Admission Requirements

2017-2018

You must be a legal resident of Palm Beach County at the time of registration and be entering 9th or 10th grade. We accept students entering 11th and 12th grades; however, eligibility requirements are more competitive.

You must participate in an audition process and earn a qualifying score. This process varies from program to program. The section entitled “Audition Guidelines” describes in detail what you must prepare in advance of your audition and what you will do during the audition.

Qualifying Scores

Scores are averaged from three adjudicators and range from 1 to 5

 9th Grade              4.25 or higher

10th Grade             4.50 or higher

11th Grade             4.75 or higher

12th Grade             4.90 or higher

Occasionally these scores may need to be adjusted by art area depending on the number of available seats and score distribution of art area applicants. If such an adjustment occurs, qualifying scores will not increase.

Accommodations to the audition process are permissible for students with special needs documented in an active IEP or 504 plan.

Students who have limited proficiency in the English language are encouraged to audition in their native language. Students identified as LY will be provided language facilitators for their auditions.

A parent/guardian must notify the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Magnet Office immediately following the submission of the application if the child has a special need that requires accommodations for their audition. A copy of the child’s current IEP or 504 Plan (public school students) or medical evaluation (private school students) must be provided to the school immediately following submission of the application in order to ensure audition accommodations.

Applicants who qualify in the audition process must also have a 2.0 grade point average at the time of assignment. 

The above items are taken into consideration ONLY if the applicant’s audition score qualifies them for admission. The names of all qualifying students will be submitted to the Department of Choice and Career Options for a random lottery selection process. You are urged to become familiar with the Choice Department Procedural Manual which can be accessed online at www.palmbeachschools.org/ChoicePrograms. Students who do not meet the above grade point criteria many not be accepted to the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts regardless of a qualifying audition score.

If there are more qualified students than available spaces in a program, the School District of Palm Beach County will make the final selection through a random computer lottery system. Students not initially selected will be placed in a wait pool for all choice programs where they were deemed eligible.

Admission Process

1. File a Magnet Choice Application with the Palm Beach County School District Department of Choice and Career Options by the District deadline:

DECEMBER 2, 2016

Applications are available online at www.palmbeachschools.org/choiceprograms.  Online application submission is highly encouraged and sends immediate confirmation of receipt by email. If a computer is unavailable at home, please visit the local library or the child’s school. Refer to the Choice Programs Booklet for further details.

If the student has an IEP or a 504 Plan, please mail or fax it to the Dreyfoos Magnet Office immediately following submission of the application, and no later than January 13, 2017.

2. Notification will be sent using the information listed on the Choice application after the December 2 deadline assigning you an audition date and time. Only students who have a verified application on file with the Department of Choice and Career Options will be assigned an audition. If an audition notification is not received by January 13, 2017 please contact the Dreyfoos Magnet Office.

Auditions will begin the week of January 16, 2017 and will continue through mid-February, 2017. Applicants must audition on the date they are assigned. Student’s audition dates can only be re-scheduled in the case of a documented family emergency or if the assigned date conflicts with a day of religious observance. Dreyfoos defines family emergency as the death of an immediate family member of the student.

If a student becomes ill on the date of their scheduled audition, he/she must provide the school proof of illness from that date from a doctor within three (3) business days of the date of the student’s scheduled audition. Once Dreyfoos has verified the proof of illness, the student will be re-scheduled only if there are more audition dates available. Students who have not auditioned before the scheduled lottery will not be eligible for the initial lottery selection process. If a student auditions and qualifies after the initial lottery process, acceptance will be based on space availability. If no spaces are available, the student will be placed in a wait pool.

3. Review the audition guidelines in this brochure and prepare accordingly for the audition. Guidelines are included in this brochure.

Guidelines are also available from the Dreyfoos Magnet Office in Spanish and Haitian-Creole. Each applicant is invited and encouraged to audition in his/her native language. Notify the Dreyfoos Magnet Office by January 13, 2017 should an applicant choose to take advantage of this opportunity.

4. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to accommodate the check-in process. The audition process will require that applicants be present and ready to perform at any point during the four hour audition time block.  Remember to bring anything needed for the audition, (note cards, instrument, music, etc.)

5. The Palm Beach County School District Department of Choice and Career Options establishes a date of notification for the release of placement results for all of the Magnet and Choice Programs. Expect to receive the audition results in mid-April. There will be no exceptions to the date of notification established by the School District. Dreyfoos School of the Arts does not give audition results over the phone.

*A Note Regarding Appeals:

Dreyfoos School of the Arts does not grant appeals. Appeals may be requested through the Director of Choice and Career Options by filing a Request for Appeal (Form 2418).  

Occasionally these scores may need to be adjusted by art area depending on the number of available seats and score distribution of art area applicants. If such an adjustment occurs, qualifying scores will not increase.

Accommodations to the audition process are permissible for students with special needs that are documented in an active IEP or 504 plan.

Students who have limited proficiency in the English language are encouraged to audition in their native language. Students identified as LY will be provided language facilitators for their auditions.

A parent/guardian must notify the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Magnet Office immediately following the submission of the application if the child has a special need that requires accommodations for their audition. A copy of the child’s current IEP or 504 Plan (public school students) or medical evaluation (private school students) must be provided to the school immediately following submission of the application in order to ensure audition accommodations.

Applicants who qualify in the audition process must also have a 2.0 grade point average at the time of assignment. 

The above items are taken into consideration ONLY if the applicant’s audition score qualifies them for admission. The names of all qualifying students will be submitted to the Department of Choice and Career Options for a random lottery selection process. You are urged to become familiar with the Choice Department Procedural Manual which can be accessed online at www.palmbeachschools.org/ChoicePrograms. Students who do not meet the above grade point criteria may not be accepted to the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts regardless of a qualifying audition score.

If there are more qualified students than available spaces in a program, the School District of Palm Beach County will make the final selection through a random computer lottery system. Students not initially selected will be placed in a wait pool for all choice programs where they were deemed eligible.

FAQ

 Do you offer tours of the campus for prospective students and their families?

Dreyfoos does not offer tours of the school. We do encourage you to visit our Prospective Student Open House on 


November 2, 2016 beginning at 5:30 PM for the following departments:  Communications, Dance, Digital Media, Theater and Visual. 
 
November 10, 2016 beginning at 5:30 PM for the following Music department's: Band, Piano, Strings and Vocal. 

Interested parents and students will have an opportunity to visit the entire campus and meet with art area instructors and some academic instructors.

Who can apply?

Students may apply to the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts from the 8th grade through the 11th grade for admission the following year. Applicants must be legal full-time residents of Palm Beach County at the time of application. Applicants entering grades 10-12 must have a minimum 2.0 unweighted grade point average.

What if my family moves to Palm Beach County after the application deadline in December?

Families/students who move to Palm Beach County after the application deadline should contact the Department of Choice and Career Options at the Palm Beach County School District about the late application process and the possibility of alternate audition opportunities. Only students who apply with on-time applications will be auditioned during the January-February audition times.

 
The district application asks me to rank my selection of magnet and/or choice programs. Will this affect my chances of qualifying for Dreyfoos?

No, the information you provide on your application is not provided to Dreyfoos adjudicators. If you should qualify for Dreyfoos and another magnet or choice program, you will be considered for both programs. However, students are obligated to accept their first choice program, if selected, or they must return to their home school. Read the Choice Program Application carefully for complete information.

Can I audition for more than one art area?

You are permitted to audition in up to two programs; however, it is not necessary. We encourage you to audition only for programs in which you have a strong interest.

 

What if I get sick on my audition date?

If a student becomes ill and is unable to audition on the scheduled date, the school must be notified with written proof of illness from a doctor within three (3) school days of the date of the student’s audition. The audition will then be rescheduled by the school if there are more audition dates available.

Is transportation provided for students who attend Dreyfoos?

The School District provides transportation to our students via school bus, Palm Tran, and/or Tri-Rail.

How much time do I spend in my art area? Can I maintain a full academic schedule?

Students are registered in seven courses, at least two of which are required art area courses. Students in the 11th and 12th grades often take more than two art area courses. As a fully-accredited public high school, we offer a college preparatory program, including Honors, Advanced Placement, FLVS (Florida Virtual School) and Dual Enrollment courses. We also offer support services for special needs students and students who are non-native English speakers.

Can I participate in extra-curricular activities at Dreyfoos?

We offer many opportunities for students to pursue outside interests. Our interscholastic sports program includes many sports. We have a wide variety of service clubs, and many interest clubs as well.