Living at ICON: Boarding High School Grades 9-12

Immerse yourself in the arts experience!

Residential-living at ICON in beautiful downtown Iowa City gives boarding students a full-day, robust arts program and an apartment-style boarding experience. With a rich residential life, students build lifelong friendships and create memories to last a lifetime.

LOCATION: Boarding students live a block away from the school building with residential assistants in a ratio of no more than 1:12.
AT HOME NEEDS: There is a laundry room on each floor of the residential hall, and students are taken on weekly grocery shopping trips.
ROOMMATES: Students are matched with 2-3 roommates, and after their first year, can request a roommate.
LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL: Boarding students can participate in a rich after-school and weekend life in Iowa City with the Student Life Team. There are opportunities to attend concerts and shows at multiple venues, many outdoor fairs and festivals, and structured activities to do with peers.
SELF CARE: The Dean of Students works with RAs and students to make sure their needs are getting met in daily life, academic supports, and health care.

Performing and Visual Arts Education

ICON Boarding students immerse themselves in an extensive arts education, receiving 20+ hours weekly of arts instruction, including private and small group coaching sessions, with world-renowned faculty.

School hours are M-Th 8:30AM-4:15PM, Fri 8:30AM-3:45PM.

FOCUS: Students major in one of 5 arts disciplines: Dance, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, Music, or Design & Production. Students can also declare an open major. Regardless of major, all students take classes in every discipline to broaden their understanding of the arts and build real-world experience in a project-based setting. Within each arts discipline, there are concentrations.

INNOVATE: ICON utilizes a competency-based arts education model, which allows for leveling students based on skill and conceptual development rather than grade level. Our instructional design is project-based learning.

UNIQUE: ICON students build individualized learning plans aligned with their unique professional and academic goals with the support of our Dean of Students.
IN-HOUSE SUPPORTS: ICON ensures students have access to the tools needed to build academic and personal success, such as weekly advising with arts faculty, access to counseling, and support for individualized learning accommodations.
NETWORKING: At Iowa Conservatory, we cultivate the skills our students need to compete in the top 10% of artists entering college and/or other post-secondary artistic pursuits, opening doors to scholarship and professional opportunities. Network-building workshops, masterclasses, and seminars with special guest teachers and mentors from the industry broaden students’ professional reach.
CAPSTONE: The high school experience culminates in a capstone project. Graduating seniors receive a high school diploma and a Certificate of Performing and Visual Arts Industry Fundamentals with Arts Area Specialization from ICON.

See here for more information about our arts disciplines’ programs of study.

Academic Coursework

Academic courses are designed to complement the full schedule of an artist while maintaining rigorous standards to prepare students for life after high school.

RELIABLE: ICON offers a complete academic course of study with innovative Iowa-licensed teachers to meet the diverse educational needs of young adults.
RIGOROUS: Academics at ICON meet state requirements for high school graduation and also provide upper-level electives for students preparing to attend conservatory or college.
PERSONALIZED: Each student is offered a unique, personalized schedule that caters to their individual interests, skill level, and learning style.

See here for more information about our academic program of study.

Residence Halls

50% of students at Iowa Conservatory choose to live in our on-campus residential halls. While living away from home can be daunting, the boarding experience allows for students to have the unique opportunity to fully engage in our vibrant community, foster independence, and acquire valuable skills such as cohabitating with others. We are here to guide you through the journey of being a boarding student at Iowa Conservatory.

Residence halls are staffed 24/7 by residential assistants who provide support, guidance, and a sense of community to students. They ensure safety, check students in, and enforce campus policies. Our personnel also teach life skills to benefit students beyond their experience with us.

Beautiful apartment-style living complete with single, 2, or 3 bedroom units
Access to healthcare, counseling, and other medical/therapeutic needs
Classes and residential halls are within a 3-block radius
Full-time live-in residential assistants
Robust student life calendar
1:12 RA-to-student ratio

Living at ICON: Boarding High School Grades 9-12

Immerse yourself in the arts experience!

Residential-living at ICON in beautiful downtown Iowa City gives boarding students a full-day, robust arts program and an apartment-style boarding experience. With a rich residential life, students build lifelong friendships and create memories to last a lifetime.

LOCATION: Boarding students live a block away from the school building with residential assistants in a ratio of no more than 1:12.

AT HOME NEEDS: There is a laundry room on each floor of the residential hall, and students are taken on weekly grocery shopping trips.

ROOMMATES: Students are matched with 2-3 roommates, and after their first year, can request a roommate.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL: Boarding students can participate in a rich after-school and weekend life in Iowa City with the Student Life Team. There are opportunities to attend concerts and shows at multiple venues, many outdoor fairs and festivals, and structured activities to do with peers.

SELF CARE: The Dean of Students works with RAs and students to make sure their needs are getting met in daily life, academic supports, and health care.

Performing and Visual Arts Education

ICON Boarding students immerse themselves in an extensive arts education, receiving 20+ hours weekly of arts instruction, including private and small group coaching sessions, with world-renowned faculty.

School hours are M-Th 8:30AM-4:15PM, Fri 8:30AM-3:45PM.

INNOVATE: ICON utilizes a competency-based arts education model, which allows for leveling students based on skill and conceptual development rather than grade level. Our instructional design is project-based learning.

UNIQUE: ICON students build individualized learning plans aligned with their unique professional and academic goals with the support of our Dean of Students.

IN-HOUSE SUPPORTS: ICON ensures students have access to the tools needed to build academic and personal success, such as weekly advising with arts faculty, access to counseling, and support for individualized learning accommodations.

CAPSTONE: The high school experience culminates in a capstone project. Graduating seniors receive a high school diploma and a Certificate of Performing and Visual Arts Industry Fundamentals with Arts Area Specialization from ICON.

See here for more information about our arts disciplines’ programs of study.

Academic Coursework

Academic courses are designed to complement the full schedule of an artist while maintaining rigorous standards to prepare students for life after high school.

RELIABLE: ICON offers a complete academic course of study with innovative Iowa-licensed teachers to meet the diverse educational needs of young adults.

RIGOROUS: Academics at ICON meet state requirements for high school graduation and also provide upper-level electives for students preparing to attend conservatory or college.

PERSONALIZED: Each student is offered a unique, personalized schedule that caters to their individual interests, skill level, and learning style.

See here for more information about our academic program of study.

Residence Halls

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