The Friends of School of the Arts' main mission is to raise funds to supplement the arts and academic programs. Like any public school, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) provides a building and a budget, but the needs of an arts curriculum go beyond what funds are made available.
As a public school, we don't feel that students (and their parents) should have to pay for additional arts supplies, competition fees, transportation costs, master classes, etc. Many cannot afford to do so. And, the teachers and the administration have also outlined many equipment needs that cannot come out of the school budget.
We ask for support from alumni and their parents, members of the community, neighbors and businesses, anyone who values the importance of public education and the arts. This is our opportunity to help students experience the unique rewards from a program of academic and creative excellence.
The school district has in place an Arts Education Master Plan that addresses all levels of education: elementary, middle, and high school. An arts course is now a requirement for admittance to the UC systems. SFSOTA is the crown jewel in this arts-based approach and a highly sought after high school in San Francisco.
With your financial support, the school will continue to blossom. Your contributions are essential to making a difference in the life of a young person just beginning to think about what they might achieve in their life.
How Can You Help?