WELCOME to DENTON ISD FINE ARTS!
Proud to Be Named to List of
"Best Communities for Music Education in America"
2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2004
The NAMM Foundation is proud to announce the results for the tenth annual Best Communities for Music Education survey. View the complete roster of districts. Thank you to all who participated.
David Mairs, Denton HS Orchestra Director, has been named "Jostens Secondary Teacher of the Year" for Denton ISD!!! Congratulations to
Mr. Mairs on this outstanding honor.
The arts are among the six basic academic subjects. The arts are valuable in all areas of study because they engage the imagination, foster flexible ways of thinking, develop disciplined effort, and build self-confidence.
--The College Board
We look for students whose previous participation in the arts shows that they can make a substantial contribution to our academic community.
--William R. Fitzsimmons
Dean of Admissions at Harvard University
The arts have the potential to unify. They can speak in many languages without a translator. The arts do not discriminate. The arts can lift us all up.
--Barbara Jordan
Former Texas Congresswoman
People who can communicate through the subtleties of the arts will have the skills and understanding that our 21st century economy will require.
--Dr. Thomas H. Kean
President of Drew University
People who create in our companies--whether they be scientists, marketing experts, or business strategists--benefit from exposure to the arts. People cannot create when they work and live in a culturally sterile environment.
--John D. Ong
Chairman Emeritus, the BF Goodrich Company
The quality of civilization can be measured through its music, dance, drama, architecture, visual art, and literature. We must give our children knowledge and understanding of civilization's most profound works.
--Dr. Ernest L. Boyer
Former President, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Denton ISD offers a wide range of fine arts instruction from grades K-12. Full-time art and music specialists are on staff at each elementary campus to serve students in developing knowledge and skill in these areas. Strings instruction begins in the 5th grade and is taught by the district's middle school and high school orchestra directors.
All middle school campuses offer students an opportunity to participate in art, band, choir, orchestra, and theatre arts. At the high school level, students can further enhance their learning through special classes in art, band, jazz band, choir, jazz choir, orchestra, jazz orchestra, theatre arts, and dance. In addition, Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered in art and music theory. Both middle school and high school programs participate in University Interscholastic League (UIL) contests, as well as in district, region, area, and state levels of competition sponsored by the various disciplines.
Locally, Denton ISD students attend special age-appropriate fine arts programs offered by the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University that are co-sponsored by the Greater Denton Arts Council and the school district. Many students also experience events at various art museums throughout the Metroplex, at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and at the Bass Concert Hall in Ft. Worth. In addition, students have an opportunity to travel to invitational contests and festivals held throughout the state and nation, as well as to participate in cultural exchange programs and performances on an international level.
All elementary students receive weekly instruction in art and music with approximately 84% of the secondary student population receiving training in one or more fine arts discipline. The district's student participation in arts instruction (K-12) averages 92%. Fine arts programs in Denton ISD are fortunate to enjoy broad support from the school district, Denton arts groups, the universities, and the local community.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
David McCullar,
Director of Fine Arts
The resources that can be accessed with the links connecting to sources other than the Website, dentonisd.org are not maintained by DENTON Independent School District. DENTON Independent School District is not responsible for the contents of any such resources. The existence of a link should not be assumed as an endorsement by DENTON Independent School District.
