About VSAA
Vancouver School of Arts and Academics is a school of choice where the arts are immersed in academic study.
At the school, they pursue a wide variety of learning opportunities ranging from subject exploration to advanced study. VSAA offers a complete and fully accredited middle and high school program including advanced levels of science, mathematics and foreign language. All students attend VSAA full-time. This means students take all academic and art classes on VSAA’s campus. 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 Vancouver Public Schools, VSAA’s goal is for graduates to “achieve literacy and appropriate core competencies, and become responsible and compassionate citizens.”
VSAA offers six art forms: 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. Each student also has a teacher assigned who remains his or her advocate for seven years.
Professional artists and community leaders play an important role at the school, too. Students learn alongside working artists and also have field experiences in the community.
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.
Mission
Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, a focused learning community, believes students learn best when arts and academics are integrated. Through collaboration and inquiry, individuals are challenged to think critically, creatively and artistically.
Philosophy
VSAA’s philosophy of learning grows out of a commitment to specific guiding principles. Students and staff alike come to this school knowing that the people here teach and learn with artistic and academic integrity.
Within the framework of those guiding principles, staff members and students constantly ask the fundamental questions which explore evidence of learning. In this school, students learn the value of individual commitment and respect for uniqueness because they live and learn every day with people who are inventive, receptive to new ideas, responsible and committed to the arts.
Program of Studies
To learn more about VSAA, including our course offerings, activities, guiding principles, and more view our Program of Studies.
Frequently asked questions
Apply online by the deadline to be included in the lottery.
As an interest-based school, students are required to take all six arts forms. After exploring each of them, they may choose to focus in one or more of these art forms.
At VSAA, every teacher serves as an advocate for 21-23 students, offering professional attention to each student. The advocate, in cooperation with the student and family, monitors academic progress and planning. Advocacy groups meet twice per week before or after lunch. Advocacy is considered part of the VSAA curriculum and attendance is required.
We offer vocal music, strings and instrumental music. We do not offer piano or guitar as part of our general curriculum.
Dance is a required component of the VSAA curriculum and must be taken.
VSAA does have students in need of special education services. Through an inclusive model, students are given the necessary support to have a positive educational experience.
Students are separated in their academic subjects into groups of sixth through eighth grade (blue team), ninth and 10th grade (red team) and 11th and 12th grade (yellow team).
Grade levels are integrated in our arts classes and through advocacy.
Teams of teachers who work together to help students learn mathematics, science, health, language arts and social studies with a focus on the arts. Coursework is directed to individual student needs and progress and related to a yearly theme.
Individual and group projects are a primary source of learning within Core.
There is no tuition if accepted to VSAA as we are a public school. There are still the general fees associated with all schools paid at the beginning of each school year.
The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics is a public school. It is a full-day arts magnet of Vancouver Public Schools.
Notable events in VSAA’s history
Shumway was the first junior high school in Vancouver. It opened with 400 students and 16 staff members.
Fern Tresvan was named Washington state’s 2012 Dance Teacher of the Year by the Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
The Confluence Project of mosaic panels are completed and installed on the side of VSAA facing Main Street. These enormous panels of Sacagawea and her infant son Pomp took a decade to complete and consist of tens of thousands of mosaic pieces created by VSAA students. The project involved collaboration with a Sacagawea historian to ensure every detail was correct.
Ann Medellin, pictured on right, was named the 2016 Outstanding Music Educator by the Washington state chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Medellin was selected by colleagues from across the state.
Project highlights include:
- A two-story addition, allowing the school to accommodate 200 more students
- New commons area to accommodate larger student body, new main office, and new Black Box theater space
- The addition of four classrooms in the new building and the conversion of the old Black Box space into four classrooms and two office spaces
- Dedicated drop-off lane
2021–22—VSAA received state recognition for achievement for the whole school.