Admissions process is latest problem at downtown L.A. arts high school

Administrators of the flagship downtown Los Angeles arts high school neglected to mention one crucial fact in their application materials: that enrollment is first-come, first-served for students outside the neighborhood. It was the latest snafu in the short, troubled history of the $232-million campus.

That admissions information isn’t explained on the school’s website or on its application form. Instead, instructions note that families from other areas can apply between Feb. 7 and March 4.

Principal Luis Lopez characterized the incomplete information as an oversight.

By Monday afternoon, the school had accepted about 300 applications, more than double the number of spots available. Administrators plan to enroll about 35 students from outside the area in each of the school’s four academies: dance, music, theater and visual arts. The rest of the students will come from the downtown neighborhood.

Kirsten Johnson, an L.A. Unified teacher whose son attends a charter school in South Park, was confused about the enrollment procedure but decided to arrive early.

“I don’t know how they’re going to select students,” said Johnson, who heard about the school from a friend. “Is it like a lottery?”

The still unnamed school, now in its second year, has been beset by problems, including the turnover of top administrators. There also have been debates about who should attend. In the end, officials decided that previous arts training or aptitude would not be factors.

In addition, students who live nearby are supposed to fill 70% of the seats; a lottery will be held if too many seek admission. Students from elsewhere in the Los Angeles Unified School District can apply for the remaining 30% of seats.

The school board approved that enrollment ratio in 2006 as a temporary measure until local overcrowding was relieved. More recently, school board President Monica Garcia, who represents the area, characterized the policy as permanent despite a surplus of classroom space at other local high schools.

The school was able to accept all applicants for its first year, and more enrolled from outside the area. Now the distinctive campus abutting the 101 Freeway is oversubscribed, having proved popular with parents and students.

Parent Ted Bernstein, a mid-Wilshire resident, knew about the first-come, first-served rules because he attended one of the three official tours in which the process was explained. He showed up nearly an hour early Monday and still had to wait more than 2 1/2 hours. Some reportedly arrived as early as 4:30 a.m.

Amelia Contreras of Lincoln Heights was No. 108 in the line for applicants to the theater and visual arts academies. She doesn’t want her daughter, Margarita, to attend their neighborhood school, Lincoln High. The 13-year-old has a passion for the arts even though she’s had limited opportunities to pursue them, Contreras said.

Tonya Wright of Marina del Rey, No. 98 in that line, said she “called and drilled the school on different things” until she learned what she needed to know, including the admissions process. Besides, she said, “I’m not a procrastinator and I don’t want to be last.”

howard.blume@latimes.com