Fine Arts Boarding High School in Michigan

Interlochen Arts Academy High School:
Located in Interlochen, 15 miles southwest of Traverse City in northwest Michigan, Interlochen Arts Academy High School is the world's first and foremost fine arts boarding high school for boys and girls Grades 9-12, offering the highest quality training with college-preparatory academics.

Arts Programs:
Interlochen Arts Academy is a fine arts boarding high school. Each year 500 students from around the world come to the scenic, wooded campus at Interlochen looking for greater opportunities to learn, create and perform. We offer the following major areas of study:

Theatre Arts
The Theatre Arts program at Interlochen Arts Academy is designed for young actors who are serious about their craft. Through challenging coursework and guidance from a faculty of actor-educators, students develop their skills in all aspects of acting and theatre. Each year, the program presents five full productions, giving students a chance to explore a wide variety of repertoire and roles.

Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program at the Interlochen Arts Academy boarding high school develops a young artist’s technical abilities and personal vision through the study of a variety of traditional media. Creative problem solving, critical thinking and a broad range of experiences build the foundation for deeper understanding, advanced learning, and innovation within the various media.

Motion Picture Arts
The Motion Picture Arts Division provides students with a progressive interdisciplinary education through theory-based courses and hands-on production. Students in the motion picture arts program benefit from challenging college-preparatory academics and a comprehensive experience in filmmaking. Subjects include screenwriting, production, film history, acting and photography.

Dance
The Academy dance boarding high school helps dancers become proficient and well-rounded artists who are prepared for the challenges of dance at a professional level. A ballet-based program encourages versatility through additional training in other techniques such as modern and jazz. Frequent collaboration with other arts disciplines and academics subjects provides students with a cross-disciplinary education that promotes development as artists and thinkers.

Creative Writing
The creative writing program at Interlochen Arts Academy provides guidance, support and numerous opportunities for young writers. Students in the creative writing program study and create poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, playwriting and screenwriting with a faculty of writer-educators. The goal of the program is to help young writers cultivate their talents; broaden their command of the writer's craft at all levels, and to teach them how to read like writers.

Music
Around the world, Interlochen Arts Academy is recognized as one of the finest pre-professional boarding schools for young musicians. Music students benefit from personal attention, classes in music theory, numerous performance opportunities and an exceptional peer group. A combination of private lessons, studio classes and ensemble experience prepares students for future study in music.

Academic Curriculum:
Comprehensive college-preparatory classes prepare students for future success - in any field. Students attend class from 8:00am to 5:00pm each day, merging accelerated academic instruction with intensive artistic studies. Arts and academic instructors collaborate to provide a holistic approach to learning where math, science, history and literature complement a student's creativity.

The academic faculty use students' strengths as creative learners to develop greater appreciation for academic subjects. The process opens students' eyes to the sciences and humanities while preparing them for the rigors of the world's most competitive colleges and universities.

English
Group discussion, analysis of literary works and the development of formal composition skills aid students in their understanding of English language and literature. Advanced students choose from electives such as Modern European Literature, Memoir, Women in Literature, among others.

Science
Active learning and hands-on laboratory experiences enhance the science curriculum with core classes in biology, chemistry and physics and specialized courses offered in ecology and genetics. More advanced instruction is available through guided independent studies.

Mathematics
A complete college-prepatory program is offered from algebra to calculus. More advanced instruction is available through guided independent studies.

World Language
French, German and Spanish are taught exclusively in their target language. Using a variety of methods, student develop speaking, writing and comprehension skills.

English as a Second Language
This program helps students address immediate linguistic and social skills necessary to excel in English-speaking society.

History and Political Science
The curriculum is design to promote and understanding of humankind's historical, economic, political and social development with courses offered in Reconstruction and the Rise of Modern America; Political Philosophy; American Political Process and World History.

Advanced Placement Courses
Interlochen offers a limited number of AP courses, Academy students take AP exams in many subject areas and traditionally perform very well.