Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Center for the Arts SLC?

A. As a Small Learning Community, the Center for the Arts includes approximately one-third of the North Atlanta student body and faculty who share an academic interest in the fine and performing arts.  Within the stringent school-wide academic curriculum, this SLC offers concentration in a student's desired "major," selected from our drama, dance, music, or visual art departments.


Q. What are the goals of the Center for the Arts?

A. The CFA seeks to develop young talent, both for immediate fulfillment and in preparation for ambitious academic and professional goals following high school graduation.  An equally important focus of the program is to encourage school-wide appreciation of the arts and consistent inclusion of the arts in student and community life.


Q. Are there any requirements to be the in the Center for the Arts?

A. Any student who qualifies for entrance to North Atlanta High School (lives in the zone, has been promoted from the 8th grade, etc.) may opt to affiliate with the CFA.  Auditions are held in order to place students in the appropriate level of study in their major interest.


Q.  Can students who are not enrolled in the Center for the Arts take Arts electives?

A. Yes!  Any zoned students from Sutton and Carson may request dance, drama, chorus, instrumental, music theory, or visual art classes as electives.  Several Arts classes are offered at the introductory level and do not require an audition.  Higher-level classes may require a placement audition or interview, in order to ensure appropriate instruction and progress.


Q.  Can IB students take courses in the Center for the Arts for IB credit?

A. Yes.  Beginning in 2005-06, we began expanding our CFA course offerings to include IB Theatre Arts, IB Music, and IB Visual Arts.  We will add IB Dance in 2007, when the curriculum standards become available from the International Baccalaureate Organization. Both the IB Middle Years Programme (in the process of adoption for all students in 9th and 10th grades) and the IB Diploma curriculum (optional for 11th and 12th grades) include an Arts component. CFA courses are tailored to fulfill this mandate, as well as to enable Arts-interested students to choose the IB Diploma program.

Q.  What are the extracurricular programs offered by the Center for the Arts?

A. Nearly all the performing groups - the bands, orchestral ensembles, vocal and choral troupes, and play production ensembles - meet, rehearse, and perform outside of school, and in many circumstances welcome members who are not enrolled in the class times appointed for those ensembles.   In addition, there are several clubs open to all students, including Drama Club, Guitar Club, Gospel Choir, and One-Act Play Competition.

Q.  What are the students like in the Center for the Arts?

A. The CFA reflects a cross-section of the entire student body, capturing completely the rich diversity of our constituency.  Every "type" is represented - extroverts and introverts, the highly gifted along with the journeymen, those with a great deal of previous training and exposure, and those with limited experience.  As in the other SLCs, we have students who speak several languages and some who struggle even with their native language.  We have students from some of the wealthiest families in the city, and some from the poorest.  We have students from all over the world, and many who have never left the city limits.  Altogether, they do share a defining "character":  CFA students are active, ambitious, expressive, and social.  There is an aura of contented excitement, focus without stress, purposefulness that is apparently personally rewarding.  Students are thrilled to be here, and give it their all.

Q.  What are some accomplishments or awards obtained by the Center for the Arts?

A. In 2006-07, we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Center for the Arts.  Over all those years of its history, the program’s awards and accolades are countless. 

• Our students routinely win places in the GMEA All-State ensembles, Governor's Honors summer camp, the ASYO, Fox Theatre & Alliance Theatre projects, Bureau of Cultural Affairs appointments, and many other prestigious placements.
• APS has acknowledged ours as the Most Outstanding Band Program more than once. 
• For several years our One-Act Play ensembles have taken 1st place in regional competitions.
• The Jazz Band has won 1st place in the City Youth Jazz Band competition several times. 
• Our orchestra, band, and chorus have all received superior ratings for more than 12 years at GMEA festivals. 
• Our visual art students have won design competitions and placed in juried exhibitions. 
• Our graduates have gone on to Eastman, Juilliard, Manhattan, Oberlin, Berklee, New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, SCAD - all the major colleges of the arts. 
• We have alumni in the Metropolitan Opera, performing on Broadway and in Hollywood, dancing with major companies, and playing with top tier orchestras.  One alum was Michael Jackson's choreographer; another is a long-time TV soap opera star.