We are committed to LIVING YOUR PASSION! These 8th grade students became the first graduating class of SCPA.
The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts is a public, tuition-free magnet school for pre-conservatory training in the arts alongside a college prep academic curriculum for students in grades 6-12. Established in 1978, under the leadership of founding principal Florence Johnson and project resource teacher Ole Kittleson, the School of Creative and Performing Arts opened as a school-with
in-a school on the Roosevelt Middle School campus. As a result of a court mandate, SCPA was one of San Diego Unified School District's first magnet schools created to facilitate voluntary integration. SCPA first opened with 1 administrator, 17 teachers, 1 counselor, 17 support staff and 180 students in grades 4, 5, and 6. 46 seventh grade students were added in the spring semester with 8th grade added the following year. In the Fall of 1982, SCPA relocated to the former Mabel E. O'Farrell site in Southeast San Diego and became known as the O'Farrell School of Creative and Performing Arts. As the program grew in popularity, it became inevitable that SCPA would require a new facility to meet the demands of this unique and successful new school. In the Fall of 1990, SCPA moved to its new, permanent site and became known as the San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts. SCPA today occupies a 12 million dollar facility in southeast San Diego (Paradise Hills) that maintains a fully equipped 500 seat theatre, a 100 seat black box, box office, 6 dance studios, TV studio/video recording booth, art and music rooms, library, computer labs as well as traditional academic classrooms and science labs. The school now boasts 1500 students, an administrative team of 4, 72 teachers, 4 counselors, and a support staff of 70. The school offers annually an artistic season consisting of dance, choral and instrumental concerts, an art exhibition, and musical theatre and dramatic productions presented in both the Florence Johnson Grand Theatre and the Ole Kittleson Theatre.
06/07/2026
Another SDSCPA alum making a difference!
“Ramiscal said she’s always loved telling stories. She focused on creative writing throughout middle school at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, but started to take journalism classes in high school and immediately fell in love with it.”
Highlights from this morning’s 2026 SDSCPA 8th Grade Promotion! 🎉 Congratulations to our incredible scholars, citizens, professionals, and artists as they celebrate this milestone! Class of 2030,🧑🎓👩🎓 your future is bright, and this is only the beginning.
05/28/2026
Enjoy some scenes from today’s SDSCPA Class of 2026 Graduation!! The future is bright for these awesome scholars, citizens, professionals and artists! We will miss you, but we can’t wait to see what you do in the future!🧑🎓 👩🎓 🎉
05/26/2026
A show to remember! 🌟 Enjoy these scenes from last week’s fourth annual CCTE Spring Showcase, LIMITLESS! The Spring Showcase featured both middle school and high school dance majors enrolled in the Dance Forms and Diverse Dance Styles courses. The works were choreographed and rehearsed during the school day in a manner that mimics a professional dance career. This performance acted as the culmination of students’ project-based learning experience. 💃 🕺
05/26/2026
Catch our Broadway San Diego Best Actor winner Teo Levy on Fox 5 San Diego this morning!
Broadway San Diego Awards winners
The winners awarded best actor and actress at the Broadway San Diego Awards describe their budding arts careers and their upcoming trip to New York City.
Heading into the last weekend of high school for with scenes from the soak a senior fund raiser! Mr. Roecker was a good sport and joined in. And a 🦄 🦄 🦄 sighting!
05/20/2026
The fourth annual CCTE Spring Showcase, LIMITLESS is THIS Thursday and Friday! The Spring Showcase features both middle school and high school dance majors enrolled in the Dance Forms and Diverse Dance Styles courses. The works you will see were choreographed and rehearsed during the school day in a manner that mimics a professional dance career. This performance acts as the culmination of students’ project-based learning experience. The show is Thursday and Friday, May 21 & 22 in the Florence Johnson Grand Theater at 7pm. Purchase tickets at the link below or in our Instagram bio.
Before they take their final bow as SDSCPA students, our musical theatre seniors gave one last classroom showcase performance filled with talent, heart, and memories that will last long after graduation.
We couldn’t be prouder of these incredible artists, and the stories they’ve shared on our stage. Break a leg, seniors — your next act is just beginning. 🎓🌟
06/07/2026
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05/25/2026
05/20/2026