CAPA High School (Pittsburgh, Akron: how much, home, transfer to) - City-Data Forum

juliegt · 01-23-2011, 06:54 AM

Many of you know that I had planned to move to Pittsburgh in a few years when my youngest was in college. Things have changed and there's a good chance we may be moving there this summer or sooner. My daughter will be starting her junior year in the fall and is interested in CAPA. If there are any of you who have recent experience with this school, I'd love to hear about it.

h_curtis · 01-23-2011, 06:58 AM

You have to get accepted. I can't really give you more than that, but do know a kid that didn't get accepted and had to go to another city school. Not the best situation.

greg42 · 01-23-2011, 08:38 AM

Right, again, I can't give you too specific info. I've heard it's a good school. But admission is entirely by competitive audition/judging so you can't just select it.

This is the Pittsburgh school district magnet program info:

Parents | Magnet Program Information

Click on CAPA for info specifically to CAPA. Unfortunately, it says applications for 2011-12 school year are already closed.

Applications are due by October of the previous year in fact, almost a year in advance of the year in which she would start attending.

You may instead choose to live in a spot where you'll know she'll go into a good high school for her last 2 years. I don't recall the rest of your circumstances, but I'm sure we can dig out the usual recommendations for you.

Hopes · 01-23-2011, 08:59 AM

I agree that you need to chose to live where you are guaranteed she will have a good high school if she doesn't get accepted to CAPA. If you're willing to pay tuition, you don't need to stay within the city for CAPA. You can chose to live in a school district in the suburbs and pay CAPA tuition if she gets accepted. (Approximately 5 years ago it cost 7k.) Your school district of residence will provide her with bus transportation to CAPA.

Oh, I just noticed that applications are already closed. Looks like CAPA isnt an option for your daughter anyway. Sorry about that. You definitely need to focus your search elsewhere.

urbanpreppie05 · 01-24-2011, 05:58 AM

I'm a big supporter and product of a public school (in Akron Ohio), but I even have to admit, i would be hestitant to send my kids to somewhere like, uh...Westinghouse (although Im intrigued of the changes they want to make)

Regardless, have you considered Allderdice, Milliones, or Obama?

Little Mizz Pittsburgh · 01-24-2011, 07:33 AM

My daughter graduated from CAPA in June. She never really liked it. Too cliquish and VERY competitive. There were many a time she wanted to transfer to her home school, which was Peabody, but I wouldn't allow it. However, academically, CAPA is a very good school. They have their academics in the morning, and their majors in the afternoon. You have to audition to get in the school, and auditions were already held. I believe this is actually the time of year, when the letters of acceptance are sent out. Since, you are coming from out of town, I'd call to see what the rules and/or regulations are for students who are moving here from out of town, because I believe they hold special auditions in those cases.

h_curtis · 01-24-2011, 02:05 PM

It is great to see the city of Pittsburgh trying to re-separate the kids because they finally realized that the desegregation didn't work. It just pulled the whole school system down. You know one bad apple spoils the pot. Now they are separating them by if they want to learn or not. Seems to be working, but there still are many kids falling through the cracks.

BrianTH · 01-24-2011, 02:57 PM

The original segregation was not about separating kids by their desire to learn, and thus desegregation was not about that either. It only confuses things to lump all that in with what is going on currently in the Pittsburgh schools.

I do think it makes sense to give students different options, because the same school model might not be right for every student. On the other hand, I don't like to casually write kids off, because in many cases what you are actually going to be doing is sorting by parents/home-environment. And we should be trying to counteract the fact that some kids have a lot better parents/home-environment than other kids, not just doubling down on the effects. On the third hand, there is only so much school districts can do to address all that--you really need to address factors outside school, and back to before birth, as well.

So, it's complicated. But to me the upshot is this should be about finding ways to help kids get more out of their education, never about writing any of them off.

lechatnoirxvii · 01-28-2011, 06:54 AM

I also am not a big fan of CAPA. I went to Perry and graduated in 2005. (Yes, I'm young, however, I'm closer to that high school age ie I actually remember it). I was very involved in the arts throughout high school and CAPA was a consideration for me as well. My parents and I decided against it because what it does wonderfully is the arts, but it greatly lacks in all the other important classes and skills. It's kind of like going to college for theater (or creative writing, or music) you spend 75% of your time on that and the other 25% is spent on math, English, language, etc.

I don't believe it gives the students a well rounded education. I also would not send my child to a Pittsburgh Public school even though I myself attended one. If you have too, then Alderdice, Schenely... Perry at the time, those were the schools you actually wanted to go to. I'm not sure how much it has changed in the past 6 years, (I can only speak for Perry, don't go there now).

Hope that helps! =)

Little Mizz Pittsburgh · 01-28-2011, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lechatnoirxvii

I also am not a big fan of CAPA. I went to Perry and graduated in 2005. (Yes, I'm young, however, I'm closer to that high school age ie I actually remember it). I was very involved in the arts throughout high school and CAPA was a consideration for me as well. My parents and I decided against it because what it does wonderfully is the arts, but it greatly lacks in all the other important classes and skills. It's kind of like going to college for theater (or creative writing, or music) you spend 75% of your time on that and the other 25% is spent on math, English, language, etc.

Untrue, and I disagree. CAPA has blocks instead of periods. All your academics are in the morning. Block "A" is like an hour and a half long, BLOCK B is an hour and a half long, etc..etc..you definitely get your fair share of academics in that school and they give you A LOT of homework. OMG!