Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA) is a tuition-free NYC public high school in Astoria, Queens, founded in 2001 by Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto. It operates like a conservatory embedded inside a rigorous academic school: students audition for one of six studios — dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, fine arts, and film and media — and spend their four years developing deep craft in that discipline alongside a full college-prep academic load.
Expect a real commitment. On a typical day, students attend a full schedule of academic classes, then two or three periods of arts instruction, and often stay after school for rehearsals, productions, or internships. The school offers 18 AP courses and boasts a 98% graduation rate, with more than 80% of graduates enrolling in four-year colleges.
Admissions are entirely audition-based and submitted virtually through MySchools.nyc. Competition is genuine — some studios receive nearly 10 applicants per seat — but FSSA is a strong option for hardworking, serious young artists. The school sits inside the Kaufman Astoria Studios complex, giving students a uniquely professional creative environment.
