Santa Susana High School in the Simi Valley Unified School District is one of just 33 schools in the state to receive the 2021 California Exemplary Arts Education Award from the California Department of Education. The winning schools engage students in quality arts education that meet California Arts Standards for Public Schools and demonstrate progress on indicators on the California School Dashboard. The award is designed to celebrate successful efforts to engage students in arts through exposure to a variety of disciplines.

“Even more so during the pandemic, the arts give students a vital creative outlet and a chance to connect with their peers,” said Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. “I want to commend Santa Susana High School for maintaining its commitment to arts education during distance learning and for being recognized at the state level with this well-deserved award.”

Santa Susana is a magnet school that offers three schools within a school: the School of Letters and Sciences, the School of Digital Arts and Technology, and the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Within each school, students focus on one or more of 18 pathways. Students who complete a course of study and a senior project which demonstrates their knowledge and expertise may receive a certification in their area of emphasis.

To apply to be recognized as an Exemplary Arts Awardee by the state, schools must offer instruction to all students in at least three of the five arts disciplines identified in the California Arts Standards: dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. They must also show improvement for at least one student subgroup in one of three areas based on the California School Dashboard.

Santa Susana High School and the other winning schools will be honored at a virtual event later this year. More information about the award and the full list of winning schools statewide is available at this link.