Arts High School

www.nps.k12.nj.us/ART

611 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Arts High School, located at 550 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Newark, New Jersey, is a historic institution known for being the first public arts high school in the United States. Founded in 1931, it holds a prestigious reputation for its dual-focus curriculum that combines rigorous academic instruction with intensive, professional-level training in the visual and performing arts. Students at the school pursue specialized majors—ranging from dance, drama, and vocal music to instrumental music, visual arts, and television production—while simultaneously preparing for success in higher education.

As a cornerstone of the Newark Public Schools district, Arts High School serves as a creative hub that nurtures young talent from across the city. The school is characterized by its vibrant, performance-oriented culture, frequently hosting recitals, gallery exhibitions, and theatrical productions that showcase the students' artistic growth. By fostering an environment that emphasizes both intellectual discipline and creative expression, Arts High School remains a critical landmark for students aspiring to pursue professional careers in the arts and beyond.

611

Total Students

51.5

Full-Time Teachers

11.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

68.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Arts High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	29
Hispanic	292
Black	274
Asian	1
Two or More	11
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
292 (47.8%)
Black
274 (44.8%)
White
29 (4.7%)
Two or More
11 (1.8%)
American Indian
2 (0.3%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3%)
Asian
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Newark Public School District
Phone:	(973)733-7391
Website:	http://www.nps.k12.nj.us/ART
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	611
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	51.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	380
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	37

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 177

Grade 10 150

Grade 11 151

Grade 12 133