The Osceola County School for the Arts will host two informational meetings for students and parents interested in attending the school for the 2011-12 school year.

The first meeting, which will be Tuesday at 7 p.m., will be focused toward incoming prospective middle school students (grades 6, 7 and 8) for next school year. The second informational meeting will be for interested incoming high school students (grades 9, 10, 11 and 12) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both meetings will be at the school, 3151 N. Orange Blossom Trail in Kissimmee.

The Osceola County School for the Arts offers full academic studies with specialization in the arts. Students who attend the school have the opportunity to learn skills and techniques that will carry them into a successful career in the arts. The school offers instrumental music (band and orchestra) and dance for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students. High school students have the opportunity to study instrumental or vocal music, creative writing, dance, drama, technical theatre and visual arts.

Any Osceola County middle or high school student may apply to attend the school and receive transportation. Applications are available at the school, online, and also will be available at the meetings. All students planning to attend the school are required to audition.

The school has again been awarded the prestigious distinction for the second year in a row as one of America's top high schools. Each year, Newsweek magazine, in conjunction with the Washington Post, picks the best high schools in the country based on how hard school staffs work to challenge students with advanced placement college-level courses and tests. With just more than 1,600 schools, only 6 percent of all the public schools in the U.S. earn a spot on the list. More information about the school and admission criteria can be found at www.thearts.osceola.k12.fl.us.