Admission Information

Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School is the most comprehensive performing arts high school in Kentucky where students have the distinct opportunity to train, learn, and nurture their talent to become tomorrow's artists. Students are selected to attend by a competitive process that evaluates academic achievement, a personal essay, teacher recommendations, and a performing arts audition. Jefferson County residents are not charged tuition. Residency in Jefferson County is required for admission to the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School.

We Welcome You to Attend Our YPAS 8th Grade Open House

October 17th at 6PM

for more information about our programs and admissions process.

The Application period will begin November 6 and end December 22, 2023. Students should be preparing the audition requirements found below.

Perspective Student Experiences

Manual welcomes the opportunity to host 8th grade parochial, private, Anchorage, non-Jefferson County resident, home-schooled or out-of-state students through Prospective Student Experiences (formerly known as Shadowing). This student only experience will include a tour of our campus and question-and-answer panel with current students. It will provide the opportunity for prospective students from outside JCPS to explore all the school has to offer and highlight magnet-specific locations in our buildings. They will also interact with our current students who will share their own experiences and answer magnet specific questions.

Dates:

Prospective Student Experiences will take place from 1:00-3:00 pm on the following dates:

October 12, 19, 26

November 2, 9, 16

The following items are required to apply to the YPAS Magnet

Submit

Register with JCPS and also enroll in your magnet selection, selecting YPAS as your 1st choice school
Then submit the following materials to dupontmanual.com
Performance resume (you can Google sample resumes for your audition area)
One page essay answering the prompt "YPAS and Manual will challenge you in a multitude of ways. Describe a time where you have overcome a challenge and what you have learned from it. What have you learned about yourself while preparing for your YPAS audition?” (typed )
Dance ONLY will submit a 30 second dance video

Recommendations

You will need two recommender email addresses to complete the application process. You must choose a school teacher and may choose a community member such as a private instructor, director, or other community members to complete the recommendation form. Please collect your recommenders email. It will be submitted on your application.

Prepare

Prepare the audition material for your specific area listed on the bottom of this page. Be sure to work with a teacher or private instructor so you are fully prepared. You are able to audition for no more than 3 disciplines. You do not have to audition in multiple disciplines

Audition

Once you submit your application and both recommendations have been received, information about auditions will be emailed to the primary email you list on the application.

Attendance Records & Test Scores

IF YOU ARE A JCPS STUDENT:
We will obtain your attendance, transcript, school administered test scores and grades from JCPS. You do not need to provide this information with your application. However, if you have taken the ACT or SAT and wish to include your score report, please do so.

IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED A JCPS SCHOOL FOR ANY PART OF THE LAST THREE YEARS, please submit the following with your application:

Attendance records for past three years or any non-JCPS years
Any standardized test scores, including ACT or SAT if available
Transcript grades for past two years
Most recent grade report for current year

Please note – Attendance is part of the application review. If your student has had a significant attendance issue in the last three years, you may include a brief letter/documentation to explain the absences.

Apply

The YPAS magnet has nine majors within it. You may choose to audition for UP TO 3 disciplines. You do not have to audition for more than one. Please see YPAS Scoring Rubrics below to learn more about each department's audition requirements. You will apply through BOTH JCPS and submit materials to dupontmanual.com beginning Nov 6.