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Urban Districts Named Best in Music Education

  • Texas’ Fort Worth Independent School District was honored with a 2020 “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment and support to music education. This is the sixth consecutive year the district has earned this distinction. 

    Each year, NAMM selects school districts and schools across the country for their support of music education programs for students. The “Best Communities for Music Education” designation was awarded to 754 school districts and 148 schools that demonstrated outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. 

    “I’m grateful to have our teachers and staff recognized for their hard work,” said Christina Walk, executive director of visual and performing art for the Fort Worth school system. “We offer a fabulous educational experience through music at every level.”  Best Communities for Music Education logo

    According to NAMM, research shows that there are cognitive and social skills benefits to students with access to music education. 

    In addition to Fort Worth, other urban school districts receiving the honor were Texas’ Arlington Independent School District, Austin Independent School District, Dallas Independent School District, and San Antonio Independent School District; Nevada’s Clark County School District and Washoe County Schools; Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C.; Alabama’s Birmingham City Schools; New York’s Rochester City School District; Tennessee’s Shelby County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools; New Jersey’s Newark Board of Education; The School District of Philadelphia; and Wichita Public Schools in Kansas. Also receiving the award were Florida’s Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa; Pinellas County Schools; Orange County Public Schools in Orlando; Broward County Schools; and The School District of Palm Beach County.

    In order to be recognized, districts had to complete an 18-page application, including a survey and detailed questions about a variety of factors in the community that affect students’ access to music education.