Originally, this arts program began in 1983 as Los Al Players, a summer musical theatre camp for ages 4 – 16 founded by Terry Bigelow, Jean Parks, and Ralph Opacic in Los Alamitos, CA.

In the summer of 2000, Francis Ford Coppola served as a guest artist at the school, directing and writing a production of his musical, Gidget, with songs by John Farrar and starring Krysta Rodriguez (a student at the time) and Dermot Mulroney.

OCSA also has a selection of electives including Acting, Ceramics, Improv, Graphic Design, Zoology, Vocal Ensemble, Beginner Piano, Journalism, and Photography.

[citation needed] OCSA was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education.

(Some conservatories may not be listed in this list): Production and Design, International Dance (was Ballet Folklórico),[3] Classical and Contemporary Dance, Commercial Dance, Creative Writing, Film and Television, Integrated Arts, Instrumental Music (divided into Strings and Orchestra, Piano, Wind Studies, and Jazz), Popular Music, Musical Theater, Acting, Classical Voice (was Opera), Visual Arts, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Digital Media, and Arts and Enterprise (introduced in the 2022-23 school year).