Harding Fine Arts Academy

Harding Fine Arts Academy
Address
Map
3333 North Shartel Avenue

,
73118

Coordinates35°30′14″N 97°31′34″W / 35.50389°N 97.52611°W / 35.50389; -97.52611
Information
School typeCharter school
MottoArts, Academics, Achievement
Founded2005
FounderJohn Lampton Belt
AuthorizerOklahoma City Public Schools
SuperintendentBarry Schmelzenbach
PrincipalKeith Campbell
Teaching staff26.01 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment380 (2022-2023)[1]
Average class size15-20
Student to teacher ratio14.61[1]
Color(s)Red and Black    
MascotFirehawk
NewspaperThe Beat
Websitehttp://hardingfinearts.org/
Harding Junior High School
Built1924
ArchitectLayton, Smith, & Forsyth
Architectural styleCollegiate Gothic
NRHP reference No.02000172[2]
Added to NRHPMarch 13, 2002

Harding Fine Arts Academy (HFAA) is a college preparatory high school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is sponsored by the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.[3]

HFAA serves students from grade 9 to 12. It is a public, charter high school; there is no tuition. As a charter school, admission is open to all students with interest in the fine arts. The school also receives Title I funding. HFAA uses auditions and testing for placement, but not as a requirement for acceptance.[4] The school accepts only 150 students per school year.

The average class size is between 15 and 20 students per class. The student-teacher ratio is 12 to 1. The curriculum integrates the arts, and students are required to take 6 arts electives to graduate.[5]

Harding Fine Arts Academy was founded in 2005 by attorney John L. Belt. HFAA owns the historic Harding High School building dating to 1924 after their bid to purchase it was approved by the Oklahoma City Public School Board.[6][7][8] The school's swimming pool has been converted into a dance studio.[5]

HFAA is a National Blue Ribbon school[8] and has been placed in the top 5 in Oklahoma by U.S. News & World Report,[9] the top 500 for disadvantaged students nationwide by Newsweek,[10] rated A+ by the Oklahoma Department of Education and was the first school to be rated OKA+ by the University of Central Oklahoma.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Harding Fine Arts Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. ^ "Harding Fine Arts Academy, USAO sign agreement". Journal Record. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "About us: Frequently asked questions". Harding Fine Arts Academy. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Oklahoma City charter school converts indoor pool into dance studio". The Oklahoman. September 22, 2015.
  6. ^ "Harding Fine Arts granted $500,000 bid to buy its building". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  7. ^ a b Lightner, Linda (November 17, 2015). "OKC's Harding Fine Arts Academy celebrating 10th anniversary". The Oklahoman.
  8. ^ a b Torp, Karl (May 25, 2016). "Volunteers Help Renovate Harding Fine Arts Academy In OKC". News 9.
  9. ^ "Best High Schools in Oklahoma". U.S. News & World Report. 2014. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014.
  10. ^ "Beating the Odds 2015: Top High Schools for Low-Income Students". Newsweek. 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2016.