FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Any student, grades 8–11, who is a resident of Fayette County at the time of audition. Non-Fayette County residents are ineligible to apply for this program.

Can I audition in more than one arts area?

Students are allowed to seek gifted identification in more than one arts area, however, requirements are rigorous and require focus to demonstrate at a high level. Students are encouraged to focus on one or two arts disciplines. Students will only be offered placement in 1 arts area. Rank-ordered preferences will be considered prior to placement offers.

Do I have to have taken private lessons in my arts area?

No. Students are not required to have had formal training in any of the arts areas prior to applying for SCAPA.

How are students selected for the school?

Students are selected for gifted identification based solely upon demonstrated artistic talent through the audition process. District Visual/Performing Arts Audition Committees, comprised of SCAPA teachers and district arts specialists in each arts area, will determine which students will be referred to SCAPA for possible placement for the following school year. No minimum grades or conduct are required for admission.

When will application materials be available?

Typically by start of school each year.

How do I apply?

To apply for SCAPA Lafayette, begin the process by notifying the GT Resource teacher assigned to your school in the fall semester that you are interested in auditioning for gifted services. An interest and parent permission form are required. 

What happens after I indicate my interest in auditioning?

Gifted and Talented Visual and Performing Arts auditions including those for SCAPA Lafayette are recorded and submitted through every middle and high school in FCPS during the district-wide audition window. Your GT specialist or arts teacher at your FCPS school will help you record your audition for submission.

Students will work with school-based arts specialists and district Gifted and Talented resource teachers to record auditions. GT Visual and Performing Arts auditions are recorded and submitted at every middle and high school in the district throughout January. Your arts teacher or GT specialist at your FCPS school will help you record and submit your audition for possible GT Identification. 

Non-FCPS students will attend an audition date on a weekday to record prepared and on-demand activities for submission. (See below for specific dates for the current year.)

What happens after I record and submit my audition?

Auditions will be scored by a District Visual/Performing Arts Adjudication Committee, comprised of district arts specialists in each arts discipline. After a student receives notification of GT Identification, families can determine whether they want to make a formal application for placement at SCAPA Lafayette for the following school year. Students must have a gifted identification to be eligible for the SCAPA program. Formal application is made through the SchoolMint platform during the district-wide special programs application window.

After all auditions are complete, the SCAPA Gifted/Talented Recommendation Committee (SCAPA GRC) will meet to review the audition results and supplementary evidence to determine offers of placement, wait list, or recommendation for non-SCAPA school-based services. Letters of acceptance, waitlist, and non-acceptance will be sent through SchoolMint on the district-wide notification date (March).

For students previously identified as gifted in their arts discipline, SCAPA placement requires a current audition the year prior to entering the program (students currently identified that are interested in SCAPA for the 2026–2027 school year must complete the audition process again to meet potential SCAPA eligibility)

How many slots are available each year?

The number of available slots varies each year according to the following variables:

• The number of graduating seniors

• The number of continuing placements from SCAPA Bluegrass

• The number of students who voluntarily leave the program

• Staffing allocations

Due to the size of Lafayette High School, SCAPA Lafayette typically has more capacity than is available at SCAPA Bluegrass in elementary and middle school levels. The average number of available slots is usually 45–65. There are no grade-level specific number of available slots. Students in grades 8–11 are eligible for all available slots. 

Should an opening occur after the initial spring offer season, the SCAPA Lafayette GT Facilitator will review the waiting list and will contact the student being offered placement. Late offers may happen at any time prior to the 10th day of the school year.

How are the SCAPA classes worked into the regular school day?

Lafayette High School operates on an alternating block schedule. Each student takes four (4) 85-minute classes each day with A and B alternating days (four different classes on each day). This gives each student the opportunity to take eight (8) classes per school year. Two (2) of these classes are the SCAPA classes. The remaining six (6) classes consist of graduation requirements and other electives.

SCAPA classes are scheduled during the regular school day. Lafayette school hours are 8:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Because SCAPA occurs during the school day, the full range of extra-curricular activities available at Lafayette is open to all SCAPA students. Our students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular and athletic opportunities at Lafayette.

How many students attend SCAPA Lafayette?

SCAPA Lafayette typically has 300–350 students in any given year.

I am interested in Lafayette's Pre-Engineering Program. Can I do both?

Yes! It is possible for students to participate in both programs. SCAPA Lafayette and Lafayette Pre-Engineering are premiere programs in FCPS and while they are both rigorous and challenging programs, we have a number of students accepted to and graduate as participants in both programs each year. As many as 20% of SCAPA students are also enrolled in the Pre-Engineering program.

I am interested in The Hill Vocational Program. Can I do both?

Due to The Hill's requirement for students to enroll in two different programs, (requiring 4 of 8 classes in a student's schedule) it is unlikely that students will be able to enroll in both programs AND meet core class requirements for graduation.

I am interested in Locust Trace Vocational Program. Can I do both?

It is possible for students to participate in both programs, however, due to fixed schedule of SCAPA classes, schedule conflicts may occur that do not allow both to fit in a student's schedule.

May I come and visit SCAPA?

Students and families who are interested in applying for the program are encouraged to attend the Fall Audition/Application Informational Meeting so that they may meet and talk with the arts teachers and see the building. In order to minimize classroom interruptions or distractions and to preserve the quality of the learning environment, individual student shadow visits are not allowed; however, appointments may be made to meet with the facilitator of SCAPA by emailing scapalafayette@fayette.kyschools.us.

After I am accepted, where can I find transportation information?

Transportation is provided per board policy. Students who are accepted to SCAPA Lafayette will need to request transportation if needed. Requests are typically due by June 15. If you are NOT already in the Lafayette attendance area, your bus route may require you to transport your student to a dropoff and pickup location. More information on our SCAPA Transportation page.

Is there a SCAPA orientation?

Yes! SCAPA Orientation is a single afternoon session following one of the Lafayette Ignite Orientation sessions in late July. This is an opportunity for students to meet their peers in whole-group and arts-specific cohorts. Students will have an opportunity to meet with their major arts teacher and learn expectations before the beginning of the year.