Pittsburgh Capa 6-12

111 9th Street

School District

Pittsburgh Public Schools
Grade

6-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Pittsburgh Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by student on May 24, 2024

Let me preface this by saying that I am a current Junior at CAPA, I did not attend in middle school though so I can’t speak on the middle school experience whatsoever. That being said, CAPA is such a welcoming environment where students are able to nurture their passions in the arts and their chosen “major”, along with growth in academics and normal classes. It can be a lot, I mean it, our school day is the longest in the district by an hour, students will most likely be involved in the arts and other activities outside of school, but teachers are lenient with homework if you have a good and valid excuse. This is a school that pushes it’s students, it’s such a diverse and inclusive community that really isn’t seen anywhere at private or charter schools. I’ve been in the Pittsburgh public school system all my life, and this school is genuinely the best despite what others will say about it. At the end of the day though, if you have no passion or drive in the arts, you’d be much better off considering your neighborhood school and taking advanced classes there, or a charter school. CAPA is definitely deserving the consistent top 20 best high schools in the state ranking.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2020

Pittsburgh CAPA is a sheep in wolves clothing. This school does not prepare your children for college and it is not a "shining star" in the district. The school caters to the "well to do" and it is a mockery of the public school system. The only reason it ranks in the top schools in PA is because of the "well off" parents and not the education that average students receive. The administration of this school and of the district are weak and they cater to the "the squeaky wheel". We had one child graduate from this school, regrettably, and we pulled another before 8th grade. Don't be fooled by high test scores and other accolades, this is not the school, but it it is due to good parenting.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2017

Unfortunately, CAPA falls far short of what it could be. It is not at all what the general public in Pittsburgh think it is. Only one student per year who graduates from the dance program chooses to pursue dance professionally. They seem to drain the passion out of the students rather than supporting it. There are a couple of phenomenal dance instructors, but the others are lazy and complacent. The head of the dance department seems to care more about doing as little as possible while still receiving accolades than she does about doing what's right for the dancers. World renowned dancers/instructors reach out to teach master classes and she does not even respond. I can't count how many days some instructors told the students to just do homework in class rather than teaching. So much potential wasted in this school.
Submitted by student on November 19, 2016

Its a very talented and accepting school.
Submitted by student on July 26, 2015

I am very disappointed at how things are run at pittsburgh Capa. The good kids get punished constantly, and the bad kids are given free passes that let them do whatever they please. There are no programs that exist to reward high honor or honor students, even after I perosnally asked my vice principal that we should have programs or rewards and she said that I should look them up and that she doesn't expect me to think that she'd do it for her. Literary arts is my major, and it's a disaster. Administrators have no control what so ever, and staff is okay at best in the writing program. We would read a play and then be expected to write a play the next week without actually learning how to! Same with every other genre we have encountered, except journalism. Fiction class? Yup. You're expected to know how to write a story with minimal tools provided. Some of the teachers at Capa are truly the best in the district though. Many of them truly care about the well being of their students, however, only certain students. You will either love this school top to bottom, or hate it. There is no in between. The literary arts department is very strict and let students have limited freedoms, and now they can't even use the bathroom on the second floor! It's truly rediculous. Pittsburgh capa is also a very hardcore liberal school. If your child is even the slightest bit conservative, DO NOT SEND THEM HERE. They will hate the school, and the administrators and teachers will always blame you for the problems. Social problems are talked about in class almost 24/7. There are constantly posters hanging around expressing liberal views, when there really shouldn't be any political views expressed in a PUBLIC SCHOOL. Although there is high parental involvement and vey high test scores, if your child is smart and willing to learn, they would probably be better off at a normal high school just taking advanced classes. I have heard Capa was once the best school in the district, but I would disagree with that statement now.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2014

Years ago this was a great school under excellent leadership. Disciplinary issues were almost non-existent. Students were treated as if they were in college. Great expectations made for great students. A new young lady came in as principal and the middle school location moved and was incorporated into the high school downtown. These two factors really had a detrimental impact and the school is riding on a reputation from years ago - it's not what parents and the public think it is... I was amazed at the power & control issues of the Head of the Literature Arts program. She was ridiculous in punishing the whole class and cutting restroom breaks over minor infractions she believed occurred. There was a lot of writing, but the students are not taught the basics of grammar and good sentence structure. I believe in creativity, but no matter how creative, the writing needs to be grammatically correct with proper punctuation (unless your going to work in the media in which case I don't think it matters).
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2014

The school, staff and administration is wonderful! My daughter is in the writing program and it really exposes them to all of the different forms of the art. Our only complaint (my daughters and many of her friends), is that once you pick a major, you do not have access to any of the other arts. She would love to also take an art or music class to really expand her knowledge and love of the arts. If this could be done, then it would truly be the best school in Western PA.
Submitted by other on November 17, 2011

I am in sixth grade here and I feel that its the best school you can get. I mean how many middle schools and high schools do you get that have dancing programs or that have you go to the benudum theatre every other week?? not very many thats how much. also, i love that not anyone can just come in, although people can leave. i mean you have to try out. im just madly in love with this school and if i were you i wouldnt think twice about sending your child there. and if anyone thinks different then they should come check it out then tell me how they feel. lol. But seriously come visit us. we are friendly too