Walnut Hill School for the Arts vs. Idyllwild Arts Academy
Should you attend Walnut Hill School for the Arts or Idyllwild Arts Academy? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
Top Rankings
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Idyllwild Arts Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
Faculty Education
Overview
Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience purposefully designed for student artists in grades 9-12, and a postgraduate year. We offer unparalleled training in dance; music; theater; visual art; and writing, film & media arts, complemented by a robust and innovative academic curriculum.
Every aspect of our program promotes our students' growth as bold artists, curious learners, and mindful citizens. Students from across the country and around the globe come together to form a dynamic community on our scenic campus located just west of Boston in Natick, Massachusetts.
Guided by master teachers and supported by peers from a variety of artistic backgrounds, Walnut Hill students graduate prepared to succeed in college and beyond. Learn more at www.walnuthillarts.org or follow us @WalnutHillArts.
Idyllwild Arts Academy offers intensive, specialized arts training and challenging college-prep academics to talented young artists from around the world.
On our idyllic mountaintop campus, students learn from a distinguished faculty of working professional artists.Graduates of Idyllwild Arts excel in every professional arts discipline, including Broadway theatre, primetime television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, dance, and more.
Our arts majors include: MUSIC | VISUAL ARTS | THEATRE | CREATIVE WRITING | DANCE | FASHION DESIGN | FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA | INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS Outside of our regular school year, Idyllwild Arts offers summer workshops that include Jazz in the Pines, ESL, Native American Arts, and a full menu of Arts Intensives.
School Focus
Pre-professional Art
Pre-professional Art
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12, PG
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1893
1986
Campus Size
30 acres
205 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
284
280
% Students of Color
17%
20%
% International Students
36%
50%
% Students Boarding
80%
90%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
Yes
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Weekly
Bi-Monthly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Average Class Size
16
12
Student : Teacher ratio
6:1
5:1
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
84%
90%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Yes
Finances
Endowment Size
$16 million
$7 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$64,460
$75,900
Tuition (Day Students)
$48,680
$34,000
Tuition (international students)
n/a
$78,700
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$36,000
$30,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
n/a
$1
Admission
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
None / Rolling
Accepts Standardized Application
Yes
Yes
SSAT Required
No
No
Acceptance Rate
47%
65%
Director of Admissions
Kevin Smith
Tara Sechrest
Associate Director of Admissions
n/a
Megan Berg
Sport
Total Sports Offered
2
2
Sports
Ballet, Dance
Ballet, Dance
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
20
13
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Agonies, AIDS Action Committee, Black and Hispanic Awareness (BHA), Campus Players, Environment Club, Foreign and American Student Organization, Gargoyle - yearbook, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Gold Key Club, International Club, Junior Singing Group (JSG), Mischords, Mixed Nuts, SADD, Student Government, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Students of Color Group, The Blue Pencil, Yearbook
Activism Club, Arts Enterprise Lab, Arts in Society, Asian Culture Club, Black Student Union, Environment Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Indigenous Peoples Club, National Honor Society, Prefects, School Magazine, Soccer Club, Student Government