High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) is a public charter high school located in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The school pioneered the concept of connecting with at-risk students through a hip-hop music program, hence the nickname "Hip-Hop High." There are no tuition fees.
History
High School for Recording Arts - Coming to Los Angeles in 2018!
The school opened in 1996 as a pilot program for at-risk students with interest in a music career. It is located in a 20,000-square-foot (1,900Â m2) former factory and operates within and around two professional recording studios, providing students opportunities for individualized hands-on learning.
Academics
The school's academic structure combines daily mandatory courses in Language Arts and Mathematics with innovative, interdisciplinary courses and projects that connect traditional academics with dynamic, real-world learning. HSRA features both project-based learning and classroom learning. A personal learning plan is developed for each student. HSRA graduates must meet all state requirements for graduation, create and present a portfolio comprising summaries of learning in twelve core areas, prepare a college acceptance letter, document their post-school plans, and submit samples of their work.
Demographics
- Gender: 59% male, 41% female
- Average age at enrollment: 17 years
- Income: 92% of students live at or below the poverty level. 92% of students qualify for free or reduced fee lunches. 30% of students are currently or have recently been homeless.
- Ethnicity: 86% Black, 6% Caucasian, 4% Hispanic, 4% American Indian, 0.3% Asian.
- Geographic Reach: 29% from Minneapolis, 52% from St. Paul, 19% from other Minnesota Cities including Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and Maplewood.
Notable alumni and former students
- Chrishan The Prince, singer-songwriter/producer signed to Warner/Chappell Music
- Mr. Music (Ethan Horace), Entertainment Manager/Radio Personality
- Deborah "Chantel" Winn (SongBird), R&B singer-songwriter
- Kiesha Dobie (Kiesha Dobie), Model/Songwriter/Radio Personality/Spoken Word Poet
References
External links
- High School for the Recording Arts Minnesota
- Los Angeles Times video profile of 'Hip-Hop High'
- Star Tribune article on stay-in-school video "Dropping Out" created by Hip Hop High students
