How Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet Works for Los Angeles Families
You’re standing at Highland and Sunset with a teenager who lights up in a rehearsal room and a calendar full of questions. Yes, Hollywood High is really right here in the middle of Hollywood, and yes, its Performing Arts Magnet is an LAUSD program your student can apply to without paying tuition. Below is exactly how families move from “interested” to “enrolled,” plus what the school day looks like once your student is in.
What “Performing Arts Magnet” means at this campus
Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet sits inside Hollywood High School at 1521 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028. It is one of the school’s Small Learning Communities, alongside New Media and School for Advanced Studies. The magnet offers classes in dance, drama, technical theater and vocal music, with film and digital graphics appearing in the course mix as well. Students have access to beginning through advanced levels in areas like dance production and stagecraft, so ninth graders do not need previous formal training to start.
Families who want to see the program in action can take a campus tour. During the Unified Enrollment application window each fall, tours run weekly and last about 1 hour, starting from the Magnet Office, Room 300 on campus. If your student will miss class time to attend, the office can provide a confirmation-of-attendance note. To reach the program directly, the magnet office line is (323) 993‑2360; the school’s main line is (323) 993‑1700.
Because this is part of LAUSD, there is no tuition. Expect real production work in class and after school. Course pages for ensembles state that after‑school rehearsals and public performances are expected, so plan transportation with those evening calls in mind.
Admissions and the LAUSD Magnet points system, step by step
1) Apply through Unified Enrollment
All LAUSD magnets, including Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet, use the district’s Unified Enrollment application. The regular on‑time window opens in the fall for the following school year. For example, for Fall 2026 admission the on‑time window ran October 1–November 14, 2025. If you miss that, the district runs a late application that generally opens in February and stays available until the next cycle begins. Late applications are first‑come, first‑served as seats open; they do not earn points.
2) Know who can apply
Applicants must live within LAUSD boundaries at the time of enrollment and while participating in the program. Unified Enrollment will ask you to rank up to two magnet choices during the on‑time window. You do not need an arts portfolio or prior training to apply to this magnet.
3) Understand how students are selected
When more students apply than there are seats, LAUSD uses a court‑ordered Magnet Priority Points system in a computerized selection. Points come from five sources:
- Waiting list: 4 points per year on a valid on‑time magnet waitlist, up to 12 over three consecutive years.
- Matriculation: 12 points for completing the highest grade in a magnet and applying to a magnet at the next level. Families cannot receive matriculation and waiting list points at the same time.
- PHBAO resident school: 4 points if the student’s resident LAUSD school is designated Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian and Other Non‑Anglo (PHBAO).
- Overcrowded resident school: 4 points if the resident school meets district overcrowding criteria.
- Sibling: 3 points if applying to the same magnet where a brother or sister will continue next year.
The district caps the total at 23 points. After offers go out in spring, families must accept by the district’s deadline or the seat is released to waitlisted applicants. If you apply during the late window, you may get a call about an opening anytime between March and September as programs work through their lists.
4) Transportation options tied to enrollment
LAUSD provides yellow bus service for many magnet students, subject to route availability. As of this year, secondary students (grades 6–12) generally qualify when they live more than 2 miles from the magnet school. Families must opt in and confirm details with the Transportation Services Branch after they accept an offer. Separate from yellow buses, the Metro GoPass gives LAUSD K‑12 students free rides on Metro buses and trains and participating partner systems during the school year; students activate a TAP card through their school or student portal.
The school day, rehearsals, and how students get here
Hollywood High follows a published bell schedule. On regular days, the first block begins at 8:30 a.m. and the last block ends at 3:33 p.m. Lunch is 11:47 a.m.–12:17 p.m. On early‑out Tuesdays for staff development, students are dismissed at 2:33 p.m. Exact dates for early‑out Tuesdays appear on the school calendar, but the start time remains 8:30 a.m.
Because this magnet sits in the middle of Hollywood, families mix travel modes. Students who qualify for LAUSD bus transportation receive a route assignment from the district. Many others use Metro’s B Line (Red) via the Hollywood/Highland station and ride free with the student GoPass. If you are visiting the school, the main office is on Highland; magnet tours during the fall application window start in Room 300 and run about an hour, and the magnet office will issue a signed attendance confirmation if needed for your student’s current school.
Plan for after‑school rehearsals when your student is cast or assigned to an ensemble. Performing classes note this requirement in their syllabi, and productions often add evening calls in the weeks leading up to shows. Families typically arrange a mix of bus routes and Metro trips to cover those extended hours.
Auditions, placements, and what’s required vs. optional
Two different things happen here, and they are easy to mix up:
- Admission to the magnet is by the LAUSD Unified Enrollment process and points‑based selection described above. You do not need to audition to submit the application.
- Placement within classes and ensembles can involve an audition or level check. For example, vocal and instrumental groups typically ask for a short audition so students start at the right level, and dance programs use placement to sort beginning, intermediate, and production sections. These are course placements after you are in the school, not a separate admissions gate.
For students who are new to formal training, beginning levels exist in each discipline. For students with prior experience, auditions help the staff place them accurately so they are challenged and able to perform. Expect that after‑school rehearsals and public performances are part of the coursework for most performance classes, and factor those hours into your transportation plan.
Nearby LAUSD options that also focus on performing arts
Families often compare Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet with two other LAUSD options that emphasize the arts but are structured differently. Here is the side‑by‑side detail families ask about most.
| Program | Location | How you get in | What it offers | Transportation/Hours notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood High Performing Arts Magnet | 1521 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles 90028 (Hollywood) | LAUSD Unified Enrollment magnet. Selection by priority points and computerized process. No audition to apply. | Dance, drama, technical theater, vocal, film/digital graphics. Tours weekly during application window from Room 300, about 1 hour. | Regular day 8:30 a.m.–3:33 p.m.; early‑out Tuesdays to 2:33 p.m.. LAUSD bus eligibility for many students beyond 2 miles; GoPass gives free Metro rides. |
| Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts (Grand Arts) | 450 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90012 (Downtown) | LAUSD application for this full arts high school. Admissions run through the district and local Zones of Choice. No audition to apply; some advanced ensembles at the school use auditions for placement. | Dance, theatre/film, music, visual/media arts, with multiple CTE pathways. Company‑level ensembles may require an audition for placement. | District bus eligibility based on address and 2‑mile rule for secondary students when routes exist. School day follows standard LAUSD schedule; check calendar for exact times. |
| Hamilton High School, Academy of Music & Performing Arts (AMPA) | 2955 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles 90034 (Palms/Cheviot area) | LAUSD Unified Enrollment magnet. Some audition materials are used to place students within music, dance, piano, theater or tech tracks after acceptance. | Majors across music technology, jazz bands, piano, theater, theater tech, dance. Depth is signaled by posted audition/placement guidelines for specific ensembles. | LAUSD bus eligibility typically beyond 2 miles when routes are offered. School runs a traditional high school day; performance calendars include evening concerts. |
Use this comparison to match logistics to your student’s interest. If you need a Hollywood‑area commute and a program that feeds directly into staged productions, Hollywood High’s magnet keeps you close to the B Line and offers weekly tours in the fall so you can see rehearsal spaces while the application window is open.
Key things families tend to ask about timing and logistics
When to visit: during the fall application window, Hollywood High’s magnet runs tours weekly, about 1 hour long. The staff starts from Room 300 and can give your student a signed attendance confirmation to take back to their current school that day.
When the day starts and ends: on a regular day, 8:30 a.m.–3:33 p.m. Early‑out Tuesdays end at 2:33 p.m. Magnet classes expect after‑school rehearsals in season, which can push pickup into the evening.
How transportation works: if you live more than 2 miles from the school, LAUSD may offer a magnet bus seat depending on route availability after you opt in. Every LAUSD K‑12 student can also request a Metro GoPass TAP card from their school to ride free on Metro buses and trains during the school year and on weekends.
What to do if you miss the on‑time window: submit a late application. Late applications do not earn points, but they are reviewed on a first‑come basis as schools finish placing on‑time applicants. Offers can come March through September if a seat opens.
Quick takeaways for busy parents
- Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet is at 1521 N Highland Ave and runs weekly tours during the fall application window from Room 300 that take about 1 hour.
- Admission is through LAUSD Unified Enrollment. Selection uses Magnet Priority Points with a 23‑point cap; sibling 3, PHBAO 4, overcrowded 4, wait list up to 12, matriculation 12.
- The regular school day is 8:30 a.m.–3:33 p.m., with early‑out Tuesdays to 2:33 p.m.; performance classes expect after‑school rehearsals.
- Many secondary magnet students qualify for an LAUSD bus if they live more than 2 miles away and a route exists. All LAUSD students can activate a GoPass TAP card to ride Metro free.
- Comparing options: Hollywood High PAM sits in Hollywood with strong theater/dance/tech/vocal offerings, Grand Arts downtown is a full arts high school with placement auditions only for some ensembles, and Hamilton AMPA in Palms uses auditions for internal placement across music, dance, and theater.
Reader Q&A
Do I need an audition to apply to Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet?
No. The application is through LAUSD Unified Enrollment, and selection is by the district’s points‑based process. Auditions happen later for class placement in ensembles so students start at the right level, and those classes expect after‑school rehearsals.
How early does the day start and what about early dismissal?
On regular days the first block starts at 8:30 a.m. and the last block ends at 3:33 p.m. Early‑out Tuesdays dismiss at 2:33 p.m. The school calendar lists which Tuesdays are early‑out. Performance classes can add evening calls before shows.
Is there district transportation, or do we need to drive?
Many secondary magnet students qualify for an LAUSD bus if they live more than 2 miles from school and a route exists, and every LAUSD student can ride Metro free with a GoPass TAP card. Families must opt in for bus service after accepting a seat.
When should we tour, and where do we check in?
Tour during the fall application window. Hollywood High’s magnet runs weekly tours then, starting from Room 300, and they last about 1 hour. The office can provide a confirmation note if your student misses some class time to attend.
Published: September 9, 2026