A Message from Dean and Headmaster Martin Ferrell

At UNCSA, we know that families are drawn to our high school because of the extraordinary conservatory training offered in the arts. But what makes our program truly unique is that we pair that rigorous artistic training with an equally challenging and inspiring academic experience.

Our academic faculty — four with doctorate degrees and all with master’s — are dedicated not only to ensuring that our students meet the highest standards of college preparation, but also to shaping innovative courses that connect directly to their lives as artists and citizens. From “Art, Artist and Place,” a reimagined academic program curriculum that brings citizen-artist projects into the classroom, to distinctive electives like “Horror and Literature” and “African Diaspora Studies,” our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Advanced courses such as AP Calculus, AP Biology and AP Government and Politics draw students from all conservatories, underscoring the vibrant intellectual community here at UNCSA.

Students in our High School Academic Program are immersed in a college campus environment, which means they gain valuable skills and independence well before graduation. They also enjoy the traditions and social milestones of high school life — whether that’s attending prom, participating in clubs or joining their friends in the dining hall.

Our graduates continually prove that the UNCSA blend of rigorous academics and intensive arts training truly sets them apart. With a mean SAT score of 1,213 and an GPA average of 3.7, they are capable, confident and ready to excel in higher education and beyond. They earn acceptance to some of the nation’s most selective colleges and universities — including Juilliard, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Berklee College of Music, Stanford, Columbia, the Curtis Institute for Music, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke and, of course, UNCSA. Last year, an impressive 94% of UNCSA graduates continued their education at the college level.

Equally important, attending UNCSA for high school can make the path to college more accessible. Not only is high school tuition free for North Carolina residents, in-state graduates of the high school are also eligible for the state’s tuition grant program, which covers the cost of tuition for attendance at UNCSA or one of the other 15 university campuses of the UNC System. This program ensures that talented young artists from across North Carolina have the opportunity to pursue world-class training in both the arts and academics without the barrier of tuition costs.

As you consider your student’s educational journey, I encourage you to imagine what it means to join a community where young artists are challenged both in the studio and in the classroom, where they gain the transferable skills that colleges seek, and where they begin to shape their authentic, differentiating stories. There truly is no other high school in the country like UNCSA.

Sincerely,

Martin Ferrell

Headmaster and Dean of High School Academics