Which high schools/ neighborhoods would you consider the best? (Portland: credit, home)

[ukeskywalker]

My parents and I are moving to Portland for my junior year of high school from Savannah, GA as both of my brothers have already gone off to college. I go to Savannah Arts Academy ([url=http://saaarts.com/]Savannah Arts Academy | Art Departments[/url]), a great art-focused school, and I am a visual arts major. I love my school, but I can't stand to live in the deep south for another two years. Sadly, I couldn't find a public school in Portland that has the same focus on art as my current school. Are there any public high schools that have good fine arts programs? Also, which neighborhoods would you suggest checking out? We want to avoid snobby rich people and------etc.

TLDR:
Basically, I'm artsy and I want to know which high schools/ neighborhoods are fitting for such a character.

[EnricoV]

I think different high schools have different types of arts. You might check the Portland Public High School website, and search for the disciplines you're particularly interested in. Not sure why there's not "one" school, as there is with a grammar and middle school. Franklin and Grant High Schools seem to be the ones most mentioned.

You will probably find that some of the fine-arts colleges in town have programs for high-school students.

[Nell Plotts]

Help me with your definition of fine arts... and how do you in-vision using this after completing school? In my mind fine arts includes music, dance, graphic arts, sculpture each with their own professional tracks.

You may want to build your own program attending traditional classes in the morning, fine arts in the afternoon. The Portland Public Schools has cooperative programs for students with special needs and talents with Portland Community College and Portland State University (which has an amazing music program ... think Esparanza Spalding).

Were I you I would seek the best fine arts teacher in the area you would want to study under and negotiate from there.

Portland, an Oregon in general, tends to think outside of the box. Don't limit yourself to one high school where the teacher may retire.

[lauramc27]

School facts: Arts, Communications & Technology High School at Roosevelt Campus (http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/?id=4162 - broken link)

Try this school.

[Squidlo]

Originally Posted by lauramc27

School facts: Arts, Communications & Technology High School at Roosevelt Campus (http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/?id=4162 - broken link)

Try this school.

Unless that school has changed dramatically in the last 7 years. ( it might be a super school now) I would do some serious research on the area and students before enrolling. Not snobby at all though if you want to roll like that.

[figmalt]

Beaverton School District has an arts magnet high school: Beaverton School District - Home > Schools > Acma

It looks like the deadline for the 2012 school year has already passed though. Your best bet might be as others have suggested, either do some of your work through a high school and PCC or PSU, or completely transition to PCC through their high school completion program, which allows you to earn a high school diploma and while earning college credit (this is what I did). This may limit your opportunity to socialize with other kids your age, so that should be taken into consideration.

http://www.pcc.edu/prepare/adult-hs-diploma/

[Nell Plotts]

I don't know if the poster approaches fine arts as an activity or has both the talent and the passion to make it her career. My daughter was a very talented dancer and was approached by the leading teachers in Portland and at her university to be a developing professional. She very much enjoyed those classes, but at an activity level. If the OP intends this to be an activity a high school arts program would be appropriate. However, if she wants to be a professional in her field she needs to seek out a mentor who can develop her skills. The odds of finding that at the high school environment are small. Ms. Spalding as a high-school student at a fine arts private high school (on scholarship) but ultimately associated with PSU's program.

When I talked with my daughter about dance (and later the international baccalaureate program at Lincoln) she remarked that she didn't want to work that hard for those tracks. It is a question of what you value and what talents you bring to the table. In this case she had the talent (in spades) but didn't choose those academic paths. As it turned out her choices worked well for her.

OP, find a mentor in Portland and build your senior year around him/her if you intend to make fine arts your career.