The School For Creative & Performing Arts

What The School For Creative & Performing Arts does

The School For Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) is a K-12 public arts magnet school operated by Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving approximately 1,400 students. Founded in 1973 as part of the Bronson desegregation lawsuit settlement, SCPA delivers pre-professional conservatory training in seven artistic disciplines (Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music), five of which carry Career Technical Education (CTE) certification pathways, alongside a college-preparatory academic curriculum meeting Ohio Department of Education standards. Following the August 2010 merger with the K-3 Schiel Primary School for Arts Enrichment, SCPA became the first and only K-12 arts magnet school in the United States and relocated into the $72 million Erich Kunzel Center for Arts and Education in the Over-the-Rhine arts district, a facility featuring three separate theaters and funded through a public-private partnership that raised more than $31 million in private contributions. Admission is selective: K-3 entry is lottery-based through the CPS Magnet Lottery, while grades 4-12 require successful audition in one of seven artistic disciplines. Students come from 66 zip codes spanning 29 school districts across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, with approximately 10% residing outside the CPS district.

SCPA is not a commercial enterprise; it is a publicly funded educational institution. Core "products" are its arts programs and academic courses, delivered by certified arts educators in dedicated facilities, supplemented by partnerships with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and visiting artists through the Mayerson Artistic Excellence Program. Its revenue base combines per-pupil public funding from CPS and the State of Ohio with supplemental private support channeled through the Greater Cincinnati Arts & Education Center (GCAEC, dba The SCPA Fund), which contributes approximately $625 per student annually through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, the Annual Appeal, and the Future of the Arts Gala. Out-of-district applicants pay a one-time $25 application fee, and private music lessons are offered at additional cost with scholarships available. The school's go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on reputation, Tuesday Tours, audition events, district communications, and earned media from the 295+ annual student performances. SCPA's technology stack consists of standard K-12 instructional platforms (iReady, Fundations, Amplify, TCI), Google-based application systems, and the Finalsite content management platform — none proprietary.

The institution has sustained strong outcome metrics, including a 100% graduation rate maintained for ten consecutive years (vs. 87% national average and 83% CPS average), 99-100% Artistic Diploma attainment from 2016-2025, and 90% college or post-secondary acceptance. Notable alumni have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House, and the orchestra program has been recognized as a GRAMMY Signature School for three consecutive years. Leadership is headed by Principal Michael D. Owens (since July 2015, himself an SCPA alumnus) and newly appointed Artistic Director James Jones (July 2025), supported by three assistant principals and an External Relations Officer.

Name

The School For Creative & Performing Arts

Legal name

The School For Creative & Performing Arts

Website

https://scpa.cps-k12.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

K-12 public arts magnet school within Cincinnati Public Schools, serving approximately 1,400 students with pre-professional conservatory training in seven artistic disciplines alongside college-preparatory academics, funded by district budgets and private donations through the SCPA Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Arts Magnet Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts-Focused Private K–12 Schools (EDAJABAN)

Keywords

• Arts magnet education
• Pre-professional arts training
• K-12 performing arts
• Conservatory arts programs
• College preparatory academics

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: SCPA is a Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) magnet school funded by the district and state. As a public school, tuition is free for in-district students. The school receives standard per-pupil funding from CPS and Ohio state education funds.
2. SCPA Fund Support: Greater Cincinnati Arts & Education Center (GCAEC) dba The SCPA Fund provides $625 per student annually to enable and enhance SCPA programming through private donations and fundraising.
3. Private Music Lessons: Private music lessons available to any student for an additional fee, with scholarships offered to committed students.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Annual giving through SCPA Fund, Annual Appeal, fundraising concerts, Future of the Arts Gala, corporate sponsorships, and memorial gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SCPA is a public K-12 arts magnet school delivering pre-professional conservatory training in seven artistic disciplines (Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music) integrated with college-preparatory academics. Students in grades 4-12 are admitted through selective auditions and pursue intensive arts training alongside a rigorous academic curriculum, earning a High School Diploma, Artistic Diploma, and Career Tech Certification upon graduation. The school is tuition-free for in-district Cincinnati Public Schools students and is supplemented by private donations through the SCPA Fund.

Product overview

The School For Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) is a K-12 Cincinnati Public School offering a comprehensive arts magnet program with pre-professional conservatory training alongside college-preparatory academics. The school integrates seven artistic disciplines (Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal Music) with academic departments (English, World Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies). SCPA features specialized facilities including three theatres, with programs spanning from K-3 foundational arts exploration through high school CTE certification pathways. The school operates as a non-commercial public educational institution without a distinct software product offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Writing Program CTE pathway offering instruction in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting with Adobe certification opportunities in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Designed for grades 4-12 students seeking pre-professional creative writing training.
• Dance Program Pre-professional conservatory program in classical ballet and contemporary dance, spanning K-12 with CTE certification pathway. Includes Dance Ensemble, Junior Ensemble, Nutcracker, Springfest, and Senior Choreographers' Concert. Features guest artist workshops with Alvin Ailey and Pilobolus.
• Drama Program CTE program for grades 7-12 emphasizing advanced acting techniques, text analysis, stagecraft, and performance. Prepares students for careers in theatre with college and career readiness skills.
• Instrumental Music Program Comprehensive instrumental music education offering Band, Harp, Jazz, Orchestra, and Piano instruction with partnerships with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Includes a unique K-12 harp program (the only dedicated K-12 harp program in the nation) and the National GRAMMY Signature School Orchestra Program.
• K-3 Arts Program Foundational arts training for grades K-3 including Primary Dance & Movement, Drama, Primary Music, and Primary Visual Arts led by certified arts educators in professional-level facilities. Includes the Certified Suzuki Strings Program for violin and cello instruction.
• Media Arts Media arts education program for students to develop skills in digital media creation and production.
• Musical Theatre Performance program combining singing, acting, and dancing for students in grades 5-12 with major productions and showcase opportunities.
• Technical Theatre Career Technical Education program covering Costume, Lighting & Sound, and Scenic Design & Construction for hands-on theatre production training.
• Visual Arts Comprehensive visual arts program with disciplines, faculty, travel opportunities, and CTE certification pathway including Creatives Club and Business Advisory Committee.
• Vocal Music Vocal music education with ensembles including Chorale, Meridian 8 Vocal Ensemble, and Baby Grands Vocal Ensemble, plus private lesson opportunities.
• Academic Programs (K-12) College-preparatory academic curriculum meeting Ohio Department of Education standards including English, World Languages, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies departments. Integrated with arts instruction to provide well-rounded K-12 education.
• Gifted & Talented Program Services for academically and artistically gifted students including pull-out enrichment, AP courses, College Credit Plus, clustering, and mentoring for grades 3-12.
• College Credit Plus Program Early college credit program allowing high school students in grades 9-12 to earn both college and high school credit through public colleges and universities at no cost.
• Private Music Lessons Private music lessons available to any student during or after the school day for an additional fee, with scholarships offered to committed students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate maintained for 10 consecutive years (national average 87%, CPS average 83%)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCPA students in the orchestra program benefit from mentorship with professional musicians from the CSO. The school has a partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for student mentorship and instruction, including performances with the Cincinnati POPS Orchestra.
• University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with CCM for the CCM Brass Program (faculty visit weekly to mentor advanced students), the K-3 Certified Suzuki Strings Program (partnership with CCM Preparatory Department), and Mayerson Artistic Excellence Program hosting visiting artists.
• Corbett FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Corbett Foundation provides generous endowment funding for the Strings Artists-in-Residence Program, bringing prominent string musicians from around the region to mentor SCPA's advanced students in string quartet and solo playing.
• Mayerson FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mayerson Foundation funds the Mayerson Artistic Excellence Program, which brings prominent actors, musicians, singers, visual artists, and writers to SCPA to perform for, interact with, and inspire students. Also funds Mayerson Brass and Percussion Programs.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance program benefits from guest artist workshops with professional dance companies including Alvin Ailey and Pilobolus, providing students with exposure to professional dance artists.
• Pilobolus Dance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance program benefits from guest artist workshops with professional dance companies including Pilobolus, providing students with exposure to professional contemporary dance.
• Cincinnati Arts District PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCPA is located within the arts district including ArtsWave, ArtWorks, Cincinnati Art Academy, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Memorial Hall, and Music Hall.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts: NYC public specialized high school combining visual art, music, dance, and drama with college-prep academics — the most direct analogue to SCPA in scale, mission, and audition-based admission.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: DC public secondary arts magnet offering pre-professional training across visual and performing arts, with a similar college-preparatory academic core and audition-based admissions.
• Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA): Houston ISD public arts magnet with conservatory-style training in dance, instrumental music, vocal music, visual art, and theatre — closely mirroring SCPA's seven-discipline structure.
• Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: Queens-based public arts school (grades 9-12) offering majors in fine and performing arts alongside a college-preparatory curriculum, audition-admitted — directly comparable to SCPA's grade 9-12 model.
• New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA): Louisiana public regional arts conservatory for high school students offering pre-professional training in music, dance, visual arts, theatre, creative writing, and media arts — comparable audition-only model.
• Baltimore School for the Arts: Baltimore City public magnet high school specializing in dance, film, instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and visual arts with audition-based admissions — directly analogous program structure.
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): Public county-wide magnet for grades 9-12 offering pre-professional training in dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and film — similar public-magnet, audition-only model serving a multi-district region.
• Boston Arts Academy: Boston's only public high school for the arts, serving grades 9-12 with majors in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, audition-admitted — directly comparable public-magnet structure to SCPA's upper grades.
• Idyllwild Arts Academy: Private boarding arts high school offering pre-professional training in multiple disciplines alongside college-prep academics — comparable curriculum and outcomes focus, though tuition-based rather than public-funded.
• Interlochen Arts Academy: Nationally recognized pre-professional boarding arts high school providing intensive training across music, dance, theatre, visual arts, creative writing, and film — comparable mission and pre-college conservatory prep.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/iamcps
• Facebookfacebook.com/cincinnatiscpa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cincinnatipublicschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/scpacincinnati

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The School For Creative & Performing Arts