The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (also known as SOTA) is a public arts high school in San Francisco, California, United States, which offers students an alternative college preparatory experience: a full academic curriculum complemented by a pre-professional arts training program in which students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The creative community at SOTA is a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse population, representative of the celebrated diversity of San Francisco.
Overview
SOTA Orchestra at Inner Sunset Sundays - An Inner Sunset Sundays live music performance. The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School Of The Arts Orchestra, directed by Matthew Cmiel. Russian Dance (Trepak) movement of The Nutcracker Suite...
The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts is the only San Francisco public high school with an audition process for admission. Prospective students can choose to apply to one of the various disciplines such as: Architecture and Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music (Band, Guitar, Orchestra, World Music), Media, Musical Theatre, Piano, Technical Theatre, Theatre, Visual, and Vocal (Classical Voice, Jazz Vocal) etc. A new program developed in the upcoming 2016-2017 year is World Dance.
Students receive academic instruction in the morning and spend the balance of the day immersed in learning the essential skills and craft of their chosen area of creative study. The department directors have created an inspiring hands-on program that draws on the talents of over 66 Artists-in-Residence working in the broader arts community, recruited to support specific goals of each department’s curriculum. This unique teaching structure exposes students to fresh ideas and experiences, creating a learning environment where vision, creativity and passion are valued in the formation of the whole person.
SOTA ranks among the top public high schools in the district. Among the graduates pursuing higher education, 90% attend traditional colleges and universities; the remaining 10% choose to matriculate to art schools and conservatories. A number of SOTA alumni have gone on to attend the Juilliard School, Rhode Island School of Design, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Colburn School, Art Center College of Design, and numerous other esteemed institutions for higher learning in the arts.
Many programs that now benefit students across the Bay Area, including Art and Film for Teenagers and Engineers Alliance for the Arts, were launched at this school. The Friends of SOTA Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which manages the arts budgets and actively fundraises and provides support for the artists-in-residence and other programs, materials and equipment needed for the nine arts disciplines. The school invites the community to attend school events.
History
At its inception in 1982, SOTA was part of J. Eugene McAteer High School, on its present site on Portola Drive. For many years, Ruth Asawa, sculptor and passionate advocate for arts in education, as well as others campaigned to start a public high school in San Francisco devoted to the arts, with the ultimate goal to move to the arts corridor in the heart of San Francisco's Civic Center. In 1992, the school moved to a former elementary school at 700 Font Boulevard near San Francisco State University. In 2002, McAteer High School was dissolved, and SOTA was offered the site. The school community elected to make this move, with the understanding that the school would eventually permanently relocate to the Civic Center.
In 2005 a new school, the Academy of Arts and Sciences, was founded on the McAteer campus. Although it shares a campus with SOTA, it is a completely separate school. The Academy admits students through the normal high school admissions process.
In 2010, SOTA was renamed the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in honor of Ruth Asawa. In 2011, the school was recognized as a "California Distinguished School" by the California Department of Education as one of the state's most "exemplary and inspiring" public schools, demonstrating significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap among its students.
In 2014, the San Francisco Unified School District approved a plan to move SOTA to a building in the Civic Center, although there is no definite relocation date.
Demographics
According to US News and World Report, 62% of SOTA's student body is "white" the student body coming from an economically advantaged households determined by$
Admissions
To enter Ruth Asawa SOTA, prospective students must pass a rigorous audition into one of the many disciplines. The audition process varies between disciplines, and may change from year to year. Some departments, such as Visual Arts and Tech require students to bring a portfolio of their work to be presented before a panel of judges. The Media department requires prospective students to bring in a short film, or a storyboard. Theatre, Dance, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music departments require live performances by prospective students as part of their auditions. Creative Writing requires students to complete a set of prompts on SOTA campus and there is a brief, one on one interview with the department head. Prospective students are encouraged to attend school shows and events and may attend admissions info sessions. It is suggested that they shadow for a day, all admissions info is on the website. There are several parent ambassadors through the Parents for Public Schools Ambassador network. Www.ppssf.org
Athletics
Ruth Asawa SOTA does not have an athletics program, but students are allowed to join teams of other public high schools or outside leagues. All students, however, must fulfill the district-mandated requirement of 4 semesters of physical education. This is not restricted to taking a Physical Education course at a school.
Notable alumni
- Aya Cash, actress
- Kevin Bigley, actor
- Margaret Cho, comedian, author, and actress
- Fatboi AKA LaDamon Douglas, Music Producer, Actor
- James Laxton, cinematographer
- Ken Franklin, musician
- Tommy Guerrero, professional skateboarder and musician
- Lena Hall, actress and singer
- Melody Lacayanga, dancer
- Yuri Lane, beatboxer
- Crystal Lee, Miss California 2013, First Runner-Up Miss America 2014
- MK Nobilette, American Idol finalist
- Sam Rockwell, actor
- Salvador Santana, Latin musician and son of Carlos Santana
- Jesse Thorn, radio host
- Miranda Lee Richards, musician
- Aisha Tyler, actress and comedian
- Rappin' 4-Tay, musician
External links
- Official website
- Facebook profile
- Twitter profile
References
