Academy for Performing Arts - Scotch Plains, NJ

The Union County Academy for Performing Arts is an innovative four-year high school, immersing students in honors level academics while training in a pre-professional artistic setting. The Academy fosters the discipline, integrity, and passion necessary for students to succeed at the post-secondary level and as members of the performing arts community. The culmination of the program allows the students to complete their senior year by taking college-level courses and receiving college credit from Kean University. Students major in dance, theatre, or technical theatre and take classes in their majors every day. Through their experiences in the classroom they become confident artists who are prepared for the demands of the performing arts field and beyond. Our success is due in part to the strong relationships we have with Kean University, the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, The George Street Play House, and a host of other resources that visit our campus to present master classes each marking period. In addition, our program has an industry advisory board that helps the program make decisions that will best impact our students. Our board consists of college professors, teachers, students, and professionals in the performing arts field. We meet several times per year to evaluate the program and listen to suggestions to make improvements. Experiences like these keep our program strong, innovative, and unique.