Admissions Overview
New Mexico’s Only Free, Public, Statewide Arts High School
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Apply for the 2026/2027 School Year!
At New Mexico School for the Arts, students will have access to an award-winning, professional arts and academic program. We are excited that you are interested in joining our dynamic, driven, and creative community!
New Mexico School for the Arts
New Mexico School for the Arts is the state’s only free, public, statewide arts high school serving grades 9 – 12. Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, our diverse student body comes from over 55 different communities, Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos. NMSA offers a free on-campus Residential Program available for students living at least 65 miles from our campus!
Tuition Free
Tuition Free:
- NMSA is 100% tuition free
- NMSA offers a FREE residential program for students 65+ miles from campus
Public School
Public School
- NMSA is a public charter high school serving grades 9-12
- Anyone can attend by applying and being accepted through our Placement Workshop Process
Statewide
Statewide:
- NMSA students come from over 55 communities, Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos from across the state of New Mexico.
- If you reside in New Mexico, are entering grades 9-12, and are looking for rigorous academics and a mastery arts education–NMSA could be the right fit for you!
Mastery Arts & Rigorous Academics
All students complete a rigorous academic, college-readiness program alongside their arts education, leading to a New Mexico high school diploma and a certificate in the arts. We have Honors classes and Dual-Credit opportunities.
Students spend 60% of their day in the Academic Block from 9:10 am – 2:09 pm. After a short break, students spend the remaining 40% of their day in the Arts Block from 2:15 pm – 4:55 pm.
All of our Art Departments are led by master artists and educators. The curriculum is developed to provide students with multiple opportunities to perform and exhibit their art, work alongside peers to strengthen problem solving and communication skills, learn from guest artists, and ultimately, create a capstone project in their senior year.
NMSA's Art Departments
NMSA has six art departments: Creative Writing & Literature, Dance, Film & Cinematic Storytelling, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
Students may apply to two of the six departments during the application process. Once accepted, incoming students choose the department they wish to study at NMSA, and enter the school in that department.
Throughout studying at NSMA there are many opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration.
Creative Writing & Literature
- Extensive training and practice in writing, editing, and critical reading
- Study in the disciplines of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and dramatic writing
- Access to real world experience through Internships, master classes, guest speakers, and a collaborative capstone project
- Live readings and other public performances
Dance
- Diverse curriculum including, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Flamenco, Hip-Hop & Jazz
- Collaborate with other Art Departments
- Opportunities for performing in alternative spaces, studying with guest artists, and taking master classes
Film & Cinematic Storytelling
- Receive a foundation in cinema history, theory, and production while developing hand-on training in a range of cinematic fields: producing, directing, writing, sound, and editing
- Develop skills in digital media, animation, documentary, screenplay and scoring
- Access real world experiences in the film world through master classes, guest speakers, and film screenings and festivals
- Conceive, develop, and construct collaborative capstone film projects rooted in the power and responsibility of storytelling.
Music
- Learn Music Fundamentals – Aural Skills, Music Theory, Music History, and Keyboard Skills
- Private lessons with an expert instructor
- Jazz, composition, vocal performance, and instrumental performanc
Theatre
- Immersive training and performances
- Develop narratives, characters, productions, and personal expression
- Movement, vocal styles, textual analysis, playwriting, directing, theater history, monologues, and college audition preparation
Visual Arts
- Diverse materials, tools, and processes including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics, sculpture, and more.
- Learn making, revising, critical thinking, communication, problem solving, & self awareness
- Hands on experience along with demonstration, lecture, critique, seminar/discussion, collaboration, research, and more.
Admissions: What Do I Need to Know?
Professional training in the arts prior to entering NMSA is NOT required. Students are admitted based on their passion, promise and aptitude in the arts. NMSA does not factor a student’s academic background in the application process. Students attending NMSA should come prepared to participate in extended-day education requirements that may include rehearsals, performances, and/or other physically demanding commitments. It is important that students are able to be present physically in class throughout the entire school day.
Home-schooled students are welcome to apply. They will need to provide appropriate documentation of their completed grade level and comply with state or national testing necessary to assist with placement.
All prospective students must be residents of the state of New Mexico and be able to prove residency through utility bills or other documentation prior to their application. NMSA actively seeks statewide representation in its student body – and to assist with this, we offer on campus dormitories through our residential program that is offered to students at least 65+ miles from NMSA campus. Inquire at residential@nmschoolforthearts to learn more!
NMSA accepts applications for incoming students from across the state through an annual admissions process in one of the school’s five core arts disciplines: Creative Writing and Literature, Dance, Music (Vocal and Instrumental), Theatre, and Visual Arts.
How to Apply
Applying to New Mexico School for the Arts is completed in just 4 steps! We break this process into two main parts – the online portion and the placement workshop portion.
Part 1 – Online
Step 1: Apply
Apply online by completing the application form available on our website, under “admissions”. You will soon receive an email giving you a date and time to attend your in-person placement workshop, which is a mandatory second half of your application.
Step 2: Confirm
Confirm your workshop date. You must respond to claim your spot in the workshop.If the date you receive does not work for you, respond to our email so we can find one that does.
Part 2 – Workshop
Step 3: Attend your in-person placement workshop
Attend your in-person placement workshop. More information about these workshops is shared with you during this process..
Step 4: Results
On February 27th, 2026, all prospective students will be sent the results of their Placement Workshop determining their Admission Status.
NMSA accepts students based on availability in both the Grade and Art Department. Therefore, we have limited availability.
Follow the instructions received in your notification email.
*We honor our waitlist for the entirety of the school year. Students who are waitlisted at the beginning of the year may be invited to attend later in the year should a space become available. We encourage students to apply for all grades, but there may not always be spaces available beyond 9th grade.
Interested in applying for the current school year?
Contact to inquire about availability.
Non-discrimination Policy
NMSA admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, sexual preference, culture, and religion or with any disability to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to its students. NMSA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, sexual preference, culture, disability, and religion in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, arts and other programs.
Residential Program
NMSA now offers both seven and five-day-a-week residential models!
Each year NMSA welcomes talented young artists from diverse communities and Pueblos across New Mexico to our new onsite residential building, which operates free of charge thanks to state funding.
NMSA’s residential program provides access to our arts and academics programs for students who cannot commute daily. We offer a Five Day program to students who live 65+ miles away and a Seven Day Option to students who live 125+ miles away from our campus. Seven Day students are required to return home once a month.
Contact Admissions
Placement Workshops
New Mexico School for the Arts utilizes an instructional and evaluative Placement Workshop for students to be considered for admission. These workshops are specifically designed to provide the student the opportunity to demonstrate their Passion, Promise, and Aptitude in the art form they are applying for. Once you submit your application, our Admissions department will be in communication with you to schedule your Placement Workshop. You will receive more information about the workshops closer to January 2026.
