General Information

School Information:

Harrison School for the Arts
750 Hollingsworth Road Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-499-2855
Fax: 863-499-2938
Harrison Box Office: 863-499-2939

School Times:

Office Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
School Hours: 7:00am 2:00pm

First Bell: 6:55am
Dismissal Bell: 2:00pm


Philosophy Statement

Harrison School for the Arts exists within a dynamic society that has continuously changing expectations of its schools. More and more, society is recognizing students with special needs and is attempting to meet those needs through specialized programs and curricula.

We at Harrison School for the Arts believe that students who demonstrate a talent in the arts should have an opportunity to develop that talent to its fullest extent. Harrison School for the Arts has an obligation to train, cultivate, and nurture that talent in such a way as to foster self-discipline and self-esteem in each student.

The staff, faculty, and administration are dedicated to providing a learning environment conducive to attaining high artistic standards, instruction by faculty who are experts in their art disciplines as well as outstanding educators, an innovative curriculum, and unique performance opportunities. This environment will permit opportunities which are sufficiently broad to provide each student’s needs, sufficiently structured to provide each student with the necessary tools to learn, and sufficiently versatile to create an atmosphere which promotes creative self-expression and development. 

OUR HISTORY

The Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts offers an enriched arts education for students with a demonstrated talent in the arts. The program develops both the academic and artistic skills of students interested in artistic careers as well as an appreciation of the arts for those who may choose other fields.

Harrison opened in 1989 and serves students throughout Polk County. Students are dually-enrolled in Lakeland High School for their academic classes, which is adjacent to the Harrison campus. Students are afforded the benefits of a wide range of both standard and honors courses, with opportunities for advanced placement credit.

Harrison School for the Arts and Lakeland High School conduct classes on a seven-period day. Students are able to earn 28 credits in four years. Harrison students must earn a minimum of 10 credits in arts-specific classes, including three arts-specific credits during their junior and senior years, to graduate from Harrison School for the Arts.

RECOGNITIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Harrison is recognized as an Exemplary School by the Arts Schools Network.

  • The Harrison Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and Chamber Winds have all performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

  • The Harrison Choral program has performed at the State, Regional, and National ACDA Conventions.

  • The Harrison Dance Department features an American Ballet Theatre Affiliate Teacher, certified in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.

  • Harrison student films have been accepted into numerous film festivals, including the Sunscreen West, Los Angeles, Gasparilla, and Palm Beach International Film Festivals.

  • Harrison has had at least one of 25 winners in the state-wide Arts For Life! scholarship competition five of the last seven years.

  • In 2021, Harrison had 21 students recognized as recipients of the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition with 8 silver keys, 10 gold keys, one silver medal, and two gold medals.

  • Harrison's professional affiliations include Art Schools Network, Florida Alliance for Arts Education, Americans for the Arts, National Association of College Admission Counseling, Southern Association of College Admission Counseling, American School Counselor Association, and Florida School Counselor Association.