Trustees Seek to Make School an Arts Magnet

School district officials have begun exploring ways to turn Santa Ana High into a performing arts magnet school.

The district committed to making Santa Ana High a magnet school in 1990 but shortly after learned that it lacked the resources to launch the project. Statewide funding cuts and the county bankruptcy contributed to the resource problems over the years.

Although Santa Ana High has yet to become an official performing arts academy, Trustee Rob Balen said the school’s dance and chorale groups have been growing and gaining countywide acclaim.

“It kind of got part of the way there,” Balen said. “But all these special programs we had going were victims of the bankruptcy and the economic downturn.” He said district officials will continue to meet with parents, administrators and school staff to determine whether the concept is still feasible.