Rome City Schools announced on April 29 that it has received the Best Communities for Music Education Award from The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The district is one of only 18 in Georgia to earn this recognition for its support and commitment to music education.
The award highlights the importance of music programs in public schools and recognizes districts that provide quality access to arts education. Recipients are selected through a review process evaluating funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities, and community support.
This is the first time Rome City Schools has received this award since opening in 1992. Every band from the district recently earned superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluations, and both Rome High School and Rome Middle School chorus groups also achieved top ratings. The high school’s marching band won grand champion titles at both competitions it entered this year. Show choirs Grand Finale (high school) and Grand Illusion (middle school) collected awards from contests across three states.
District Fine Arts Director Dr. Tab Brown said, “We take a lot of pride in our music program at Rome City Schools. We have an amazing group of band and choral directors, as well as elementary music teachers who not only instruct and teach music but also care about students and want to see them succeed. We are very thankful for a school system and a community that values and supports music education. It is an honor to receive this award, and it is a testament to the hard work of our directors, teachers, and students.”
Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said, “Dr. Brown and his team are second to none, and it’s easy to see how good they are when our bands take the field or the stage, and when our choirs and show choirs perform. Rome City Schools devote time and energy to all facets of education, and Fine Arts play a huge part in that.”
Rome City Schools reports a graduation rate of 95.7% with one-to-one technology available for all K-12 students across multiple schools offering Advanced Placement courses as well as career-technical programs according to the official website. The district focuses on academics, arts, athletics according to its official website, operates under oversight by a Board of Education according to its official website, provides academic instruction including virtual learning options along with special education services according to its official website, offers elementary through high school programs according to its official website, with operations based in Rome, Georgia according to its official website.
Now in its 27th year nationally, the Best Communities for Music Education program continues recognizing districts across the United States for dedication toward equitable access within well-rounded educational offerings.
