Art students feeling disconnected from their current high schools, may be able to hone their art skills with an alternative school in Butler County.

Options Academy of the Arts of Butler County is in its fifth year of providing alternative education for juniors and seniors from more than 10 districts.

The vocational school through the Butler Tech system is located in Hamilton, Ohio.

Principal Erin Schilling, who has a background in dance, said that Options Academy is a branch of Butler Tech schools that offer vocational education in the niche area of arts.

"Some of our students come in feeling disconnected from their own schools," Schilling said. "But not all students-for most it's just a better option."

Schilling said the school focuses on entertainment marketing, which incorporates a business perspective into arts classes. In visual arts classes, students must make decisions about pricing and gallery design. In music classes the students must form bands and provide proper names, posters and song selections for their selected audiences.

Sebron Hurlburt, a junior in her first year at Options Academy of the Arts, said she chose to leave her home school at Lakota West High School because she knew Options Academy had the education she wanted.

"(Options Academy) gave me the chance to not sit around in the classroom all day," Hulburt said. "I'm around people who want to do the same things as I do."

The school has a five-bell system, with students spending half the day focusing on arts classes while the other half is spent in the computer lab taking online courses from Butler Tech in order to graduate from high school.

"There isn't a class I wouldn't want to take," Hulburt said. "I even like the lab classes. I get to go at my own pace."

According to Schilling, the arts classes are split into several focuses including visual arts, dance, theater and music.

Schilling said the students work hard to put together performances every nine to 10 weeks. The performances are located in the Fitton Center for Public Arts in downtown Hamilton. The performances include dance recitals, plays, music concerts and gallery shows.

Currently there are 80 students enrolled in Options Academy, hailing from high schools in several districts including Fairfield, New Miami, Tallawanda, Madison, and Lakota.

To be accepted, students apply through their guidance counselor at their home high school during their sophomore year. The most important part of the application is the Kuder Career Interest Assesment, which demonstrates a student' commitment level. Schilling said the higher amount of commitment a student shows, the less likely they will have disciplinary problems in a school that allows a lot of freedom. The test, however, is not art-focused.

Options Academy has a mission statement that aims to improve performances on statewide tests, reduce expulsions and suspensions.

"So many schools are cutting out arts programs and we offer a very sound arts program as an alternative," Schilling said.

Hulburt, who has chosen to focus on vocals, dance and technical theater, said her home school Lakota West High School, does not offer dance classes.

Options Academy strives to maintain a traditional school setting as well. Students may even participate in extracurricular activities at their home schools.

Hulburt said she does not feel disconnected from the high school experience.

"I went to three homecomings this year," she said. "I went to all the football games too."

Hulburt, who wants to pursue a career as a producer in the music business, believes Options Academy will provide her with the proper jumpstart to postsecondary education.