OCSA

Posted: July 5, 2026

Posted: July 5, 2026

Posted: July 5, 2026

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Posted: July 5, 2026

Great school for academics and arts. Progressive, friendly, and endless opportunities.

Posted: January 21, 2026

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Posted: January 21, 2026

It is my understanding that this school has had several recent CDE violations and a OCR investigation into their special education department.

Posted: June 6, 2024

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Posted: June 6, 2024

Scary party of town. Principal only cares about funding. Academics could be better and less stressful. Very competitive atmosphere. A lot of students excited upon acceptance but not happy students.

Posted: May 30, 2023

Socially students seem happy but the academics are lacking. The majority of students fail their science classes as they receive inadequate instruction. Teachers give students grades on assignments that do not correlate to state science standards not does the instruction in class match with the assessments given. The school does not have a science curriculum the teachers create their own and statistically this has proven to be detrimental to a students learning experience. Emails to teachers go unanswered or responses are minimal and not at all helpful. Furthermore, the admin team will not respond to any phone calls or emails. For a school they is regarded do highly, it sadly does not live up to the hype. At least not where academics are concerned.

Posted: May 30, 2023

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Posted: August 20, 2022

Posted: August 20, 2022

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Posted: August 20, 2022

Posted: August 20, 2022

Administration is extremely punitive to students. Very damaging to kids. Very very liberal school. Staff and students will crucify any opinion that isn’t woke. Expect furries (kids who identify as animals) and a lot of condescending beliefs.

Posted: January 29, 2022

Posted: January 29, 2022

My daughter loves OCSA. She has found so many like-minded friends. There are a ton of student events and weekly on campus lunch performances. The conservatory classes are excellent, but some of the master artist instructors have little teaching or grading experience and that shows. Homework is kept to a minimum because of the already strenuous workload. Students are in school from 8:30-4:45. Academic teacher proficiency varies a great deal and there’s no consistency in grading practices. Communication from adults at the school is poor at all levels, including leadership and business office. It takes days to get a response from a teacher or counselor, sometimes no reply at all from the principal. OCSA also needs better crowd management. Leaders need to circulate during lunch and before/after school.

Posted: January 29, 2022

Posted: January 29, 2022

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Posted: December 15, 2021

Posted: December 15, 2021

This school is not for everyone. The kids work HARD. The high school doesn't get out until 4:45 pm, and that is if they are not in a show. My child is a Junior and has been there since he was in 7th grade. I can't compare it to other high schools because my son has not been to any other high school. However, I know that it has a good selection of AP classes, the education seems to be pretty good. I like that most of the kids seem motivated and work hard. I like that it is not a traditional school. You may see a kid wearing a unicorn onesie to school. You will see kids singing in the hallways. As you hear at other schools, the administrators don't seem to focus 100% of their time on stupid disciplinary rules.

I must say that the counselors we have dealt with are close to useless, absolutely zero help with picking out classes, and will let your kid sign up for classes that they should not be taking. You have to email twice and call twice even to get a return email. Maybe they are that overworked, but the school needs to hire more counselors.

Try and get in if your child loves their art, wants to be around like-minded kids, and doesn't mind long hours. Skip it if you hate commuting to school or your kids want to be in a sports-loving environment.

Posted: December 15, 2021

Posted: December 15, 2021

Posted: December 15, 2021

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Posted: December 15, 2021

Posted: April 2, 2021

Posted: April 2, 2021

Kids are not able to get in based on talent, yet your are entered into a lotto system. Communication is through email this year, no phone calls. Not worht the time the kids put into it.

Posted: April 2, 2021

Posted: October 11, 2020

I don't understand how the school is very aware that students are there for a minimum 8.5 hours a day and likely there for longer and still has the audacity to assign as much homework as it does. It makes sense if you go to a conventional high school where you get out at 1 pm, but for a school where the hours are long and the students are making the money it comes off as borderline abusive.

Posted: October 11, 2020

When you put 30 depressed art kids in classroom, it isn't goin to end up well. The toxic behavior of the administration also fueled the dwindling mental stability of the student body.

Posted: October 11, 2020

Posted: October 11, 2020

Talk about a plethora of competition. Everyone is pressed to be the best and talks bad about anyone who is doing better than them. Toxic environment that the school doesn't address.

Posted: October 11, 2020

There are many things wrong with this place. A single review can't even begin describe what this school has done and continues to do. The academics are good and it can provide a safer environment to some students from where they were prior, but that can not excuse the behavior of the administration and the toxic environment they have created. I want parents to be aware of this because parents have a tendency to be blinded and fall into the trap that admin wants you to fall in. The illusion that everything is great and perfect. "How could it be bad, it's OCSA?" or "It looks good for college and future employment". Is looking good on paper worth more than your child's mental health? This is a hard school and a lot of people leave. I should've left and because my parents fell into this trap I was made to be there everyday for 5 years. Before OCSA I was fine, but, now, I have therapy every week, a debilitating amount of anxiety and depression, and completely burned out. I hope that parents don't dismiss their child when they have frustrations or may want to leave. I'm sorry parents, but you have absolutely no clue what OCSA students go through. Students are at school and working on conservatory longer hours than you are working plus homework. They are children and work longer hours than the average working hours of an adult with no pay. Please be respectful. I was class of 2020 and my senior year was cut in half by COVID-19. This virus has affected many people and is a horrible global tragedy. Honestly, I'm thankful I got to leave, stay home, and never return. When I graduated, I felt absolutely nothing and will continue to feel nothing. I couldn't care less about that place. It took a global pandemic for me to escape. That's sad.

Posted: May 17, 2019

I can't beleive I went to this school. Dont be fooled, it may look like a great school, but most if not all of the students were miserable. Everyday we would come home completely exhausted and malnourished. Conservatory is an absolute joke and you rarely learn anything. Counselors are the definition of useless, you come to them with a problem an their solution is to "sleep it off". The staff is repulsive, most of the students just trying to have fun, moshing for example, get in trouble beause the staff deems their actions "harmful to other students". Save the hassle and run, very fast. This school is a waste of your childs time and tears, as well as your money.

Posted: August 20, 2018

There are some very good teachers, and some very bad. How can my kid with a 4.4 GPA get a 2 on their AP World History exam? Studied very hard for it... Apparently teacher didn't prepare them enough... Shocking!

Posted: August 20, 2018

How can you build character with so much rejection and exhausted kids?

Posted: August 20, 2018

The counselor for the G-H students barely ever responded to her emails in the 2 years we were there. She also COMPLETELY dropped the ball on my kid getting inducted into NHS. Didn't happen. She has a 4.4 and parents were NEVER notified to make sure our very busy teen applied. Really?

Posted: August 20, 2018

Posted: August 20, 2018

Posted: August 20, 2018

Wish I had never done it. It looks like an amazing school, parents rave about it, but my kid said all her friends were tired, hungry and sickly all the time.

Posted: August 20, 2018

Posted: March 28, 2016

My daughter is going to be a Senior next year and has been attending OCSA since 8th grade - she loves the school but works very hard to keep straight A's and is taking 2 AP classes and 2 Honrs classes this year and 4 AP's as a Senior - her choice completely. Let your child pick his or her classes and then they will be self-motivates. Parents, again - let your child either succeed or fail at OCSA - that is how they learn. Our conservatory is very demanding but my daughter has said NO to certain shows and late night rehearsals in order to keep her grades up but she does enjoy the after school conservatory classes during the regular M-Thurs 2:30 - 4:50 school week. Parents, weekend social life is mostly not possible if your OCSA student is taking Honors & AP classes starting in 9th & 10th grade. Great school but not for everyone bc of the long days M - Thurs, Fridsys get out at 1:30. Good luck

Posted: March 28, 2016

Teachers at OCSA have all been very good - my daughter has LOVED all her teachers except one tough cookie Algebra II/ Trig teacher last year that was very hard but my daughter's math score went up after she finished the class - no hand holding by the teachers. They expect your student takes their grades seriously and wants to succeed

Posted: March 28, 2016

If your student is taking upper level classes as in Honors Bio or Homors Chemistry as a freshman or sophomore expect much more homework and having to do homework at lunch and 7th block OR just let your student enjoy their school day and not start homework at lunch or 7th block but they will have around 2 - 3.5 hours of homework when they get home. Parents: Make sure they r just doing homework and not texting friends or goofing on their cell phones

Posted: March 28, 2016

I am a parent of a Junior girl that has been at OCSA since 8th grade and I can say my daughter is very honest, has friends from OCSA that are also honest, hard-working, kind-hearted and respectful. Maybe there are kids there that are not honest but in 4 years as a parent I have never met one. Most of my daughter's friends are artistic, sensitive, kind, motivated and if kids take the Honors/AP route and put academics first, they are ready for college - thank you.

Posted: February 12, 2016

Posted: February 12, 2016

Posted: February 12, 2016

We found some students were given many opportunities in their conservatory and some students were not given any.

The school is described by some as a "Business" and a "Brand" that is based around corporate and parent donations. As a former OCSA parent - I can see the perspective of it being described in those terms.

Posted: February 12, 2016

My child went to this school for her Freshman and Sophomore years. She entered the school as a vivacious, energetic, happy and self-confident young girl. She was able to get into the acting conservatory, but auditioning for every single event or play never amounted to even a single callback in two years - while others were being called back and cast multiple times in different plays. Out of the house at 7 am, home at 6 pm with homework, never left time for a life or activities outside of OCSA or even community theater.

$8000 in Donations later - she left at the end of her Sophomore year depressed, exhausted, filled with anxiety and doubting her abilities as an actor. The conservatory or the academic classes did not give back much in exchange for the effort and time she put into the high school. A handful of kids she knows left OCSA for the same reasons - depressed and exhausted and not worth the cost of giving up your high school years for the thrill and excitement of having that OCSA bumper sticker displayed on your car.

She transferred to her local high school this year and I am slowly seeing the light go back into her personality. She joined her theater group in high school, is getting acting opportunities and we can FINALLY see her acting and performing on stage as a high school student.

To be fair - many students have wonderful and positive experiences at this school and in their conservatories - but my child was not one of them. Watch your child closely and see how the schedule and conservatory affects them and their academics. It is not a school that is cut out for every child.

Posted: September 24, 2015

I went here for 4 years and we stressed out for some reason. Maybe it was being at school for 13 hours a day but who can be sure. Because of the stress I have to deal with anxiety and stomach problems. The culinary program is a joke and is a great cover up for free labor. Administration was unprofessional and rude. During my time the principle unprofessionally harassed several students and told them they were not allowed to contact administration with their complains despite how polite their letters were. The only thing I got out of this school is how to push through indentured servitude for 4 years for an ok college app. Review from a student who suffered through four years of free labor and now hates cooking.*confetti emojis* BONUS: During the construction of the new building the Tower was in complete disrepair with leaking plumbing in one of the stairways that would flood the third floor and damage drywall. Mold began growing in the stairway and the wall began falling out onto the stairs we used. Not only were people with asthma complaining about spores, but the admin's solution was to cover the holes in the wall up with chipboard. I AM NOT EVEN KIDDING. Giant holes the size of a plasma TV covered up. The mold spread through 3 flights of stairs.

Posted: September 24, 2015

It's a reasonable amount of homework for most schools but I didn't get home until 6-8pm and I would constantly have to pull all nighters to get everything done. I was an advanced student and graduated with a GPA of 4.2 but even this was incredibly difficult. The only way you'd ever be able to do anything was if you stopped having friends and worked through lunch and seventh block.

Posted: August 30, 2015

Posted: August 30, 2015

Posted: August 30, 2015

Posted: August 30, 2015

OCSA is more like a very good college than a high school. The kids are selected through one or two highly competitive auditions depending on their conservatory. Obviously kids are very much ahead of the game when they graduate. I can't compare it to our neighborhood schools. The art conservatory teachers are highly educated and all experts in their field. Academic teachers are like any other good high school in Irvine. The thing that makes this school exceptional is the open and tolerant environment which allows for self expression.

Posted: April 21, 2015

Unless your child has straight As don't bother applying here. Shady school It is easy to be a blue ribbon school if you can pick and choose your students. I am Native American and can't find a safe school in Santa Ana

Posted: September 24, 2014

My daughter is a senior and I can say that school counselors are THE BEST. They shine students and OCSA, especially Mrs. Shiroma. I can feel that she loves students and the school. Students and parents can reach her anytime, even nights and weekends. She responses immediately always, even weekend-nights. Mrs. Shiroma is really AMAZING counselor!!!

Posted: June 27, 2014

Not a good place unless you can deal with disappointments. Arts teachers really play favorites - they don't care unless you adore them and give them compliments. Hard to stay motivated because a lot of the kids don't care anymore about improving their talents. They are just there to get through the academics. Some of the conservatories are a joke. Seriously, no one wants to hear suggestions - good place if you never complain. No one is ever supposed to say anything critical about ocsa. Seems like too many secrets are kept - everyone supposed to be happy all the time. We can't even complain about really bad teachers. Admin shut down or ignore any suggestions or comments from the students.

Posted: June 26, 2014

Not a good school for kids who know the difference between right and wrong. Administration not interested in what is best for the students - they care far more about protecting the image/brand of the school and keeping the money flowing in. Really not interested in helping children with learning issues. Very secretive administration -- what are they hiding? Why have there been so many kids unhappy with their conservatory classes and end up leaving? Does anyone know where to find the data on this? Seems like a significant number of freshmen leave every year.

Posted: April 27, 2014

My daughter is a junior and she has been at OCSA since 7th grade. I am very pleased with the school academically with the exception of math. The academic load is very challenging and students have to learn how to balance their academic and arts program. The only problem I have with the program is the lack of diversity in the staff and opportunities for ethnic students. They recently hosted a Motown show and there were about three black students in the show. I think they can do better.

Posted: April 26, 2014

My daughter attending OCSA for 3 years already, I have to say OCSA is one of the best school there is in town. Everyone in this faculty is very good, The teachers teach in the way that all students are excited to study, academic and music. They teach in the fun way that students wants to learn. When my daughter is not doing so well. They have counselor to work with her, me, and the teachers to get her up to good grade again. Thanks to everyone in OCSA...

Posted: February 9, 2014

Ocsa is a wonderful school and I highly recommend it to prospective students. The school gives a great chance to be exposed to possible jobs and hobbies. Many great students have come out of OCSA, both academically and culturally. I am grateful that they opened it up to middle schoolers, or else my daughter would have had to go to a nearby public school that just wasn't an option. Thank you OCSA for providing a safe, encouraging place for my daughter to learn and grow!

Posted: February 3, 2014

My son has is a current sophomore in the Music & Theater conservatory. OCSA is themost AMAZING place. My son commutes up to 2 hrs EACH way to have the private to go here. The talent that the kids at this school possess is unbelievable. This school is no joke, the academics are intense (they are a school first)! The school makes no consessions for academics when it comes to any performances or any conservatory production or event, so you better be prepared. School days are long and if you are in a production those long days are even longer! My son is surrounded by his "people". He doesn't like school but he comes home and says "I love my school!" This makes all the sacrifices worth every minute! He has had the pleasure to be in incredible productions; an original play, and 2 Performing w/ the Pros working side by side with professional broadyway stars and Tony award winners! No other school has what OCSA has and we feel so grateful for this special school! Yes It's hard academically, yes it's competitive,Yes they need donations (if you have ever seen a show you'll understand) and YES, IT'S AMAZING!

Posted: February 1, 2014

Mixed feelings, unfortunately the bad outweigh the good. We will start with the bad and end on the good note. Leadership - there is none, with just as much accountability, they see what they want to see Teachers - good ones, a few (sadly my D had seen more of her substitute teachers than her supposed staffed teachers, and most of the time the substitutes had no lesson plans Campus - (We won't even go there) Bullying - Don't be naive, bullying is everywhere even at OCHSA. Conservatory - Joke - Hasn't taught my D anything. Sure glad we paid thousands of dollars in tuition (ahem, donation) for her to get a top notch education in her art. (insert sarcasm). What I meant to say, sure glad we kept her in her private lessons! Bottom line.... this place is a business, administration is disconnected as they are focused on their "BRAND" more than what education they provide our kids with academically and creatively. I promised I'd end on a good note... I've met some really great parents, and kids (as well as some that I could have lived without meeting). All in all, enter at your own risk - there is no refund! Hope they change, as I'm sure there were good intentions originally.

Posted: October 26, 2013

OCSA is well known as an "arts school" but it is also one of the top academic schools in Orange County, CA. My daughter enjoys going to school everyday even though they have long days that starts at 8:05am to 2:10pm for the academic portion then from 2:15 to 4:50pm for the conservatory arts. She is thriving not only in the academics but also improving her skills in leadership and the arts.

Posted: January 29, 2013

I'm currently a senior at the Orange County School of the Arts, I've been a student there for five years now and I'm afraid to give it only two stars, by virtue of the fact that the only positive points with which I would reward the school are its rigorous academics, in-depth teaching and the vivacious nature of the student body. I feel as though the overall leadership that OCSA has received has significantly declined over the past three years. OCSA has, sadly, become highly corporate, draining money out of its students on a regular basis and shrouding their voices with the bureaucratic reign currently implicated. It's progressive facade is misleading and false. OCSA is just like every other private institution; taking advantage of talent for the sake of a buck at the expense of its students. The reason why all reviews on this website are positive is due to the fact that nearly all reviewers are new to the institution, or parents who don't see the inner-workings of the school. OCSA has done a lot of great things for me, but I have recently realized that digging deeper results in disappointment. The California education system is seriously messed up. OCSA is no exception.

Posted: September 22, 2012

This is my second year at OCHSA and I absolutely love it! I am in the Creative Writing program and I love the CW classes and teachers. Their arts programs are wonderful as well as the academics. The teachers are amazing and really care about each student and want them to succeed. Everyone is very accepting of one another and there is very little bullying. I would recommend OCHSA to anyone with an interest in the arts!

Posted: March 31, 2012

I currently attend OCHSA (I'm an eighth grader and I began this school year) although I've attended for less than a year, I absolutely love it here. I am in the Visual Arts conservatory and although I have no wish to continue in the VA field as I progress into adulthood, the art programs at this school are exceptional and in my opinion--the best! Although I've been a straight A student in all accelerated classes since I began middle school, the academics are still rigorous for me and my teachers teach at the perfect pace. The teachers here are all great (hilarious too), our principal is constantly bettering the school by purchasing new theaters and buildings for our school to thrive, and the parents are all involved considering that their child has the chance at becoming a successful artist in their field. Some conservatories complain about staying late or going to school over the weekends for rehearsals but it just depends on what conservatory you are in and if you are committed (which you should be because this school is a fantastic opportunity) you shouldn't mind. The people you meet here are amazing and talented. If you have a passion for the arts, you won't be disappointed!

Posted: January 2, 2012

Choosing to attend this school was by far one of the best decisions of my short existence. I love this school and while it does has its flaws, the program that OCHSA offer is unique and superb. I know you are thinking that I am very biased, but keep in mind that OCHSA is my second home. Literally, I stay till 7pm for most of the nights, so I know the ins and outs. The academic program is strong and challenging. Lots of AP classes and IMP classes available. Diverse Course selection. Administration and Counselors are wonderful in nature and know what they're doing. The teachers are awesome. I don't know much about each conservatory runs though. Yes, as some below might point out, I have heard that some conservatories(MT) are lack luster, but that's because the MT department is hugeee and are more competitive. The smaller conservatories give more individual attention. On the more Student Life aspect, OCHSA is unique, as it promotes individuality and is a great fit for mis-fits and regulars. Oh, and there's the stairs we have to deal with. A total of 7 flights. But by now OCHSA kids are used to it..Eh! At least its a great exercise!