About Roosevelt School of the Arts
A Performing, Visual & Graphic Arts Magnet High School Program
History of FUSD's Roosevelt School of the Arts (RSA)
The Roosevelt School of the Arts opened its doors in September of 1984 as Fresno Unified School District's second magnet high school program. Since that time the RSA program has offered interested 9th through 12th grade students in the Fresno county area the opportunity to receive in-depth specialized training in performing, visual, and media arts.
Roosevelt School of the Arts is located on the campus of Roosevelt High School. RHS is a fully accredited comprehensive high school and is a recipient of the prestigious 1996 California Distinguished School Award and two Golden Bell Awards. RSA recently won the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education "Creative Ticket National School of Distinction Award." We were one of five schools to receive this award for outstanding achievement in Arts Education. RSA enrollment currently is around 500 students.
The objective of the Roosevelt School of the Arts magnet is to provide students with in-depth and intense education through training and experience in performing, visual, and media arts while also offering a rigorous academic program. The curriculum of Roosevelt School of the Arts is unique in that it involves course work and experiences in the arts that are not available at other area high schools. In addition, RSA classes have been developed with emphasis on depth and intensity, greater than that of similar courses in other district and area high schools.
Students are enrolled in academic classes according to normal district polices relative to high school graduation and post-graduation plans. After the assignment of the academic classes, students then complete their schedules with elective classes from the RSA Curriculum. Elective classes reflect the interest, talent and career pathway choice of each student and are assigned according to the experience level of the student. All students in the Roosevelt School of the Arts Magnet are required to be enrolled in seven classes per day. Of these seven classes, a minimum of two are required to be approved RSA electives. In addition, RSA students have the option of receiving physical education credit for dance classes and/or marching band.
Parent involvement is an important facet of RSA. To meet this need, parents have organized the Friends of RSA (FRSA), which conducts monthly meetings and is a member of the Roosevelt Booster Club. FRSA helps with fundraising, awards scholarships, and provides many fun social occasions during the year. A FRSA back to school potluck in September allows interested parents the opportunity to meet other parents and get involved in RSA.
RSA provides Fresno area students an incomparable opportunity to excel in the arts. Former RSA Graduates attend major colleges and universities, and many pursue careers in the arts. RSA graduates are currently performing on Broadway; acting in television soaps and series, singing professionally; performing in professional orchestras and jazz bands; composing music; writing and performing commercials; "hoofing" in professional dance companies; working in the film industry; and teaching music, dance, drama and visual art. Many RSA graduates go on to unrelated careers, but all experience a richer personal life as a result of their education at Roosevelt School of the Arts.
**Cick here to see the RSA Program video** (iTunes Podcast 103.2 MB)
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