SOTA Audition Process
Applications for Summer Auditions for 2026-27 School Year are open! Apply by August 1st (for new to the district students primarily)
Admission to School of the Arts is for Rochester City Residents
SOTA ADMISSIONS
Admission to the School of the Arts is for City of Rochester residents and based on a formal audition process. Students may select only one field of study: Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Music: Instrumental and Vocal, Theatre Technology or Visual Arts. Auditions are approximately 3–4 hours long and are measured according to a standard rubric. For each audition, students are graded in a combination of group and individual settings. Auditions are judged by a team of faculty members and each student receives a numerical score from 1-to-10 based on the overall quality of the audition.
If you have a passion for artistic expression,
we encourage you to explore School of the Arts.
If you have any questions regarding our audition process, please email sotainfo@rcsdk12.org or call 585-242-7682. All emails/calls will be returned within two business days.
In addition to the SOTA application, families must complete the RCSD School Selection Process at www.rcsdk12.org/schoolselection and choose SOTA as their first choice. The application opens December 8, 2025, and closes February 13, 2026. Families must also identify alternative school choices in the event that a student is not accepted. More information about this process will be provided by the Office of Student Equity and Placement.
