ACTE II
ACTE II: Creating Excellence
Upon completion of their PS Broadway class, outstanding fifth graders are invited to audition for ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence), our signature scholarship program for New York City public school students in grades 6-12. Once accepted, they begin their dance, drama, and music classes in the summer before sixth grade and continue through their high school graduation.
Students meet multiple times after school each week and on Saturdays to participate in intensive performing arts classes at the Maravel Arts Center taught by experienced professionals. Our high school students are also members of a performance ensemble that meets on Saturdays and works with members of the New York City arts community to develop special pieces for public performances.
From the beginning of their time in ACTE II, students also receive personalized academic guidance, mentorship opportunities, and holistic preparation for high school auditions and college applications.
ACTE II is funded, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
150-200 students in grades 6-12 every year
ACTE II: Lower School
In RTKids’ Lower School, students in grades 6-8 participate in rigorous performing arts classes and receive intensive preparation to apply to and audition for specialized and selective New York City public high schools.
Readiness Intensive for Secondary Education
RISE (Readiness Intensive for Secondary Education) is our eighth-grade academic curriculum that prepares students for their performing arts auditions to selective New York City public high schools. Students and families receive guidance about the audition and application process, and each student receives individual coaching for solo song and monologue work, interview skills, and group auditions.
100% of 8th graders accepted into better resourced high schools
ACTE II: UPPER School
Upon entering ninth grade, students from the ACTE II Lower School continue with the scholarship program through high school.
In addition to providing our Upper School students with the highest quality arts education, RTKids invests in them in many ways, including personalized academic tutoring and mentorship, SAT and Regents preparation, college application guidance, and a myriad of other services to help ensure they graduate from high school. Every student at Rosie’s Theater Kids has pursued some type of post-secondary education, with students attending CUNY and SUNY colleges as well as Cornell, Howard, NYU, Smith, Syracuse, and the University of Michigan.
In 2015, ACTE II received the National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award from former First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, the nation’s highest honor for creative youth development programs. Our students performed at the awards ceremony and were also invited back to perform at the Obama Administration’s final State Dinner in 2016 for the Prime Minister of Italy.
Assured Guaranty Arts Plus
Students in ACTE II receive academic support through Assured Guaranty’s Arts Plus Program, which includes academic tutoring, mentoring, subject tutoring, and formal PSAT/SAT preparation, among other needs.
With the support of caring RTKids staff, students learn how to organize their work, meet deadlines, get tutoring if needed, write essays, and develop good work habits in Maravel’s fully-equipped study room.
High school seniors are guided by experts through the college application process, receiving individualized help with choosing their schools, drafting their personal statements, completing their applications, and accurately filling out their financial aid forms. In the 2022-2023 school year, Assured Guaranty supported Rosie’s Theater Kids’ first overnight college visit, when a group of juniors and seniors toured Syracuse University and SUNY Binghamton.
The Arts Plus program is generously funded for the 2022-2023 school year by Assured Guaranty.
95% in grades 9-12 maintain at least a
3.0 GPA
100% accepted to college or higher education
SUMMER INTENSIVE
July and August are especially busy at the Maravel Arts Center as ACTE II students continue their performing arts classes for 4-5 hours per day depending on grade level. The Summer Intensive is three weeks for Lower School students and four weeks for Upper School students.
The summer program culminates with memorable performances by the students for their families and friends.
“Rosie’s is more than singing and dancing. You actually learn about life, about industry, setting goals, being professional and poise and grace under pressure.”
– Annette & Edwin Heredia, Parents
“Students are so focused and so open to receiving new information. They are going to be great leaders in the world of dance, theater, music, drama, because they get everything here. If you are fortunate enough to work with them, take the opportunity.”
– Earl Mosley, Mentor