Manatee School For the Arts

School Info

General Information

Manatee School For the Arts is tuition free, arts infused, public charter middle and high school, which strives for academic and artistic excellence in a safe, student-centered environment. We are fully accredited at the high school and middle school levels by the Southern Association of Colleges and School (SACS) and are the only accredited public middle school in Manatee County. We are also one of five Gold Seal of Excellence Charter Schools in the state of Florida for the 2011-2012 school year!!

Please explore our website for more information about MSA!

Enrollment and Hours

Students are accepted from Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough Counties. Middle School students are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and subject to class size limits and ESE parameters required by the student, yet within the MSA Charter guidelines. Space is limited. High School applicants are chosen through an interview/audition with our staff. Students at the High School level must demonstrate a desire for higher level studies in one of the arts, Visual Art, Graphic Art, Theatre, Music, or Dance. Click here for more information about our application process as well as a downloadable application.

Grades: 6-12 Hours: 9:45a.m. To 4:35p.m. Enrollment: 1500 students

Middle School Class Size Average: 20:1 High School Class Size Average: 23:1

Curriculum and Special Programs

MSA’s curricula includes a program of studies based on the Florida Sunshine State Standards, with a focus on an arts-infused approach reaching student's individual needs by using multiple intelligence strategies in all classes.

Service Learning

Habitat for Humanity	Adopt a Highway Program
Run for Runaways	Teddy Bear Donation Program
MS Walk	School-wide Recycling
Great American Cleanup	Southeast Guide Dogs

Special Programs

Academic focus at all levels at all grade levels – Basic–Regular -Advanced	Gifted (6-12) and High School level courses starting in 7^th grade.	Comprehensive 6^th Grade Program which introduces student to all the areas of the arts – Visual Art, Graphic Art, Theatre, Music and Dance
Music Program includes all Orchestral and Band instruments, Keyboard, Guitar and Choral	7^th or 8^th Grades – Algebra I and Spanish I	Field trips to area attractions – EPCOT, ASOLO Theatre, Ringling Art Museum
Compton’s computer based math program	8^th Grade – Geometry, Spanish II, Physical Science	Exceptional Student Education
Computer Graphics programs, starting using Adobe Illustrator in 6^th Grade	Dual Enrollment College Courses starting in 9^th Grade – taught on MSA’s Campus	E-pep and Career Choices
6^th Grade Medieval Festival	Students can graduate MSA with up to 30 college credits from The State College of Florida	8^th grade Grad Jam at Bush Gardens
6^th Grade Etiquette Dance	Math Counts	Senior Grad Trip
National Honor Society	National Junior Honor Society	Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society
National Dance Honor Society	School Dances (6^th and 7^th Grade during the school day)	Student Government
MSA Heat Dance Team	Show Choir

Before School AM Kids Club

Before School Care is a service offered at 7a.m., and is supervised by MSA Staff for a nominal charge. Our food service department provides a balanced meal for any student interested. Click here for more information.

Transportation to and from Manatee School For the Arts

MSA provides transportation to and from school from any part of Manatee County. Students are transported on Manatee County School Busses. Click Here for more information.

Sampling of a few of the afterschool activities offered throughout the year at MSA.

National Junior Honor Society	Student Government
National Honor Society	MS and HS Thespians Club
Art Club (CIA)	Spanish Club
French Club	Competitive Ballroom Group (Strikers)
Dance Honor Society	Chess Club

Food Services

Our food services staff provides more choices for lunch and breakfast than any Manatee County School. From our standard lunch fair to a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, as well as pizza and a la carte menu items for lunch daily, we are confident there is something for everyone. Our breakfast program provides a nutritional menu to choose from each morning. Students can put money on their account so they don’t have to being money each day, and can bring their own lunch if they wish. Applications are available for the free and reduced lunch program are available through our Food Service Manager. Click here for more information.

Uniforms

Click here for full description of our strictly enforced dress code policy.

Uniforms shirts are sold at the MSA Uniform Shop located at the school.

Uniform bottoms for Middle School Students may be purchased at many fine retailers such as Target, Walmart, JC Penney, Sears or many others. Please carefully read the uniform description at the link above.

Communication and Parent Involvement

Parent / Student Contracts – Required standards of excellence for communication, behavior, and work ethics.

School website – contains upcoming events, electronic copies of Parent Updates and School Newsletters, schedules, the school calendar, and links to many other useful resources within and outside the school.

Parent E-mail Updates– is a bi-weekly e-mail update sent to parents for whom we have current e-mail addresses for. Items in this update will include school events ongoing, reminders, and other important information about the school. Please send your e-mail address to tdevine@msfta.org to be included in this list, and be sure to register on our site for even more information.

Parent/Teacher Organization/Department Boosters – Regular meetings are held throughout the year to support the school. The boosters coordinate events such as supervision during performances, help with fundraisers, and other student centered activities.

Edline – is an online service for parents and students to track their progress. (Activation codes are supplied to each family).

Every parent/guardian is expected to complete at least 10 hours of service to the school annually. Please look for opportunities to support your child.

Last Modified on 04/29/2009 05:49:00 PM