About Time: S.F. school board bans out-of-towners at perfoming arts high school

Personal Note: Perhaps school districts should form a regional performing arts school.


San Francisco will close borders to talented and artistic teens looking for a free and prestigious arts education at the city’s Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, a decision derided by many students, parents and teachers, yet unanimously approved by the school board Tuesday.

The decision ends the long-standing practice of allowing transfer students from other school districts to audition and gain admission to the high school, considered among the region’s most elite public art schools. The new policy will apply to admission for fall 2016. Current out-of-town students would be allowed to complete high school there, as well as those admitted for the incoming freshman class.

Opponents who crowded the school board chambers Tuesday night said the decision would water down the talent pool. Several students held signs that read, “SOTA = Talent,” and “Keep SOTA Pre-Professional,” using the common acronym for the school.
“I have friends that live three or four blocks away outside of San Francisco,” said Salena Nguyen, a junior theater student. “They don’t have any other options for an arts high school.”

Teachers also urged the board to allow them to maintain the quality of their programs.

“SOTA is a school for classical arts, not cartooning, graffiti art and hip-hop dance,” said teacher Donald Fontowitz in an e-mail to the school board and The Chronicle, urging the district to beef up classical art instruction in elementary and middle schools to increase city applicants. “We know how to run our school, we don't need help from downtown.”


http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/S-F-district-bans-out-of-towners-at-art-high-6288171.php