Iowa Conservatory is thrilled to announce it is now an entirely in-person, accredited, full 7th-12th grade school program. ICON is open to all students interested in attending a secondary school where their individual path to success is realized through a focused and rigorous arts-based curriculum alongside a well-rounded academic course of study.
Whether college, conservatory, or Broadway-bound, students at ICON complete academic coursework and participate in authentic, project-based courses in the areas of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and design and production, while developing 21st century skills in a project-based setting. Iowa Conservatory piloted their program in 2020 in conjunction with the Iowa City Community School District’s Online Learning Program. The majority of ICON students have benefited from the ICCSD OLP since ICON opened at 123 N. Linn St. in the Northside neighborhood of Iowa City in 2022.
While ICON has made the decision to bring academics in-house, leaders noted their continued support for and belief in the local public schools. “We continue to value the partnerships afforded us with opportunities such as Any Given Child in collaboration with the ICCSD Foundation, enrichment experiences for shared students, and increased interdisciplinary opportunities for local student-artists,” said Leslie Nolte, ICON’s Head of School.
With input from stakeholders, including current ICON students, it was determined that an in-person, onsite school is best for students’ learning needs and the competency-based curriculum model ICON aims to build over the next five years.
“In-person academics will include state-required coursework with licensed Iowa teachers in addition to the rich coursework led and designed by our arts faculty – experts in the industry – who are veteran educators, in many cases,” said Dr. Beth Brown, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
As educators and parents of ICCSD students, Iowa Conservatory leaders continue to advocate for adequate funding for public schools and look forward to working alongside the ICCSD in the years to come. “We are fortunate to share spaces within our community in the Iowa City area; there is a long tradition of supporting a wide variety of learning institutions, especially in arts education,” commented Nolte.
The move to in-person academics offers Iowans access to tuition support by applying for Education Savings Account (ESA) funds, making the ICON experience more affordable for many more of the state’s rising student-artists. Students joining ICON for the 2025-26 school year will embark on a path to achieving goals for high school and beyond.
To learn more about ICON’s tuition and scholarships; academic and arts programs; and upcoming events, including campus tours, visit iowaconservatory.org or contact admissions at (319) 259-7242 or admissions@iowaconservatory.org.
ICON’s next student visit day is scheduled for February 21st, 2025. Interested students can register at https://iowaconservatory.org/visit/.
