Thrive Creatively

ACPA is dedicated to empowering its students with an arts and college preparatory education in an environment of safety and inclusion.

Welcome to
ACPA

Honest. Inclusive. Creative. Rigorous.

The Arts & College Preparatory Academy (ACPA) is a comprehensive public community high school in Columbus. Our mission—our passion—is to actively maintain a climate and culture that is based on a trailblazing arts and college prep curriculum in an environment that is safe, inclusive, and progressive for all our students and staff.

ACPA provides a tuition-free college preparatory education to approximately 400 9th-12th graders representing more than twenty different districts in Central Ohio. ACPA proudly welcomes students from all socio-economic, racial, and religious backgrounds, and of all genders and sexual orientations.

ACPA provides an arts-focused curriculum and believes in active civic engagement to make a positive contribution to the greater community. Combined, these principles encourage student investment in their own education. ACPA teachers serve varied learning styles and foster creative problem solving skills essential to student achievement and effective communication.

News & Events

Cabaret Night

ACPA’s annual Fall Cabaret Show is Tuesday, November 26th. This try-out based performance features some of ACPA’s brightest stars singing, dancing, acting, and more!

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Celebrating One

ACPA Students will be featured at the Celebrating One 3rd Anniversary Party

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WinterFest

Winterfest is on December 11th. Ticket information coming soon.

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Fall Play

ACPA's Fall Play opens on October 24th, here at ACPA.

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Rigorous curriculum

Our academic programs are demand a commitment from our students. We believe in challenging our students with a robust college preparatory academic program that prepares our students for college.

Our students graduate feeling empowered and self-assured that they will succeed in their next endeavor.

Course Information

ACPA has been the highest academically performing charter high school in Ohio for seven years in a row.

A donation of any size helps ACPA offset the costs associated with continuing to achieve high academic excellence.

The Growth Fund

The dance program at ACPA was like a gateway for me to find my personal style and creativity. No pressure, no forcefulness, just a helping hand in opening myself up to what I never knew I was capable of.

Student

class of 2018

I have never been judged ever for anything I've said or done. Nearly every opinion and idea is accepted and/or tolerated. Plus, whenever I'm feeling down or just not up to it, I have people emotionally supporting me and making sure my day is much better than before.

Student

Although some of the teachers and students may not always understand what others are experiencing, they are always willing to learn.

Student

I just wanted to express my feelings during an ACPA visit I had with my children, Taylor and Tyne. GG Howard was kind enough to set up a shadowing experience for them on that day. It was an absolutely astounding day!