Fargo Public Schools receives national recognition for music education program

Fargo, North Dakota – The Fargo Public Schools are proud to announce that they have been selected to receive a national award for the twentieth time.

The National Association of Music Merchants is honoring Fargo Public Schools with the Best Communities for Music Education designation for the 20th time in the award’s 24-year history. This recognition comes as a result of the school district’s commitment to providing students with access to high-quality musical instruction. This school district joins 830 others across the United States in ensuring that all students have access to music and educational opportunities of a high standard.

“Music has the comprehensive power to develop students cognitively, socially, and emotionally, as well as enhance critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills while eliciting and encouraging creativity, ” said FPS Performing Arts Facilitator Patrick Thiel, “An award such as this doesn’t happen by accident. Every stakeholder in this community has played a vital role in earning this distinction.”

In order for the school district to qualify for the prize, it had to provide detailed responses to a series of questions covering topics such as how the school district finances the program, graduation criteria, instructional time, student involvement in music classes, and support for the program. The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas then reviews the responses when they have been received.