Idyllwild Arts Academy
- Private, Boarding
- IDYLLWILD, CA
Private School
Idyllwild Arts Academy
- grade A+Overall Grade
- Private, Boarding
- 9-12
- IDYLLWILD, CA
- Rating 4.16 out of 5 125 reviews
Idyllwild Arts Academy Reviews
Rating 4.16 out of 5 125 reviews
I had reservations about my child attending school in another country and taking on a rigorous dual curriculum. My fears were completely unfounded as she has thrived at Idyllwild in a way I never expected. She loves her academic courses and the theatre classes are unbelievable. She is constantly trying new things and pushing herself - intellectually, creatively, and emotionally. She's taken on leadership responsibilities and regularly volunteers in the community. Her drive, organisational skills, study habits and resilience have skyrocketed. She loves Idyllwild so much that when she's on holiday, she cannot wait to get back. The best part of attending Idyllwild is that she has been able to grow in a way that would not be possible in a traditional school. I can hand on heart say it is one of the best things I have ever done for her. She is happy, engaged in her learning, and growing into a creative and confident young adult.
The admin and teaching staff have been exceptional as well!
The admin and teaching staff have been exceptional as well!
As parents, witnessing our child embark on their freshman year at Idyllwild Arts Academy's Musical Theater program has been nothing short of inspiring and rewarding. From the moment we set foot on campus, we knew that this was a place where our child's passion for the arts would be nurtured, challenged, and celebrated in equal measure.
One of the aspects of Idyllwild Arts Academy that impressed us the most is the sense of community that permeates the campus. The support and camaraderie among students, faculty, and parents alike create a nurturing environment where our child feels valued, understood, and encouraged to pursue their dreams.
Our experience as parents of a freshman at Idyllwild Arts Academy's Musical Theater program has been overwhelmingly positive. We have watched our child has grown artistically, personally, and socially, and we are grateful to the school for providing such a supportive and enriching environment.
One of the aspects of Idyllwild Arts Academy that impressed us the most is the sense of community that permeates the campus. The support and camaraderie among students, faculty, and parents alike create a nurturing environment where our child feels valued, understood, and encouraged to pursue their dreams.
Our experience as parents of a freshman at Idyllwild Arts Academy's Musical Theater program has been overwhelmingly positive. We have watched our child has grown artistically, personally, and socially, and we are grateful to the school for providing such a supportive and enriching environment.
Idyllwild Arts Academy will not prioritize your mental health. I went to this school and in my experience, if you have any challenges with your mental health they will not hesitate to treat you with prejudice and stigmatize you. They will do random dorm searches without warning and if you have ANYTHING you are not supposed to have (even melatonin gummies or supplements) you will either get a judicial or get expelled immediately. If you get expelled they will make you pack EVERYTHING in your dorm in around an hour and they will make you pay to send all your stuff back home. They will dehumanize you and treat you TERRIBLY. If you are not able to go home right after you have packed they will take you off campus to spend the night without notifying your parents. They have horrible communication with parents and neglect to tell them things they need to know, such as where they have taken you. The higher-ups at this school don't know the students but make decisions that hurt the students.
I love Idyllwild Arts Academy! The teachers are very passionate about teaching children and the school environment fosters expression of opinions and discussion inside and outside of classrooms. Due to it's location, staff changes are more frequent, but the community is so tight-knit and caring for every individual.
Idyllwild Arts Academy is everything I could ask for. The sense of community at Idyllwild Arts Academy is truly remarkable. The small class sizes foster close relationships among students and faculty, creating a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. There is a genuine sense of camaraderie that permeates the campus, making it a place where creativity flourishes and friendships are formed that last a lifetime. The academy has not only equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed for my artistic and academic pursuits but has also instilled in me a deep appreciation for the power of creativity and the importance of community. I wholeheartedly recommend Idyllwild Arts Academy to anyone seeking a transformative and enriching educational experience.
I LOVE IT HERE. I have made the best friends and gotten the best education. SHOUT OUT DR. BONNIE CARPENTER SHE IS THE BOMB.
Such an incredible school. I love Idyllwild Arts. I feel so supported and it is an overall incredible school.
I attended the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program for a few years in creative writing with a positive experience. I later won a scholarship to study at Idyllwild Arts Academy. Unfortunately, I could not enroll at the academy as the Creative Writing department no longer exists. If you are interested in interdisciplinary arts or any of the visual and performing arts, this institution offers strong programs. I only wish that creative writing continued to have a presence here. That being said, there is the opportunity to take honors level academic classes in all subjects areas unlike some other arts high schools. If you are not a writer, this issue does not affect you and you may have a lovely education as this is the only boarding arts high school on the west coast.
Safe enviroment, awsome teachers, as a parent I was very happy with Nicole being there because they develop Nicole’s fully potential not only artistic but academic as well
I've just completed my first year at IAA as a junior and am heading into my senior year as a prefect and class president! I've loved my experience at Idyllwild thus with the staff, dorm heads/parents, environment, teachers, and students. It's such an amazing opportunity for me to explore and expand my education in my art. However, the main thing I struggled with this past year was the food. Though the dining hall staff does work tirelessly in providing both healthy and culturally diverse meals, a lot of the time it falls short in flavor and likeability. To combat this I bring my air fryer to school (which I highly suggest for picky eaters). On the contrary, there are lots of exciting activities on campus every week to keep you occupied and engaged throughout the year. Note that if you decide the idy is the place for your this upcoming school year you won't regret it! But be prepared for homesickness, cold weather, the schedule of a dual curriculum, and BEING BUSY!
My daughter spent 2 years (junior and senior) at Idyllwild Arts, and experienced a great deal of growth--artistically, academically and personally. She made close friends, learned a lot, and gained a great deal of insight into being a professional artist. It's much more intensive than she could have received at a non-boarding school because they have many hours of classes, even Saturday, because they fit in so much. Students have to be willing to work hard, but that's good. My daughter is a strong english, hx and science student and she loved her academic and arts classes. The college advising was very helpful.
The surroundings are beautiful (also rather remote--which is good for having your teenager far from distraction, also challenging when you have to get them out to a doctor's office for example). I appreciate how they work to integrate families, having events online when possible for families who are far away. As an overseas diplomatic family it was a great option for us.
The surroundings are beautiful (also rather remote--which is good for having your teenager far from distraction, also challenging when you have to get them out to a doctor's office for example). I appreciate how they work to integrate families, having events online when possible for families who are far away. As an overseas diplomatic family it was a great option for us.
Idyllwild Arts Academy is a wonderful community and environment to explore and nurture your artistry. It has incredibly supportive network of faculty to advise and guide you through the challenges and triumphs of being a young artist. With majors including Interdisciplinary Arts (similar to undecided, meaning you can take classes from any department you choose), students receive an extraordinarily individualized experience with access to life-changing mentorship. Idyllwild Arts is also a boarding school which allowed me to get ahead in my general life-skills and self-management so the blow wasn't too hard when I got to college. It is a peaceful environment with quite a small student body, generally made up of really sweet kids who love to collaborate on projects with one another. Upon successful completion of their program/graduation, students receive both a high school diploma and art certificate. Tuition is quite pricey, but financial aid is available. Truly an amazing school!
I attended Idyllwild Arts Academy for two years, graduated in 2023, and I can safely say that applying to Idyllwild Arts was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I changed me so much as a person, and I've met so many people here who really cared about me.
The teachers are amazing, it was the first time in my life when I actually wanted to go to classes. Every morning I was excited to go and see my teachers and friends, and to learn new things.
During these two years, I have faced a lot of obstacles in my life and the school has been supportive in every way possible. All the staff members are really supportive too, and you can always count on their help if you need it.
I met a lot of great friends who I will miss a lot, and I will really try to come back next year for their graduation.
I really love this school with all my heart and I am so glad that I had this opportunity to come and study here for two years, these two years have truly been the best years of my life.
The teachers are amazing, it was the first time in my life when I actually wanted to go to classes. Every morning I was excited to go and see my teachers and friends, and to learn new things.
During these two years, I have faced a lot of obstacles in my life and the school has been supportive in every way possible. All the staff members are really supportive too, and you can always count on their help if you need it.
I met a lot of great friends who I will miss a lot, and I will really try to come back next year for their graduation.
I really love this school with all my heart and I am so glad that I had this opportunity to come and study here for two years, these two years have truly been the best years of my life.
I grew up in a town where everyone was one and the same. Everyone was born in Adelaide, everyone's parents would stay together, everyone had the same political views and everyone planned to grow old in Adelaide. Growing up I was very different from the people surrounding me. I was born in a different country, my parents were divorced, I was raised with a more progressive political view and I was counting down the days until I could leave the country and attend boarding school. No one from my home would let me forget I was different, people would constantly point out my accent, how I had a different outlook on life, and how my views were incorrect. There were times when people said that my actions would end in me being condemned to hell. Coming to an international school, where everyone is different has never made me feel more connected to the people around me, I hope that I can continue to be surrounded by that kind of environment.
My son was supposed to spend 1 semester at Idyllwild Arts Academy but he is now enrolled for his 3d year there!
Everything and everybody made him stay that long and he will probably be graduating there.
The attention of the team with him and the all family, their carefulness, their steady hand when necessary, the high level of teachers that comes from art backgrounds and are able to show him the reality of the Musical Theater universe, the community and family spirit, the deep friendships ...
Plus the town of Idyllwild that is a wonderful small place, in the mountains, populated by artists and body/spiritual healers that gives a special welcoming flavor to the all context!
Having my son living far away from home for so long was a very difficult decision to take, but his happiness and growth as an artist and a young human being gives me the certitute that the distance worth every moment he is experiencing there!
I can only recommend and thanks IAA for this wonderful life experience!
Everything and everybody made him stay that long and he will probably be graduating there.
The attention of the team with him and the all family, their carefulness, their steady hand when necessary, the high level of teachers that comes from art backgrounds and are able to show him the reality of the Musical Theater universe, the community and family spirit, the deep friendships ...
Plus the town of Idyllwild that is a wonderful small place, in the mountains, populated by artists and body/spiritual healers that gives a special welcoming flavor to the all context!
Having my son living far away from home for so long was a very difficult decision to take, but his happiness and growth as an artist and a young human being gives me the certitute that the distance worth every moment he is experiencing there!
I can only recommend and thanks IAA for this wonderful life experience!
I have been here for the last 4 years and I could not be more grateful for the experience. I have learned so much about myself and about the people surrounding me. It opened my eyes and exposed me to amazing experiences that I will never forget. Such a unique experience.
We had a very bad experience with the school.
The teachers are great, but there are things that doesn’t work that well, very disappointed!
The teachers are great, but there are things that doesn’t work that well, very disappointed!
I am very happy with the school, especially for the care and support they give to students, and their double streams of academic and art subjects. Students' day is full and productive, with thoughtfully arranged breaks and events. My daughter is able to experiment with her interest in art while ensuring her academic growth. I am happy to see her gaining a clearer understanding of herself and her direction for the future. Faculties in the school are heroic in their effort to encourage student growth in the most unsettling years of adolescence. But they managed to do well. Special mentions for the student affairs director Maggie and dorm parent Dominique, for their tireless work to ensure the safety and quality of our kids' life on campus.
Idyllwild Arts is an amazing school with an amazing faculty. Many of the students are highly motivated and it is a great environment to pursue your passion.
It is an amazing school. Everyone, teachers, students, and staff, are really supportive!!! The art and academics are amazing