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Manatee School For the Arts

Enrollment and Hours

Students are accepted from Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties. Middle School students are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and subject to class size limits and ESE parameters required by the student, yet within the MSA Charter guidelines. Space is limited. High School applicants are chosen through an interview/audition with our staff. Students at the High School level should demonstrate a desire for higher level studies in one of the arts: Visual Art, Digital Art, Theatre, Music, or Dance.

Grades: 6-12
Enrollment: 1900 students
Middle School Class Size Average: 22:1
9:45 AM - 4:35 PM
High School Class Size Average: 25:1
8:10 AM - 2:55 PM

Visitors to the School

Parents and visitors are welcome to visit our school campus but must be approved by administration. If a visitor is expected, the front desk must be notified. All visitors to the school should be dressed appropriately.

All visitors must check in at the front desk, and no visitor will be allowed into the school without a visitor’s pass. A valid I.D. is required to enter the school and used for the required background check through our visitor management software. This policy applies to vendors and contractors as well.

All visitors must wear a visitor’s badge while in the building and be escorted to their end point by a staff member. There are no exceptions to this policy. If someone is found in the school who does not meet these criteria, they will be addressed by school administrators and school guardians and escorted to the front desk immediately. Visitors leaving the campus must sign out and exit through the front office only, where they will return the sticker I.D. It is critical that everyone follow these procedures. This policy will be strictly enforced.

Main Programs Offered

Music

The Music Department at Manatee School For the Arts thrives on providing a personalized learning environment to foster meaningful cultural experiences in the performance,

Dance

The Dance department at MSA is dedicated to providing students a thorough and broad based pre-professional training program to develop the competence and maturity required in order to pursue the art of dance.

Theater

The Theatre program at Manatee School For the Arts is designed to develop students’ talents to their fullest potential and encourage professionalism in all levels and all areas of theatrical work.

Digital Arts

Have you ever wondered what it would be like on the other side of the camera? How about creating the perfect digital code? Could you imagine being immersed in your very own video game? The Digital Arts Department has the tools to answer these very questions.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Department at Manatee School For the Arts provides something for everyone! Introductory classes for new students or those without prior arts training, at both the middle and high school level, offer the chance to learn the fundamental concepts.

Academics

MSA is a school that believes in providing lots of opportunities and choices for all students in grades 6-12. We understand that all students learn in different ways and have varied interests and future goals. We support all levels depending on student needs.

Mission Statements

Middle School Mission

The mission of Manatee School For the Arts Middle School is to provide an educational environment that will allow the most students to succeed and grow academically by acknowledging and accommodating different learning styles and multiple intelligences . We believe that is best achieved by a curriculum that infuses and integrates the visual and performing arts into the core academic curriculum and offers a broad range of Visual and Performing Arts electives.

High School Mission

The Mission of Manatee School For the Arts High School is to provide advanced study and training opportunities in the Visual and Performing Arts while offering a strong academic program that maintains high standards and strives for excellence.

Beliefs

  • We believe all students will benefit from an arts-infused curriculum that is integrative, creative, and exploratory.
  • We are committed to using varied teaching and learning approaches to foster imagination, creativity, and to develop needed life skills.
  • We foster a positive school climate with educators committed to all students, family and community partnerships, and an adult advocate for every student.
  • We challenge our students with an academic program rich with technological learning opportunities.
  • We nurture the emotional, physical, and intellectual well being of each student in preparation for a lifetime of learning.

Admissions Overview

Manatee School For the Arts is a public charter middle and high school located in Manatee county. The school is open to middle and high school students in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties. Applications are required before enrollment, and high school students are required to audition for placement in our advanced programs (available seats) Applications are made available in January of each year for enrollment in the following school year. We are not a part of school-choice so you can apply anytime! The application for MSA is available paper-based or apply online now.

Students completing the application, you will be required to:

  • Complete all basic demographic information
  • High School Students must submit an essay stating why they feel that MSA is a good fit for their High School career.
  • Supply any 504 or IEP plans that a student has

After being accepted to MSA, parents must:

  • Complete registration paperwork
  • Provide proof of residence
  • Provide shot records if previously out of county or entering 7th grade
  • Complete course selection process

Communication and Parent Involvement

Parent / Student Contracts – Required standards of excellence for communication, behavior, and work ethics.

School website – contains upcoming events, electronic copies of parent updates and school newsletters, schedules, the school calendar, and links to many other useful resources within and outside the school.

Parent E-mail Updates– is a bi-weekly e-mail update sent to parents for whom we have current e-mail addresses for.  Items in this update will include school events ongoing, reminders, and other important information about the school.

Parent/Teacher Organization/Department Boosters – We are looking for volunteers to get our PTO program going! If you are interested in being a Parent Volunteer Leader, or would just like to donate towards the program email Ms. Hillman at khillman@msaschool.org. We would LOVE to have you. 

Gradebook Portal– is an online service for parents and students to track their progress. (Activation codes are supplied to each family at the beginning of the y

Curriculum and Special Programs

MSA’s curriculum includes a program of studies based on the Florida Sunshine State Standards, with a focus on an arts-infused approach reaching student’s individual needs by using multiple intelligence strategies in all classes.

Interscholastic Extracurricular Activity

Non-Traditional students as defined by the FHSAA (including but not limited to; home school, private school and charter) will be eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics at the school where based on or at a school of their choice that has available seats through the district controlled open enrolment policy per FS 1006. To be eligible for participation in the regular season games or tournaments, the student: 1. Must be regularly enrolled and in regular attendance at school. Charter school students, home education students (including FLVS Full-time) may participate at their zoned school or at a school they may choice to per Florida Statutes. Please make an appointment with your assigned counselor for more information on how to participate in this program. Before School Care is a service offered at 7a.m. daily, and is supervised by MSA Staff for a nominal charge. Breakfast is available for purchase every morning.

Highlights of School Programs

Academic focus at all grade levels: Basic–Regular -Advanced Gifted (6-12) and High School level courses starting in 7th grade. Comprehensive 6th Grade Program which introduces students to all the areas of the arts – Visual Art, Digital Art, Theatre, Music and Dance
Music Program includes all Orchestral and Band instruments, Keyboard, Guitar and Choral High School Classes for Middle School students Exceptional Student Education
Computer based math programs Dual Enrollment College Courses starting in 9th Grade with the option of students taking classes at the SCF Campus starting in 11th grade. AP Courses offered starting in 11th Grade
Computer Graphics programs, starting using Adobe Illustrator in 6th Grade Rigorous Pre-AP and AP Courses of Study starting in 7th Grade Earn your Associate’s Degree from SCF BEFORE you graduate high school.
6th Grade Greek Olympics and Meso-American Festival Students can graduate MSA with 30 or more college credits from The State College of Florida and/or USF Sarasota-Manatee. 7th and 8th grade End of Year activities
6th Grade Etiquette Dance National Art Honor Society (HS) HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America)
National Honor Society National Junior Honor Society Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society
National Dance Honor Society (HS) School Dances (6th and 7th Grade during the school day) Key Club
MSA Heat, JV Heat, Inferno, Turning Pointe, and Strikers Dance Teams Chamber Choir Jazz Band

Transportation to and from Manatee School For the Arts

MSA provides transportation to and from school from most parts of Manatee County. Our new state of ART “Super” buses arrived on campus this July owned, and operated by MSA. Among the many new improvements are safer anti-collision technology, online apps to view bus location in real time, SMS (text) notifications when students enter and leave the bus and even student WIFI.

Sampling of a few of the after school activities offered throughout the year at MSA

National Junior Honor Society Anime Club
National Honor Society MS and HS Thespians
Robotics Club Spanish Club
French Club Competitive Dance Teams
Key Club Movie Club

Food Services

MSA participates the Community Eligibility Program which provides breakfast and lunch meals at no charge for our students.  A la carte items are also available for an additional cost.

Our food services program is run by SLA. They offer a multitude of selections on a daily basis to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! Students are also permitted to pack their own lunch. No glass bottles or containers are permitted on campus please.

Unpaid Meal Charge Policy 22.23SY

Unpaid Meal Charge Policy 22.23 SY Spanish

Non Discrimination Statement 22 23 SY (1)

MSA Wellness Policy

Uniforms

Click here for a full description of our strictly enforced dress code policy.

Uniform shirts are sold at the MSA Uniform Shop located at the school.

Uniform bottoms for Middle School Students may be purchased at many fine retailers such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, and others.  Please carefully read the uniform description at the link above.

History of Manatee School For the Arts

Manatee School for the Arts, founded in 1998 by Dr. Bill Jones and supported by Mrs. Una Jones and others, has grown from a small middle-school program of 250 students into a thriving grades 6–12 arts and academic institution with more than 1,900 students. Over the years, it expanded to include a high school, graduating its first class in 2005, and has since sent students to colleges nationwide while producing accomplished performers in dance, theatre, music, and visual arts. Known for the highest graduation rate in Manatee County, MSA blends rigorous academics with arts-infused instruction supported by professional artists and educators, offering opportunities such as dual enrollment and high-level performance training starting in 6th grade. Located in a renovated bowling alley in Palmetto, Florida, the campus now spans four buildings and draws students from multiple surrounding counties, continuing its mission as a vibrant, exceptional environment for artistic and academic growth.

We Look Forward Meeting You!

Everyone at MSA is looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our school community. MSA is an amazing place to learn and grow.

If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Admissions, Melissa Izzo at:

941-721-6800 x1135 or mizzo@msaschool.org

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