Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA, ) is a Visual and Performing Arts high school located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, United States.
History
2017 LACHSA Promo (Full) -
The school was founded by philanthropist Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson in 1985.
Overview
LACHSA is a public and tuition-free school. Most people identify the school by its aesthetic campus along with its ability to "offer both college preparatory courses and conservatory style training". Though it shares facilities with Cal State LA, the two schools' activities are usually separate. It is operated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. LACHSA maintains a unique affiliation with International Polytechnic High School, which is also run by LACOE.
The school specializes in the training of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and film. It is one of two arts high schools in Los Angeles that allows students from any district within Los Angeles County to attend, the other being Charter High School of the Arts in Van Nuys. Acceptance into the school is based on an audition process for the approximately 130 spots available for incoming students, about 90% of whom are freshman. In 2011 more than 1000 students auditioned, the highest number ever. The school has five departments, Dance, Music (Vocals and Instrumental), Theatre, Visual Arts, and Cinematic Arts (Film). There is also a double major offered for Musical Theatre. The Music Department has the most students, followed by the Theatre Department, Visual Arts, Dance, and Cinematic Arts. In 2012, Academy Award nominee Scott Hamilton Kennedy made an award-winning documentary about LACHSA called "Fame High."
In late March 2013, LACHSA officially moved to its brand new building on the edge of California State University's campus. It has three stories, the top being a full black box theater, that was run by the 626 Crew until 2016, where most performances from the school take place.
Academic recognition
- California Distinguished School for Academic Excellence
- Golden Bell Award
- Grammy Signature School
- Bravo Award for excellence in arts education
- One of the "Best High Schools" in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine
- LACHSA was among the few public high schools in California to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 7 out of 10.
Notable alumni
- Ai, singer
- Amanda Avila, back up singer
- Anthony Anderson, Emmy Award nominated actor for his role as Andre "Dre" Johnson Sr. on ABC's Black-ish
- Jon B., singer and songwriter
- Ethan Bearman, Assistant Principal and Bud and Barbara Hellman Chair of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Corbin Bleu, actor
- Phoebe Bridgers, singer and songwriter
- Daniel Brummel, bassist
- Monica Calhoun, actress
- Gerald Clayton, Grammy Award nominated jazz pianist and composer
- Clea DuVall, actress
- Jenna Elfman, actor
- Michael Fitzpatrick, the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of Fitz and The Tantrums
- Dillon Francis, music producer
- Drew Garrett, actor
- Spencer Grammer, actress on Greek
- Josh Groban, singer
- Este Haim, Danielle Haim, and Alana Haim of Haim
- Taran Killam, actor on Saturday Night Live
- Josefina Lopez, playwright
- Christina Milian, pop singer
- Ryan Scott Oliver, musical theatre composer and lyricist
- Candy Olsen, dancer and actress
- Gretchen Parlato, Grammy nominated jazz vocalist and composer
- Matthew Rushing, dancer, Rehearsal Director at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Marla Sokoloff, actress and musician
- Tammy Townsend, actress and singer
- McKenzie Westmore, actress on Passions and host of Syfy's Face Off
- Kehinde Wiley, painter
- Angel Blue, opera singer
- Sadie Calvano, actress on the CBS series Mom
- Finn Wittrock, actor on American Horror Story: Freak Show
- Zoey Deutch, actress
- The Hound, singer
References
External links
- Official LACHSAâˆ'Los Angeles County High School for the Arts website