Academy For Performing Arts

Union County Vocational-Technical School District

1776 RARITAN ROAD
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ 07076

www.ucvts.org

242 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

The Academy for Performing Arts (APA) is a specialized public high school located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, operating as part of the Union County Vocational-Technical School District. The academy is designed for artistically gifted students who wish to pursue rigorous academic coursework alongside intensive, pre-professional training in the arts. Admission is competitive, and students typically select a specific area of concentration—such as acting, dance, or technical theater—allowing them to immerse themselves in a conservatory-style environment while still fulfilling their graduation requirements.

Beyond the classroom, the APA is known for its strong focus on collaboration and real-world experience. Students frequently participate in high-caliber productions, workshops with industry professionals, and community performances, which help bridge the gap between high school education and collegiate or professional artistic careers. By blending a comprehensive academic curriculum with a dedicated arts focus, the Academy for Performing Arts serves as a premier destination for students looking to cultivate their creative talents within a supportive and disciplined academic community.

242

Total Students

15.1

Full-Time Teachers

16.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

5.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Academy For Performing Arts
Demographic	Student Count
White	104
Hispanic	73
Black	37
Asian	10
Two or More	8
Pacific Islander	2

White
104 (44.4%)
Hispanic
73 (31.2%)
Black
37 (15.8%)
Asian
10 (4.3%)
Two or More
8 (3.4%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.9%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Career and Technical School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Union County Vocational-Technical School District
Phone:	(908)889-8288
Website:	http://www.ucvts.org
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	242
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.0
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	11
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* 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 61

Grade 10 66

Grade 11 55

Grade 12 60