What does it take to get into a select arts high school?

In this case, the article is focusing on the LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts.

It's great to read about students at the very top of high school arts education in New York City.

At the same time, it makes me think back to when I graduated high school, when in addition to LaGuardia (then it was two separate schools: Music and Art High School and The Performing Arts High School), you didn't have to audition for and depend on a specialized schools because so many of the schools had superb programs. It was evident through the all-city music program, where so many students came from schools from all around the city, often beating out kids in the specialized schools for slots in the then coveted and highly super competitive all-city programs.

At any rate, for a good sense of what it takes to get a first class high school arts education, click this link to read an article from the New York Daily News: 'Fame' Inspiration: Getting into LaGuardia High School Requires All the Right Moves.