Savannah Arts Academy

for Visual and Performing Arts

500Washington Avenue
Savannah, Georgia 31405

2014-2015 School Profile

COMMUNITY
Savannah is a historic urban community in southeast Georgia that includes the Georgia Port Authority and numerous
suburbs. The Savannah Chatham County Public School District serves a population of approximately 35,246 students in
fifty-five schools, including ten high schools, an Early C0llege Program, and satellite facilities including Massie Heritage
Interpretation Center, a preserved historic school and Oatland Island Center, an environmental education complex.
Savannah Arts is located in the historic Ardsley Park neighborhood immediately south of Savannahs historic district.
Savannah Arts Academy is a visual and performing arts specialty school with a nationally recognized college preparatory
curriculum. The school population of 810 students is taught by a dedicated faculty with an average of 14 years of
experience where approximately 89% have earned advanced degrees.
FINE ARTS SPECIALTY PROGRAMS
Savannah Arts was founded in 1998 as a charter school designed to be a dedicated arts academy. In 2004, the school was
recognized as a visual and performing arts magnet school and eventually dropped the magnet school status.
Savannah Arts Academy offers talented students who audition and accepted the opportunity to be a part of the 4-year
specialized and rigorous arts program which includes opportunities for students to major in communication arts, dance,
theatre, visual arts, piano, chorus, band or orchestra. Savannah Arts is dedicated to serving students who wish to pursue a
career in the arts as well as students who will be committed to supporting the arts in their communities.
THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Student Body
9th 10th 11th 12th
Female
122
163
136
119
Male
75
68
70
56
Asian / Pacific Islander
10
10
14
14
African American
33
40
40
25
Hispanic
6
7
4
0
Native American
1
0
1
0
Multi-Racial
11
9
9
7
White (non-Hispanic)
136
165
136
129
TOTAL IN GRADE
219
211
186 168

Total
540
269
48
138
17
2
36
566
809

ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Advanced Placement (AP) courses have been recently available in the following subject areas:
English Language
English Literature
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
World History
U.S. History
European History
U.S. Government
Economics
Physics B
Physics C
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science Computer Science
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Music Theory
Art History
Studio Art 2D
Studio Art Design
Studio Art 3D
Additional AP courses may be available through Georgia Virtual School

Honors or Accelerated courses are available in the following subject areas:

9th Grade Literature
10th Grade Literature Advanced Composition American Literature
British Literature
Coordinate Algebra
Geometry/Advanced Algebra
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
World History
U.S. History
American Government Economics
French III
Portuguese
Spanish III
Spanish IV
Dual Enrollment programs with Armstrong State University and Savannah State University are available to students who
meet the criteria for acceptance.

STANDARDIZED TESTS
Savannah Arts Academy students consistently score above the national average on the SAT and ACT. The average SAT
score for the graduating class of 2013 was CR 551, M 536, and WR 541. The average ACT Composite score for the class of
2013 was 23.9.
ACCREDITATION
The system's high schools are accredited through Southern Association of Colleges (SACS), CASI AdvancED, and the
system's elementary, middle and K-8 schools are accredited through the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC).
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to receive a diploma from Savannah Arts Academy, students must:
Attend Savannah Arts Academy full time for at least one semester and pass all courses.
Pass each of the required Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS) tests.
Earn at least twenty-four Units, as described below (subject to additional rules and restrictions).
Complete thirty hours of community service by the end of junior year.
The number of Units required for high school graduation is shown in the following table.
BONUS POINTS
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System adds bonus
points to the grades that students receive in AP and
Honors/Accelerated level courses. Five points are added to AP
courses and three points are added to Honors and
Accelerated courses (not to exceed 100 points total). Bonus
points are also added to grades transferred in from private schools
and schools outside of Chatham County
Grading Scale
90-100
80-89
70-79
0-69

A
B
C
F

SUBJECT
English/Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Foreign Language
Health
Personal Fitness
Fine Arts Courses

Carnegie Units
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
0.5
0.5

Total Units

24

** Dance and Visual Arts students

must take three classes in their major
10th , 11th , 12th

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

National Blue Ribbon School
Georgia School of Excellence 2007-2012
Georgia Platinum Award 2005-2011
Newsweeks List of Best American High Schools
U.S. News and World Report Gold Winner
U.S. News and World Report Silver Winner
Georgia PTA Model School
Grammy Foundation Signature School
Advance Placement Honor School
AP Challenge School
AP Merit School
AP STEM School
AP STEM Achievement School
Governors Cup (two consecutive years)
State and National Gold and Silver Scholastic Art and Writing

http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/saa/default.aspx

2 per year
3 encouraged with a
Minimum of 6

2011 4.3 million in academic scholarships

2013 - 8.1 million in academic scholarships

2012 8.1 million in academic scholarships

2014 8.3 million in academic scholarships

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES SELECTED BY OUR STUDENTS

University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Georgia College and State University, Savannah State University,
Armstrong State University, Kennesaw State University, Columbus State University, Valdosta State University, Mercer
University, Jacksonville University, Berkley College of Music, Florida State University, University of Miami, University of
Florida, Massachusettss Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University,
Savannah College of Art and Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, Cornell University, Temple
University, Berry College, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, College of Charleston, Cornell University,
University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Southern Methodist University, Fordham University, Belmont
University, Duke University, Pepperdine University, Shenandoah Conservatory, University of North Carolina, Appalachian
State University, Elon University, Emory University, Louisiana State University, University of Alabama, Auburn
University, Furman University, Vassar College, West Point Military Academy, The United States Naval Academy, Smith
College, San Francisco Art Institute, Rutgers University, Ringling College of Art and Design, New York University,
Columbia University, Pratt Institute, Parson School of Design, Northeastern University
HONOR SOCIETIES OFFERED AT SAA
National Honor Society
National Art Honor Society
International Thespian Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society / French Honor Society
Math Honor Society
Nu Delta Alpha (National Dance Honor Society)
National English Honor Society
Tri-M Music Society
*Advanced Placement Tests have doubled since 2011
More than 870 AP Tests were given in May 2014