Elitism Turned Inclusivity

Tabitha Finamore, Brie Samaniego

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), renowned for its excellence in arts education in Southern California, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. The school is evolving into a more inclusive and culturally diverse environment, embracing a broader range of artistic practices.

Once perceived as a school catering to students with a pristine academic record, ready and willing to overachieve with a narrow focus on arts, OCSA has become a more inclusive and diverse environment that welcomes students from all backgrounds and interests.

The school's focus was on success, though the way OCSA was measuring it did not align with OCSA’s original priorities of offering an excellent arts education to all students. While OCSA boasted high statistics of its students’ admittance to prestigious schools, it actively only admitted students that were already set on that path towards academic and artistic success. 

Because of this, OCSA was often criticized for its lack of diversity and its exclusive culture. Students who did not fit into the narrow mold of what was considered "high art" often felt left out or marginalized and classes felt Eurocentric. What allowed OCSA to create such an elitist institution was the school's strict admissions process, which required auditions and portfolio submissions, potentially making it more difficult for students who did not have access to private lessons or training programs.

Not only was this practice unethical, but because OCSA is a charter school, the practice was illegal in some attributes. The restructuring of the application process has since been changed to focus on a student’s potential rather than their prior experiences.

Certain conservatories within OCSA, such as Classical Dance and Classical Voice, were traditionally limited to specific styles of singing and dance, such as ballet or opera neglecting other culturally significant dance styles and musical traditions.

The greatest change towards a more inclusive educational environment was the transition from an audition-based application process to the lottery system in 2020. Since the initial introduction, the lottery system has undergone some minor changes, and in 2022, a new conservatory called Arts and Enterprise was introduced to the school.

Though the introduction of newer conservatories and alteration of the application process is a step in the right direction, many aspects of OCSA still must continue to work towards providing the best support for its students and community. Students, teachers, and staff must continue to adapt.

A way OCSA could continue towards increasing community support would be creating new opportunities for students who would not have been able to achieve without the help of OCSA. Exposing students to the arts and encouraging them to achieve, Dawn Spranger, an advocate for inclusive education at OCSA, emphasizes, "You don't get to pick and choose who you get to teach because art is not a privilege, it is a right." Her words serve as a reminder that every student deserves access to arts education, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Due to the implementation of the lottery, there has been a change for students and staff alike. Teachers especially have had to become more accommodating for students. Spranger empathizes with teachers struggling to adjust during this period of "growing pains" following the institution of the lottery and reminds them that art education should be inclusive and accessible to all. 

OCSA counselor Kara McCann has a similar perspective and states, “We are a school, so it is about growth and improvement rather than being the top of the arts discipline you are in”. Seeing the incorporation of different learning techniques within academic classrooms and increasing mental health support resources is encouraging.  

In this period of "growing pains," OCSA must continue its journey toward inclusivity and maintain a respectful and nurturing environment that celebrates the diverse talents and backgrounds of its students.