The Performing and Fine Arts Academy, serving grades 6-12, offers a unique balance of rigorous academic instruction and intensive instruction in the performing and fine arts. Areas of artistic training range from drama, dance, music and the fine arts to stagecraft and computer animation. In addition to being named a National School of Distinction in the Performing and Fine Arts, The Performing and Fine Arts Academy has been regularly recognized in the local community through Elly (recognizing outstanding theatre in the Sacramento area) nominations and awards, participation in the Jammies (music recognition program for students), and many other events. All of our students are taught by arts teachers who continue to be professional practicing artists in the community, allowing students to learn not only the technical aspects of artistic expression, but also what it is like to be a professional practicing artist. Academically, our students excel. Our academic teachers are highly trained and our courses are rigorous. Even with the rigor of our courses, the Academy routinely has over 70% of its students on the honor roll. Many high school seniors go on to prestigious four year universities and art schools. read more

Natomas Charter School - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Sacramento, California

Fun school dance not a lot of things to do very little people almost all 6th graders because it was one of the first school dances and 6th graders were seeing new things fine school dance had fun with my friends read more

My daughter went to Leading Edge academy and it was horrible. The lunch food had flies in it and the principal did absolutely did nothing even after multiple students reported it. My daughter's first year in 6th grade went smoothly, with nice and helpful teachers. But as she transitioned into 7th grade it started to get horrendous. These teachers don't actually teach ANYTHING, all students are always on the Chromebooks and never get assigned any worksheets, or any real work, this specifically goes to all of the new teachers because all the old ones left. Lots of past teachers were leaving without anybody knowing why which made the learning for my daughter's second year drop. This school also does portfolio 6th-8th, but for my daughter's experience in 7th grade they had no portfolio help and the teachers were barely present. Beware, your children wont be learning in this school. read more

The school is awesome! For sixth grade, you can choose to go to PFAA or Leading Edge. Leading Edge is an amazing school with amazing teachers. read more

My kids have attended the NCS system for five years and it's the best schools in the area. Both kids are thriving and love the arts, whereas they attended a regular NUSD school and would come home dejected every day. Couldn't recommend NCS any lower than 5* read more

This is an amazing school they have good teachers and teach up to date and is really fun i would recommend the Leading Edge program of it for 6-8th grade read more

Our experience wasn't positive but I don't specifically put that on the school rather than the fit in our case. My son went in very excited and experienced with music and instead of feeding that it really got him turned off from it. Now that he has had some time away from it he is creating music and writing and album now. read more

This past year was my son's first year enrolled in the PFAA; it was during COVID, the entire year was done via distance learning, and the entire staff crushed it. My son had an incredible year, was excited to attend his classes every day, and from what I saw in his curriculum and day to day activities, the only thing he missed out on this year in terms of his 6th grade experience was being in a tangible classroom with other kids. His teachers were kind and very responsive if either he or I had any questions about anything. If this was how great the distance learning program was, we can't wait to have the full experience next year on campus! read more

This school is very nice and clean! All the teachers are really nice, all the students are very nice to me. The cafeteria food is SO Delicious! I wish my bff would join this school she goes to Natomas middle which is not a really good school. But over all I prefer this school other than all the other middle and high schools. read more

Virtual Learning Academy and the staff are life savers. Sweet, helpful, caring, & completely on top of things. Our daughter will get to attend school and still complete her therapy and training. There are no words to what this means to our family. Top education with all the added benefits of healing and sports. Thank you all so much!!!! read more

You may be a hater when you attend, but once you leave the place your realize what an amazing school it is. Class sizes are manageable and you get the attention that you need to succeed. I never had a bad teacher here, and there was always help available if you needed it. My only gripe about the school is the upper classmen counseling. You might have to do a lot of your own research about college. But once you get to college, you'll be prepared. read more

I love this school. Academics are challenging and my daughter is experimenting with video game production, art, dance, drama and she plays the violin well and performs for our community. I'm jealous of this opportunity she's received. She complains, yet when asked says she doesn't want to go anywhere else. read more

We visited for the first time this morning and could not be more impressed. The faculty and students were fantastic. We look forward to having out daughter there through high school. read more

If I could give less than 1 star I certainly would. My son and I had a very negative experience during his attendance with the school. The intake coordinator, Mr. Kinder made inappropriate and condescending comments to my son and I, and misuses his authority. The staff and teachers we dealt with in the VLA program (Virtual Learning Academy) are non-supportive to the students. In fact, the math teacher Mrs. Wong seemed to expect and set up my son for failure. She would hold math labs and instead of providing assistance to the students, she would be on the computer the entire time. When asked for assistance, she would huff and puff, close her eyes, and show obvious distaste in having to help. She is virtually impossible to understand because of her accent. I don't have a problem with being foreign to the country or having a second language, however, students and parents need to be able to understand and communicate with one another. My son did understand, when she said that she could do math and he could dance. My son is of African decent, so this comment was seen as stereotypical. On another occasion, after I already let staff know that we would be leaving the school, Mrs.Hong cried while telling my son "you can't run away from math". This made him feel very uncomfortable, as he had only attended the school a few months, and did not know her well. When this was brought to Mr. Kinder's attention he downplayed it all. I wish I would have wrote this review sooner, as some time has gone by and I don't recall all of the situations we experienced. In the end, it seemed Mrs. Hong, and particularly Mr. Kinder seemed to try and punish my son and I for being fed up with everything and leaving to another school. If the staff's unsupportive, biased attitudes aren't enough, then the porn being distributed around the classroom while the teacher was present, and drugs being done in the restroom, should say "BEWARE". Be very careful, as Mr. Kinder's job of course is to sale the parent on how great the school is. Each student equals a dollar amount attached to that student, which makes one wonder is this what its all about. read more

How sad a pathetic the PFAA has become. Teachers ridiculing and harassing those with special needs and Executive Director and some teachers SO unbelievably arrogant! They think they can do no wrong, I think the Dept of Education is thinking differently. If you sat through the recent graduation ceremony you know what I mean! This Calero woman who gave the graduation speech had the audience of parents and family/friends shocked by how arrogant she is. So many people were talking smack and criticizing this woman and her speech and how it was all about her. It was kinda of embarrassing how she went on and on about herself, instead of talking about the graduates and their accomplishments and their future prospects, she just yammered on about herself and things she's done (yeah you are a high school teacher, glad you have hobbies but hello, in case no one told you, this is not about you.) Maybe the school should look into getting a professional to come and speak for graduation, you know someone who has accomplished something in the arts that would be inspiring for the students to see and hear. We and the 30 or so other attendees around us couldn't fathom that level of conceit, it was truly sad that this teacher couldn't of made this about the students graduating but instead has some glorified vision of herself she thought she should spew. Sad. As for the overall school, well it's been better. Lack of communication and planning was a huge factor this year. They talk about all this great equipment they bought thanks to the many required parent hours of fundraising and donations given, but then guess what the students don't even get to use the stuff. This school is supposed to be the best in the area, don't know how they rated so high since they lack in several areas, and nepotism is a problem here and equates to a lack in overall programs. Maybe they score so high in the ratings that are done on area schools because they get bonus points for the number of minutes students are in school since it's like a full work day 815-4pm. Pretty long day and unless you live in Natomas you will be commuting a shit ton to get there out in BFE. Maybe that's it so many extra educational minutes they add on, because they don't have any sports teams, and many of their art programs are lacking compared to other available schools in Sacramento. It's sad that they don't feature all the arts equally, and there are so many obvious biases among staff and teachers. They need better math teachers and cycle through them annually replacing many. Long time teachers that were great and motivating to students, encouraging them and putting students first were removed without so much of any public mention. Why you think that is? Maybe having to do with rumors of mismanaged funds as this school annually makes tens of thousands of dollars in fundraising efforts of parents. Parents are asked to donate an excess amount of cash, gift cards, durable goods, equipment, alcohol (wine for crab feed) and more. There is no outside oversight of these assets and teachers and staff use at their will and whim. They overbuy stuff, and oh guess we'll just take that home to our house. They have piles of supplies in some classrooms and even the school office and bathroom show the excess of goods that have been over donated or purchased, things like cases of bottled water, cases of kleenex, cases of printer paper. The parent meetings are another show of how excess amounts of supplies/donations are being pilfered by the executives, staff and teachers. Things that are intended to help and support students are just taken for granted and used selfishly instead of given to the students or used to purchase items on the students behalf. The school have half assed many opportunities and events or just plain cancelled them instead of doing a good job for the students to enjoy themselves. They also suck money from the State by requiring students to attend school the day after the Day on the Green event, supposedly the last day of school. Day on the Green is an event for students to celebrate the end of the year. This day students turn in all their textbooks as finals are done and over, and then the rest of that day students get to go buy stuff out on the grass area (green) from food trucks, or do a climbing wall, or other activities to celebrate the end of school Day on the Green. Yet the very next day after that event, after turning in books, finals completed, students are still required to attend one last half day, and told that if they don't show up for that day (even though there is no educational purpose for the students to go to school after Day on the Green)- that their grades will be lowered for non-attendance. So the school administration steal from the State since for every child that shows up that day school gets paid$$$$. Big time scam there too. Time to look deeper it seems. read more

Natomas Charter School PFAA was just the right kind of school for my kids. They were much more interested in the visual art, music, drama, and dance offerings than offered at standard schools. Natomas Charter PFAA does not have sports teams or cheerleaders (except those who compete outside of school) but has creative, expressive, talented, inspired students. The academic program is pretty standard, with strong teachers in math/science and social studies. Students have traveled to Turkey and there are rumors next year of a trip to Scotland. My kids have made lifetime friends here. read more

I am A Student here. This school is incredible. I have been to 7 schools and this is definitely the best one. I have been to 3 middle schools, 2 elementary schools, and 2 high-schools. I am now a Sophmore and I have been here for 2 years. It has been a great experience. I was honor roll and have been taking, dance, piano, and Vocal classes. I have improved on everything. Thank you. read more

When I first walked in the school I knew my kids would like it here. But honestly since both of my kids started school I've noticed a change of they way they are behaving so as a caring mother i got down to the bottom of it. Apparently my daughter is being targeted by both VLA and PFAA academic teachers. Which isn't rite at all . She isn't aloud to wear shorts without tights, so I send my daughter to school and she was forced to wear some used sweats in 90degree weather. The teachers said that since her shorts are cut off but I bought them that way she was dress coded. Ok I under stand that's fine. Next day I send my daughter to school with her calling me crying because she was dress coded again, but this time her shorts weren't cut off but they did have string hanging out from it. I'm really upset how the school is targeting my daughter, also I see many girls walking around with their butts hanging out of there shorts and my daughter is dress coded. Also one of the workers was trying to tell my daughter something and forcibly grabbed my daughters arm and I'm up set because that worker had no rite at all to touch/grab my daughter. read more