Small class size is a priority at PVPA, and there are usually sixteen or fewer students in each classroom. An intimate setting, in which full-time faculty members know every student by name, helps the school to create a personalized learning strategy for each individual student.

PVPA is committed to excellence in both its academic and arts programs, and the school's graduation requirements exceed the Massachusetts state standards. PVPA students are required to take four years of language arts, three years of science, three years of math with a fourth year option, three years of history with a fourth year option, three years of one world language with a fourth year option, and a minimum of eight hours weekly per semester of performing arts programs.

The school provides over fifty choices in performing arts programs each semester, including multiple options within the disciplines of dance, drama, vocal and instrumental music, stage design and lighting, and visual arts.