Dr. Krista Williams, CEO and FounderThe academy was established on the belief that artistry and academics fuel each other. It provides young people with the opportunity to pursue both with equal intensity. From music, dance, theater and visual arts to honors courses, dual enrollment and college-level credits, students receive a well-rounded education that sharpens creativity while preparing them for higher education and future careers. They go beyond mastering one discipline, exploring and experimenting, discovering new passions and talents, and earning awards and certifications and even college credits and degrees.
“With us, learners across Alabama gain access to opportunities once out of reach, empowering them to excel in ways previously unimaginable and achieve their highest potential,” says Dr. Krista Williams, CEO and Founder.
Academic and Artistic Tracks
Students at the academy follow an honors track that begins in middle school and continues through high school. Advanced Placement classes and dual enrollment allow them to compile college credits before they graduate. Many leave with the Alabama Advanced Honors High School Diploma, while some also complete certificates or associate degrees through local colleges.
Enrollment is determined by lottery and is open to students statewide, creating a campus filled with diverse experiences and perspectives.
Programs are intentionally designed to intersect. A pianist might step into media arts to develop visual skills. A dancer might take up painting to explore expression in a different way. Theater students sometimes enroll in music theory to find new ways to think about performance. Encouraged to step outside their main focus, students often discover unexpected strengths and chase more than one passion.
Programs That Inspire
Students at the academy spend their days moving between music, dance, theater and visual arts classes. The music program includes piano, band, strings, orchestra and choir. Students attend practice sessions, masterclasses, and lessons on technique and musicianship. Some practice for hours each day to improve their skills.
Dance students study ballet, modern and movement such as the Lester Horton Technique. The classes focus on strength, precision and style, while allowing each student to find their own way of moving. Theater students work on acting, stagecraft and producing. They learn to collaborate and perform for audiences. Visual Arts students can take Fine Arts, which includes painting, watercolor and design, or Media Arts, which covers photography, broadcasting, animation and digital character creation. Students get hands-on experience using tools like Maya and AutoCAD.
Core academic classes are also pursued. Piano students also study music theory and history. Orchestra members join chamber music and masterclasses. Media Arts students practice drawing, animation and 3D modeling.
The school recently added computer science courses and plans to expand into software engineering, cybersecurity, programming and game design. Engineering programs are also being developed. These courses give students ways to combine technical skills with creative work and explore fields they might not have tried before.
With us, learners across Alabama gain access to opportunities once out of reach, empowering them to excel in ways previously unimaginable and achieve their highest potential.
Students Setting the Standard
Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy has a long history of students excelling in both the arts and academics. In 2025, a student took first place at the Alabama State Superintendent Visual Arts Exhibit, and her work was displayed at the state capitol. Music students have earned awards in competitions such as the Gulf Coast Steinway Piano Competition and the Golden Lyre Music Competition. Several vocalists have been selected to perform in the Alabama All-State Choir.
One notable story is that of Jackson Sanderson. He became a junior finalist in the 2025 Middle School Honors Performance Series and performed voice-baritone with the Honors Junior Choir at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Over the course of several days, he rehearsed, explored the city, participated in cultural activities, and performed on one of the world’s most renowned stages.
Achievements like these happen regularly. Students present their work in performances and exhibitions throughout the year. The youth edition of Footloose was performed at the University of South Alabama and sold out all three nights.
Another student’s work earned Best of Show at an arts festival where her work was displayed at the Marx Library on the University of South Alabama campus. Faculty members, many with masters or doctoral degrees and collegiate teaching experience, guide students to compete and succeed at both local and national levels. The combination of skilled staff and motivated students creates a culture of excellence visible in every performance, exhibition and award.
The Vision and the Future
The academy was inspired by Floretta P. Carson, the founder's first piano teacher. Dr. Williams began playing at age six and quickly gained recognition as a prodigy. By eighth grade, she was principal pianist for the New Orleans Philharmonic and later joined the New Orleans Symphony. She won numerous concerto and sonata competitions and is a Grammy-nominated music educator. These experiences shaped the academy’s mission to give students a place where they can pursue artistic excellence while also meeting academic challenges.
The school is considering several expansions to welcome more students, such as dormitory-style housing to provide access for students from across Alabama. New courses in computer science, software engineering, programming and game design will complement the existing arts programs. Engineering classes are also in development.
A Community That Supports Growth
Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy is more than just a classroom. Students move from music to dance to theater and art. Some carry instruments, while others carry sketchbooks, and still others have scripts in hand. They practice, rehearse, paint and perform every day. Teachers give feedback, and students try again.
Performances fill the halls, shows sell tickets, and art gets displayed, allowing students to notice each other’s work, pick up ideas, learn from mistakes, and push themselves a little more, while teachers help along the way by guiding, correcting, and sometimes just watching as students explore on their own.
By the end of the day, students leave with experiences, confidence and the memory of what it felt like to create, learn and grow. Each day adds a little more to what they can do next.
