OCSA-Haiyan Initiative Benefit Concert Review

My son is graduating this year after four years of an absolutely outstanding experience. Their high level of education; care, attention, support and understanding is nothing less than excellent. Add to that the conservatories that provide a cultural education and appreciation for the arts and you have a formula that is unmatched and invaluable. Yes, it is not easy to get in, students need both an academic and arts proficiency, but it is well worth a try. Students graduate and move on to top-rated colleges and universities, with the added value of an otherwise costly and rare opportunity to grow in their chosen art field.

This place is awesome. I love it here, finally a place you can express yourself through the arts. Everyone likes you the way you are. I really recommend this school.

Amazing school. Seems like it was mafe just for my daughter!

It has been the perfect environment for me for over 3 years now. Highly recommend to any aspiring arts student.

The best school in existence. No public school could even come close. There is not a single mean person, I am amazed, it is practically utopian! I am excited to be here- the days are longer than most high schools, and I wouldn't have it any other way. FIVE STARS.

It's my first year at OCSA and I fit in right away, everyone was so sweet and very professional! I would 100% recommend this school to anyone who wants to pursue a career in the arts!

I was there as part of the cast for a student made film. It is a great school if you can judge by the level of professional resources available to the students . I'm not in the photos. They're fellow actors.

I am a 2004 Graduate of this school and I had the best time of my life! The staff and the teachers were wonderful and they were more willing to help myself and other students with anything we did not understand. They were patient and kind. Those who think that this school does not know what they are doing, you are absolutely wrong. The level of professionalism I experienced was high. Not only that, but the program I was in was small but it was fun. Thank you OCSA for helping me find out who I am and letting me be myself. :)

I go to this school and every one is so creative and nice

Wonderful school for talented students! Have seen a huge growth in one year from my nephew.

Sophomore to senior I love this school and I'll be graduating '18!!!

I went there from 7th-8th grade in 2011-2013 it was an amazing experience. I regret leaving and NOT staying for high school

Children are comfortable and happy expressing themselves here through the arts. Beats violence and gang life. Beautiful. Well done Santa Ana.

i go to ocsa! i'm writing this from class! i love it here!

I didn't like it when I went there for 8th and 9th grade (this was 2007-2009).

OCSA is not your normal high school experience. It's unique in the fact that it is a very welcoming community for LGBT+ and all sorts of artistic people. I've met amazing people here, but I will be transferring out due to the 9 1/2 hour day schedule and other personal reasons. Unfortunately, there is only a few categories in which certain people are not as accepted as others. A straight, white, religious student at OCSA faces a surprising amount of playful jokes, but we all know how often "playful jokes" are considered funny. A great school for a lot of kids, but just not right for other kinds. :)

Orange County School of Arts or OCSA as it is called is the place for your artistically talented child, and is the number 1 charter school in the state of California.

I love going somewhere where I can be myself! Great place where you can be youself

This school has provided me with the best education I could have possibly gotten. Great staff, nice kids, and golf curriculum.

It is said that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth - I disagree - I believe OCSA deserves that moniker. Middle school and high school can be horrible, but the staff and students at OCSA make the school a wonderful, fun, joyous experience. Except for a couple of teachers who were duds (and most of them didn't last more than a year), the teachers are fantastic - they WANT to be at OCSA because the students are motivated and engaged.

And then there's just the wild creativity - best day of the year is Halloween - hands down! The costumes the kids come up with are simply amazing (my all-time fave? the boy who wore a sheet with empty candy boxes, popcorn and empty soda cups stuck to it and a popcorn container on his head like a crown - he was the floor of the movie theater after the show!!!).

The principal and vice-principal, as well as the campus security, deserve special mention for making the school safe, keeping the kids just disciplined enough to keep them out of trouble but not so tight that their creativity is squelched, and for listening sensitively and acting immediately when there's any sort of problem. All in all, OCSA is the best school I've ever been exposed to - I am so incredibly grateful that my daughter spent 6 years there.