Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild Arts Academy is a boarding high school that offers intensive arts training and challenging college-prep academics to talented young people from around the world.
Students pursue excellence in Music, Theatre, Dance, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Film and Digital Media, Interdisciplinary Arts, and Fashion Design.
Graduates excel in every professional arts discipline, including Broadway, movies and TV, classical and jazz music, fashion design, and dance.
Quick Stats (2022)
- Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
- Students: 280 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $65,091
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $30,000
- Acceptance rate: 65%
- Average class size: 15 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Idyllwild Arts has an incredibly unique community of faculty and students. Since the campus and the town of Idyllwild is so isolated, those who live there become very close to each other.. . .
Living in the incredible town of Idyllwild is a really incredible setting for any aspiring artists around the high school age. It was inspiring to be living in nature while also being close enough to. . .
IAA was a unique institution because it fostered a learning environment centered around the arts. The small faculty-to-student ratio allowed students to connect with professors and be supported in all aspects of their learning. Keeping. . .
Show more reviews (15 reviews)
Top Rankings
Idyllwild Arts Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 308 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
Faculty Education
School Overview
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1986
1907
Campus Size
205 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
280 students
300 students
% Students of Color
20%
25%
% International Students
50%
20%
% Students Boarding
85%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
19
17
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
90%
70%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$6 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$65,091
(2021-22 Academic Year. Does not include fees.)
(2021-22 Academic Year. Does not include fees.)
$59,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$30,000
(Does not include fees. )
(Does not include fees. )
$33,250
Tuition international students
$68,432
$54,500
Summer Program Cost
$3,265
(Programs for students of all ages. Prices vary based on program and program length. )
(Programs for students of all ages. Prices vary based on program and program length. )
% Students on Financial Aid
60%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$30,000
(Based on merit and/or need.)
(Based on merit and/or need.)
$25,000
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
65%
58%
Director of Admissions
Tara Sechrest
Associate Director of Admissions
Jara Ruiz-Anchia
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
19
17
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
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
6
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Environment Club, Gay Straight Alliance, National Honor Society, Peers' Ears, Prefects, Student Government
Environment Club, Gay Straight Alliance, National Honor Society, Peers' Ears, Prefects, Student Government
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.
- LD types supported: Support offered on an individual basis.
- 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
Profile last updated: 10/06/2021
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