TUHSD | TUHSD Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support

NEWS RELEASE

TUHSD Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support

Best Communities for Music Education 25yrs 24 logoApril 11, 2024 – Tempe, AZ – The Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the second year in a row that TUHSD has received the honor.

Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, TUHSD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“Music education is and has always been important to this district and its students,” said Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts for the Tempe Union High School District, Josh Thye. “This award will have a lasting impact on the legacy of the Tempe Union music programs because it recognizes the hard work that these faithful music educators and their talented students are doing, shining a light on the musical excellence in this school district.”

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well.

“We know as educators that the fine and performing arts make a huge difference for our students,” said TUHSD Superintendent Dr. Stacia Wilson. “I am so proud of our educators and students for receiving this recognition for the second year in a row.”


About Tempe Union High School District Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) is an A-rated school district by the Arizona Department of Education and home to approximately 11,000 students across six high schools. Five TUHSD schools have also earned the A+ Award of Excellence from the Arizona Educational Foundation and three schools – Desert Vista, Mountain Pointe and McClintock - have earned the award twice. It is our vision that all students will graduate with the knowledge, understanding and ability to apply skills necessary for success in college, career and life. For more information, visit www.tempeunion.org.


###