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About Us

Building Creative Minds since 2003 

Salt Lake Arts Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in downtown Salt Lake City, serving students in grades 5–8. For more than 20 years, we've believed that the arts and academics together create powerful, inspired learners.

Our story

SLArts was founded in 2003 by a group of educators and parents who saw the need for a small public middle school in downtown Salt Lake City. Their vision was to weave the arts into every part of middle school, to engage and motivate students, and to teach kids to tap into the rich resources of their city.

SLArts was among the first charter schools in Utah. Today, some of our founding teachers are still in the classroom, and two of our current teachers are SLArts alumni themselves.

How we're structured

  • Public and tuition-free. Chartered by the State of Utah and independent of any school district.
  • Open to all by lottery. Admission doesn't depend on test scores, auditions, or ability to pay.
  • Built for middle school. Grades 5–8 only, designed around the needs of 10- to 14-year-olds.
  • Fully accredited. Most recently renewed through (Cognia/AdvancED) in 2023–24, with an independent financial audit every year.

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Mission

To prepare students to become confident and creative builders of their future, equipped through the arts and academics to take responsibility for shaping their communities.


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Vision

We envision all students excelling through the middle school years, with confidence, passion, and engagement.


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Our Values: RIISE

Respect · Integrity · Inclusion · Safety · Empathy
These values are built into the school day, in every classroom and through our Advisory program.

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SLArts at a Glance

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2003

Founded by a group of educators and parents.

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5th-8th

Grades at SLArts

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409

Students in 2026-27 school year
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17:1

Student / teacher ratio 

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41

Zip codes represented

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25%

Racially/ethnically diverse students

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90%+

Student retention from grade-to-grade

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#2

#2 Best Public Middle School in Utah; #2 Best Public Middle School Teachers in Utah (Niche 2026)

My fondest memory of SLArts is the people I've met. I joined the school shortly after moving from a country with a completely different culture and language. The welcoming and friendly community at SLArts is something I will never forget.

Flavia Asenjo, 2024 alum

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Why Choose SLArts? SLArts FAQ