New to SCAPA?

The School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) is Fayette County Public School's magnet program for students in grades 4-12 who exhibit excellence in one of 9 arts areas: ballet, band, contemporary dance, drama, literary art, piano, strings, visual art, or vocal music. Students must audition in their chosen area and meet selection criteria. Auditions are typically held in November/December the year prior to admission.

Friends of the Arts School (“Friends” or “FOAS”) is a non-profit corporation operated exclusively as a charitable and educational organization supporting SCAPA Bluegrass & Lafayette. All parents or legal guardians of children who are enrolled in (or have confirmed their acceptance to) SCAPA and all SCAPA faculty are automatically members! Participation is also open to the greater Lexington arts community. Please read more about our mission & activities at About FOAS.

There is always so much going on at SCAPA, it can be hard to keep up with everything! Here are a few suggestions:

• Sign up to connect via Remind to get in-app or text messages
• Subscribe to the SCAPA Google calendar to see all events school-wide
• Bookmark our Events page to see more details about all FOAS events
• Connect with us on social media, and join the Facebook group for your grade & major

There are so many ways to get involved with Friends of the Arts School:

• Attend one of our monthly general membership meetings, in person at the SCAPA Bluegrass library or on Zoom
• Volunteer for a committee or in your student's classroom! Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form today. (If you are interested in helping during school hours, don't forget to fill out your FCPS Volunteer Application!)
• Ready to create maximum impact? Sign up to fill one of our open Board Member or Officer positions! Contact a current Board Member or Parent Representative for more information

There are so many ways to support SCAPA that involve minimal effort! Please visit our new SCAPA Wear online store to showcase your Penguin Pride everywhere you go! You can also visit the Fundraising Without Effort page to learn more about signing up for High Five for SCAPA, Kroger Community Rewards, and more.

SCAPA Bluegrass includes our 4th-8th grade students. SCAPA Lafayette ("LHS") includes our 9th-12th grade students. The Bluegrass building is adjacent to Lafayette High School, and some SCAPA LHS students continue to return to Bluegrass for classes in their arts area during the school day.

You can find all the 2025-26 school year information (including school supplies lists and summer reading/math assignments by grade) on the SCAPA Bluegrass page here.

*New process* Updated fall 2023! SCAPA students are now recommended for placement through the same audition process as district-wide GT arts auditions. Auditions for Gifted & Talented Visual & Performing Arts, including for SCAPA at Bluegrass, are recorded & submitted through every middle & elementary school in Fayette County Public Schools and scored by a panel of arts educators from across the district in January according to these requirements & rubrics. The GT specialist or arts teacher at your school will help you prepare & submit your application & audition. Every student must audition every year to be considered for placement the following year, even those already identified as gifted in their arts discipline and/or previously waitlisted for admission.

The general timeline for applying for the following school year is: (all dates below are for the preceding school year)

• September: virtual program information nights
• October: deadline to complete & submit the GT Audition Interest Form
• December: deadline to submit audition requirements & videos (recorded at school during school hours)
• January/February: parents/guardians are notified of gifted & talented eligibility
• March: complete & submit FCPS Special Programs Application via SchoolMint
• Late March/Early April: district-wide notification of decisions for special programs

SCAPA Bluegrass (4th-8th grades) hours are 8:25am-3:45pm. School doors open at 7:55am for elementary & middle school student arrival.

SCAPA Lafayette's (9th-12th grades) hours are 8:25am-3:15pm. School doors open at 7:30am for high school student arrival.

Elementary students have class in their Major (chosen art area) 3 times/week, with an elective class (band, strings or movement) on opposite days. They also have "specials" classes in other art areas (art, dance, drama, music, literary arts) in addition to their Major area as part of their weekly class rotation. Elementary students have science 4 days per week along with their math, social studies, reading & language arts daily classes.

Middle school students have class in their Major every day, declare a Minor in a different art area than their Major, and have multiple elective options. Middle schoolers rotate through their academic classes on an A/B schedule. High schoolers have classes related to their Major every day, and rotate their academic and other elective classes on an A/B schedule.

A general calendar of events includes:

• • August - Opening Night (formerly Cruise Into SCAPA)

• • September - Open House (typically last Thursday)

• • October - Silent Disco (Fall Fundraiser)

• • November - Fall Musical at Lexington Opera House (all Elementary (EL) encouraged to participate in ensemble; Middle School (MS) may audition for main roles)

• • December - auditions for SCAPA applicants (for the following school year), Winter Vocal concert (EL & MS Voice Majors and MS Minors), Winter Band/Orchestra concerts (all EL may choose to be in band or orchestra), MS Speech Team season begins

• • January - Science Fair (5th & 7th Grades required, other grades optional)

• • March - Dance SCAPA at Lexington Opera House (all Dance Majors & MS Dance Minors), KMEA Choral/Band/Orchestra Assessments, Spring MS Play at downtown venue (MS students may audition)

• • May - Spring Vocal concert, Spring Band/Orchestra concerts, Dance Kaleidoscope, Solo Recitals, 8th Grade Showcase, Field Day, Arts Award Assembly, 5th & 8th Grade Promotions

"Opening Night" is SCAPA Bluegrass' annual back-to-school night, held in early August (and formerly known as "Cruise Into SCAPA"). Families & students are invited into the school to attend grade-level orientation meetings, receive academic schedules & teacher assignments, meet teachers, complete required forms, pay student fees, get information about certain clubs/activities, and stock up on SCAPA wear.

SCAPA utilizes multiple local venues for their performances: Lexington Opera House, Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Beeler Auditorium at Lafayette High School, Norsworthy Auditorium, Farish Theatre at the downtown Lexington Public Library, local churches, and SCAPA Bluegrass' multipurpose room (MPR).

Each SCAPA performance draws in hundreds of audience members from all across Lexington. Are you interested in promoting your business to arts-focused families citywide? Become a SCAPA Sponsor!