Acceptance rate: 65%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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