I went to circus school with a very defined out come. I met that goal and learnt other stuff as well. Not everyone has the same experience or needs.
I found this Intelligence Squared debate on the nature of art schools interesting, perhaps you will too.
CircusGeeks.co.uk 
Fascinating thoughts. I specially like the bit about 43mins in, discussing the necessity for the mediocre, the ‘ok’ art, in order that the radical and the excellent exist…