The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (VSAA) is a school of choice where the arts are immersed in academic study. Five hundred and fifty students in grades 6-12 choose to attend VSAA based on their interest in the arts. At the school, they pursue a wide variety of learning opportunities ranging from subject exploration to advanced study.
 
The School of Arts and Academics offers a complete middle and high school program including advanced levels of science, mathematics, and foreign language. All students attend the school full-time. The daily atmosphere of strenuous creative work, self-discipline, integrity, and dedication prepares students for both college and future careers. In accordance with the vision of the Vancouver School District, the school’s goal is for graduates to "achieve literacy and appropriate core competencies, and become responsible and compassionate citizens."
 
Vancouver’s School of Arts and Academics is characterized by a simple block schedule with students attending all six classes each Monday and three alternating classes the other days of the week. Additionally, middle-school students have a fitness/health time scheduled three times a week in the middle of the day while high school students attend an interdisciplinary “core” class. Science, mathematics, social studies, and English are studied every year by all middle school students, and most high school students. In addition to academic classes students take at least two art classes each year. High school students, once they have met academic graduation requirements, have the option of taking additional art classes or pursuing an internship experience in the arts. Beginning to advanced levels of six art forms are offered: dance, music, theatre, literary arts, visual arts, and moving image arts.
 
All students are expected to explore each art form but may choose to focus in one or more arts during their seven years at the school. Professional artists and community leaders play an important role at the school. Students learn alongside working artists and also have field experiences in the community.
 
Each student at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics has a teacher assigned who remains his or her advocate for seven years. The advocate comes to know the student well and in cooperation with the student’s family, helps to guide that student’s academic and social progress.
 
One of the strongest features of the school is its talented staff. Teachers are active as school leaders, participate in joint decision-making, attend and present workshops and conferences, design curriculum, and are active lifelong learners. All staff members apply to work at the school and are selected for their flexibility, enthusiasm, excellence in their discipline, willingness to collaborate, and their sincere desire to work with young people. The school was founded on the concept that the arts are essential to self-fulfillment.
 
Located on Main Street in the city of Vancouver, Washington and near the heart of the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics is well-placed as a community arts center. The school offers a wide array of performance, studio, and exhibition space to students and artists alike. Originally built as the historic Shumway Junior High School in 1929, the school was remodeled in 1996 through local bond dollars and a generous grant from the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.