36 Tucson Unified Schools Receive ADE Exemplary Arts Awards

Press release from the Tucson Unified School District:

March 31, 2021

Tucson Unified is proud to share that 36 TUSD schools are a part of the Arizona Department of Education Exemplary Arts Schools Program. Of the 1,542 Arizona schools to receive a rating, Catalina High School and Cholla High School are the only 2 schools in Pima County to receive a Gold Rating. Also notable are Valencia Middle School who received a Silver rating and the 18 TUSD schools who received a Bronze rating. See the listing below of the recognized Tucson Unified schools.

The Exemplary Arts School program was created by the Arizona Department of Education Round Table Advisory Committee for AZ Arts Education to recognize Arizona Schools who are providing excellent arts education programs across the state. Schools are rated by three areas: access to exemplary artistic disciplines (music, visual arts, theater, dance), demonstrating robust student participation in the programs, and striving to grow arts enrollment in the previous year. Based on the 3 areas and using the Arizona Arts Education Data Project, schools received a designation of Developing, Bronze, Silver, or Gold for the 2019-2020 School Year.

“Our schools and staff offer amazing Arts programs in which students thrive. I am very proud of our dedicated staff who inspire creativity, discipline, and commitment to life-long learning. As a result, we are consistently recognized as award winning programs,” said Dr. Joan Ashcraft, Director TUSD Fine and Performing Arts.

Congratulations to our 36 Tucson Unified Schools and to all the Arizona schools for your dedication to promoting the arts.

This press release was produced by the Tucson Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.