Arguing in favor of a specialized arts school, however, is the limited arts programing that many public schools have nowadays. All three combine intensive training in the arts with college-preparatory academic curricula. And all boast a high percentage of international students. Idyllwild is located in mountains southeast of Los Angeles and offers grades 8 to 12, enrolling 255 pupils. Interlochen, in northern Michigan, serves 430 students in grades 9 to 12.
Students can major in arts as well as in a more traditional academic program.
That's how Tsvetanka Dabova, a pianist from Russia, entered the ninth grade this year. Last year, she applied for the summer camp, sending a tape and an application from St. Petersburg. After successfully completing the summer program, she auditioned for and was accepted by the school. Walnut Hill, founded in 1893, is an independent coed day and boarding school in Natick, Mass., outside Boston. The school operates on a trimester system, and has 235 students from 35 states and 15 countries.