A Guide to the Top Performing Arts Boarding Schools in the U.S.

Thanks to their residential environment, the following top boarding schools in the U.S. can provide immersive support around the clock. Their well-balanced curriculum typically combines rigorous college-prep academics with conservatory-level instruction in disciplines like dance, theater, visual arts, music, and film. In this guide, I’ll help curious parents and ambitious young artists discover the performing arts boarding school with the right environment, resources, and values for them. 

Top Performing Arts Schools in the U.S. 

Interlochen Arts Academy  

Interlochen Arts Academy (Interlochen, MI) is one of the nation’s leading boarding schools for young artists, housed at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Each year, it enrolls about 550 high school students from more than 40 states and 20 countries. The 1,200-acre campus is located in Northern Michigan between two lakes.  

In terms of schoolwork, Interlochen blends a college-preparatory curriculum with professional-level arts instruction. Students can choose from seven arts majors: Music, Theatre, Dance, Film & New Media, Creative Writing, Visual Arts, and Interdisciplinary Arts. Students can take AP and dual-credit classes through Indiana University’s Advance College Project (ACP) and on-campus AP courses. The daily schedule integrates academics with rehearsals, performances, or studio sessions, preparing students for success at both top universities and conservatories like Juilliard, NYU, and CMU–82% of Interlochen grads go on to attend a Top 50 university. 

Admission is major-specific, requiring a portfolio or audition specific to each discipline. Full details are listed on Interlochen’s How to Apply page. The school seeks students who demonstrate exceptional promise, creativity, and dedication to their craft.‍

Walnut Hill School for the Arts 

Walnut Hill School for the Arts (Natick, MA) is an independent boarding and day high school for grades 9-12, with an optional postgraduate year, dedicated entirely to young artists. Located just west of Boston in suburban Natick, Walnut Hill enrolls about 300 students from across the United States and around the world. 

It offers a college-preparatory academic curriculum integrated with intensive conservatory-style training. Students can major in one of five disciplines: Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art, or Writing, Film & Media Arts (WFMA). The daily schedule includes half the day in core academic courses and the other half in specialized artistic study. Faculty includes professional artists and experienced educators who prepare students for success at top colleges, universities, and conservatories. Walnut Hill emphasizes pre-professional artistic training alongside intellectual growth, helping young artists to flourish in high school and beyond. 

Admission to Walnut Hill is major-specific. Full details are available on the school’s Audition Requirements page.

Idyllwild Arts Academy 

Idyllwild Arts Academy (Idyllwild, CA) is a residential boarding and day high school that supports diverse young artists from around the world. Surrounded by a pristine pine forest in California’s San Jacinto Mountains, the school enrolls around 280 students from more than 30 countries and 24 states. According to Niche, it was ranked as the #1 performing arts boarding school in the U.S. in 2025. 

For training and academics, Idyllwild Arts offers a dual curriculum combining pre-professional arts training with a strong, college-prep academic program with honors levels in all courses. For the arts, students can enroll in Creative Writing, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Fashion Design, Film & Digital Media, InterArts, Music, and Visual Arts. Their emphasis is on helping students create global change through their creative practices. Students benefit from very small classes of around 12 students or fewer, a student-teacher ratio of about 5:1, and expert faculty who are experienced working artists. 

Admission to Idyllwild Arts is major-specific, requiring applicants to submit either a portfolio or participate in an audition, depending on their chosen discipline. 

UNCSA High School (NC) 

University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem, NC, is a public residential and day high school (grades 9-12), as well as a university. It was originally founded in 1963 as America’s first public arts conservatory. With about 275 students, UNCSA offers one of the most selective high school arts programs in the U.S., attracting talented young dancers, musicians, visual artists, and actors. Families choose UNCSA for its rare blend of professional arts training, strong academics, and affordable public tuition.

Students can choose a concentration in Dance, Design & Production, Drama, Filmmaking, Music, and Visual Arts, studying under professional artists while completing rigorous academics. UNCSA provides a full academic curriculum with AP courses in English, math, science, social studies, and world languages, integrated with intensive studio and performance training. Students balance rehearsals and coursework in a professional environment designed to prepare them for top conservatories and universities, with acceptances at Harvard, Juilliard, and Columbia. The school maintains small class sizes with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio and a supportive residential community.

Admission is major-specific and more details are available on UNCSA’s Admissions page.

Choate Rosemary Hall 

Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT) is an independent boarding and day school for grades 9–12 and postgraduate students, set across a spacious 458-acre campus in New England. The school is highly selective and enrolls approximately 850 students. As part of the Eight Schools Association, which includes Andover, Exeter, and Deerfield, Choate is one of the most highly selective schools in this guide. 

While a more traditional prep school, Choate balances strong academics with unique signature programs, like the Arts Concentration program that encourages students with a strong interest in the arts to develop while completing rigorous academics. Arts programs include Dance, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts; through the concentration, students spend a significant portion of each week devoted to practice, rehearsal, or studio work. 

Admission to Choate is competitive and holistic. Students focusing on the arts often provide portfolios or audition materials in their discipline of interest. 

The Putney School 

The Putney School (Putney, VT) is a co-educational boarding and day high school for grades 9–12, founded in 1935 in southeastern Vermont. The school enrolls approximately 232 students, with around 170 boarders and more than 30 nations represented on campus. Set on a working dairy farm and a 500-acre rural campus, the school blends progressive education with a strong sense of community responsibility. 

Putney offers a unique academic environment rooted in the Putney Core curriculum and a trimester system. Their program emphasizes that “we learn best by exploring, trying, doing, failing, adjusting, and repeating.” Their arts program is intensive, featuring concentrations in Theater, Music, Dance, and Visual & Literary Arts. Involvement in the arts is a key part of Putney, which also offers evening and summer arts programs. Beyond academics, students contribute to the functioning of the campus through farm work, maintenance tasks, and community service. 

Admission to Putney involves a holistic review. Applicants must submit transcripts, essays, teacher recommendations, and participate in interviews. While the school doesn’t emphasize major-specific auditions, they welcome portfolio materials and work samples in addition to the standard application when relevant. 

Next Steps in Choosing the Right Arts Boarding School 

Would your child benefit from a more conservatory-style environment like Interlochen or from a more balanced mix of studio and academic work like at Choate? For questions like these, consider speaking with your child about their preferences as they work on their craft and career goals. 

You can also schedule a call with an experienced Crimson Education consultant, who can help you identify the best strategy and process for ensuring a positive admissions outcome. 

Schedule a consultation today to create your student’s month-by-month audition calendar, narrow your top arts school choices, and refine your admissions process.

FAQs 

1) What are the best performing arts boarding schools with boarding and full academics?
Interlochen, Walnut Hill, and Idyllwild pair conservatory training with full college-prep academics; UNCSA HS offers public residential options. 

2) Do arts boarding schools hurt college chances because they’re “all arts”?

No, top schools run rigorous academics and even AP/dual-credit options (e.g., Interlochen). Conservatories and selective universities routinely admit their graduates.

3) How competitive are auditions and what should we prep?

Expect specific rep lists by discipline, strict video/attire rules, and posted audition dates. UNCSA and Walnut Hill publish very detailed guidance; Idyllwild centralizes requirements via Submittable. 

4) Are there any minimum GPA or academic thresholds?

Policies vary. Example: Idyllwild indicates a 3.0 GPA baseline in its admissions process; always confirm specifics with each school’s current page.