Academics
The world-class artistic training provided to SAB’s students is focused on preparing young people for professional careers in dance, therefore we do not offer academics within the School. Classes for our Prep and Children’s Divisions take place in the afternoon and evening, leaving students’ academic lives unaffected by their commitments to SAB. However, at the Intermediate and Advanced levels, students must balance more rigorous training with their academic commitments as their dance curriculum impedes their ability to have a traditional high school experience.
Despite the demands of training at this elite level, SAB has the responsibility to ensure that our students get a quality education that prepares them for today’s world. As such, the School has a robust set of academic resources, programs and policies that not only support our students but also embody an institutional value for education and academic pursuits.
SAB believes strongly in the importance of academic choice for families. The resources and partnerships we offer aim to accommodate a variety of educational philosophies and values, ensuring that the decision to train at SAB does not prohibit families from making the academic choices that are best for their students. All of SAB’s academic resources and partnerships are overseen by the Assistant Director of Student Life for Academic and Cultural Programs.
Academic Partnerships
SAB requires that all our students actively pursue and receive their high school diploma. To support students in balancing the demands of their pre-professional training with academic progress, SAB recommends two primary pathways for completing high school:
- Accredited Virtual High Schools – including online, correspondence, or homeschool programs
- Professional Children’s School (PCS) – a private, brick-and-mortar institution with a long-standing relationship with SAB, located just a short walk from our campus
Local day student families may, in some cases, coordinate enrollment with other schools with which they have an established relationship. However, residential students are required to choose either an accredited virtual program or PCS.
Students are also encouraged to explore virtual school options offered by their home state, which may provide additional flexibility and affordability. While SAB does not maintain formal partnerships with any specific virtual program, all online students have full access to SAB’s in-house academic support resources and services.
International Students
SAB welcomes international students to join us for the academic year. However, due to visa and regulatory restrictions, international students must complete their academic studies through an online or correspondence program based in their home country. Enrollment at PCS or other New York City-based schools is not available to international students.
International students are fully supported by SAB’s academic advising and student life teams and are encouraged to select a program that allows for flexibility across time zones and travel requirements.
Resources and Support
Our Assistant Director of Student Life for Academic and Cultural Programs is designated to support Intermediate and Advanced students academically. Residential students are required to meet regularly with this staff member for academic planning, course enrollment, and progress monitoring. Day students and their families are also encouraged to take full advantage of these services.
This role provides direct academic support to students enrolled in virtual high school programs, offering individualized guidance and full access to SAB’s academic support services, including tutoring, test proctoring, and structured evening study hours. The Assistant Director also serves as the school’s primary liaison with Professional Children’s School (PCS), working closely with its administration to coordinate academic schedules around rehearsal demands and ensure that PCS students’ unique needs are met.
To further enhance academic success, weekly tutoring in core subjects is available to all Intermediate and Advanced students. Students may also participate in structured evening study hours or peer study groups to help them manage academic responsibilities alongside their rigorous training schedules.
SAB proudly recognizes academic achievement through its Honor Society, which celebrates Intermediate and Advanced students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.65 or higher. Inductions are held each spring, reflecting SAB’s commitment to academic excellence alongside pre-professional dance training.
Higher Education
Many of our students have goals set for higher education which the School strongly supports. It is not uncommon for our most advanced students to take online college classes while finishing their studies at SAB and many of our students enroll in local colleges or universities once they have been professionally placed in a new city or state.
To help students explore higher education, SAB offers specialized programming in their junior and senior years. These programs aim to support students’ higher education goals and to demystify the college search and application process. In the junior academic year, programs focus on the varying types of colleges and universities, the Common Application, financing an education and understanding the FAFSA process. In the senior academic year, programs aide students as they explore institutions of interest, gather their application materials, write their personal essays and, eventually, apply to college.