Alabama School of Fine Arts
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| Alabama School of Fine Arts | |
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Public Education with Passion
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| Address | |
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| 1800 8th Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 |
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| Information | |
| School type | Independent School; Public; Magnet; Partially Residential |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Executive Director | John Northrop |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Enrollment | approx. 350 |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Rainbow |
| Mascot | Starman |
| Website | http://www.asfa.k12.al.us/ |
The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) is a public, partially residential high school located in Birmingham, AL. The mission of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a community of explorers, is to nurture impassioned students by guiding and inspiring them to discover and fulfill their individual creative abilities in an atmosphere distinguished by the fusion of fact and feeling, risk and reward, art and science, school and community.
[edit] Overview
The Alabama School of Fine Arts has six departments: Creative Writing, Dance, Math and Science, Music, Theater and Visual Arts. The five fine art departments are among the most prestigious in the nation. The Math and Science department, housed in the school's Russell Mathematics and Science Center, is a member of NCSSSMST. ASFA has the strongest academic core program in Alabama, with 100% of ASFA students passing the Alabama graduation exam.[citation needed]
The school began in 1968 with grants by Governor Lurleen Wallace to Birmingham, AL arts organizations for after-school instructional activities. After receiving legislative approval in 1971, the school grew quickly into a comprehensive arts institution. In 1976, the school created a private, non-profit support organization, the ASFA Foundation, to enlist private sector assistance to address school needs. The school’s Board of Trustees appoints members to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which approves foundation policy and employs an Executive Director, who directs foundation operations. In 1991, the school added its sixth and final specialty program, the mathematics and science department. In 1993, ASFA moved into its new instructional and performance complex in the heart of the Birmingham cultural district.
ASFA is a public school funded by the Alabama legislature, students who are residents of Alabama pay no tuition. Enrollment is not limited to Alabama residents, but out of state students must pay tuition. Scholarships are available to help defray the cost of room and board for students who demonstrate financial need.
Admission into ASFA is highly competitive, however, students with significant connections within the school often have a greater chance of being accepted. Prospective students must first submit an application for admission with test scores, transcripts, essays, and three letters of recommendation. Select students are then invited to audition for their chosen department. For the arts departments, audition is through performance, portfolios, and interview. For the Math and Science department, audition is through interview and two rounds of testing, the longest of these tests being three and a half hours long.
ASFA accommodates approximately 350 students in grades 7-12. The Math and Science department is the only department that does not admit students below grade 8. Most ASFA students commute everyday, with some students driving from as far away as Clanton, Alabama, but approximately 50 students board on the upper level. The Math and Science department is the largest program, usually with about 33 percent of the student body.
ASFA is a member of the International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools as well as the Coalition of Essential Schools.
ASFA is also proud to be used as a model school by the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition because of its all-inclusive anti-harassment policy and the general attitude of acceptance that exists at the school.
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 33°30′11″N 86°48′05″W / 33.503185°N 86.801417°W
