The Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to sustaining and enhancing the award-winning public arts conservatory on Coronado Island. For nearly three decades, we have been the bridge between community passion and the resources required to make exceptional arts education possible. Our work ensures that young artists from Coronado and across San Diego County have access to world-class training in a nurturing, inclusive environment, without tuition barriers.
Our Mission
We exist to inspire, support, and sustain the next generation of creative leaders by:
- •Building awareness of CoSA's impact.
- •Raising the funds that keep its conservatory-level programs thriving.
- •Ensuring the arts remain accessible to all qualified students, regardless of financial means.
The CoSA Foundation believes the arts illuminate our shared humanity and empower young people to succeed, not just on stage or in the studio, but in every aspect of life.
Our Story
In 1996, when CoSA was just a bold idea, a group of parents and community members came together to make it a reality. CoSA was established through a specialized secondary grant funded by the CA Department of Education. CoSA is a "school within a school" sharing the CHS campus.
Since its first class of 60 students, CoSA has grown into San Diego's premier public school arts conservatory, serving approximately 200 students annually across six specialized disciplines. Alumni have gone on to successful careers in the arts, as well as leadership roles in business, education, science, and public service, carrying the lessons of creativity and collaboration into every field.
Powered by Community
CoSA's excellence is built on a unique public-private partnership. While the Coronado Unified School District provides academic infrastructure, over half of CoSA's arts programming budget comes from parent and community giving. The Foundation's donors, sponsors, and volunteers fund the essentials: faculty salaries, guest artists, equipment, technology, costumes, sets, student scholarships, and more.
Every gift, every volunteer hour, and every ticket purchased helps keep CoSA vibrant. In return, the community enjoys an extraordinary cultural calendar of student performances, art exhibitions, films, and concerts, many at the state-of-the-art Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Excellence Across Six Conservatories
Students are admitted through audition or portfolio review into one of six focused conservatories:
Classical & Contemporary Dance
Train in concert dance techniques—ballet and contemporary dance—while developing creative artistry and choreographic skills through composition and improvisation.
Digital Arts
Explore animation, filmmaking, game design, and graphic design with industry-standard tools and techniques.
Instrumental Music
Master your instrument through individual lessons, ensemble training, and performance opportunities with professional musicians.
Musical Theatre & Drama
Develop acting, singing, and performance skills through scene study, vocal training, and fully-staged productions.
Theatre Production, Design & Management
Learn stagecraft, lighting design, sound engineering, and production management in state-of-the-art facilities.
Visual Arts
Study art fundamentals, art history, and life drawing while developing your personal artistic portfolio across various mediums.
With three or more hours of daily arts training led by working professionals, CoSA students receive pre-professional preparation while earning their high school diploma.
Why It Matters
Public school funding alone cannot sustain the intensive, high-quality arts education CoSA delivers. The CoSA Foundation ensures that talent, not household income, determines opportunity. Our work empowers students to dream bigger, work harder, and contribute creatively to the world.
Join Us
Whether you're a prospective student ready to audition, a parent eager to get involved, a business leader looking to invest in the arts, or a neighbor who values a culturally rich community, there's a place for you in the CoSA story. Together, we can keep the arts alive and thriving for the next 30 years and beyond.
Be part of the vision. Be part of the legacy. Be part of CoSA.
Show Your Support Today