Designation from The NAMM Foundation honors SISD for outstanding commitment to music education
The Socorro Independent School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th 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.
Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. Over 1,000 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
“Receiving this recognition is a direct reflection of all the hard work of our amazing teachers. Their commitment to providing opportunity and access to a multitude of various musical avenues and high levels of music instruction is paramount to student achievement,” said SISD Fine Arts Director Armando Martinez. “We thank Socorro ISD, administrators, teachers, parents, and the community for their unwavering support of the arts.”
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Socorro ISD 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 leading arts educational research firm, WolfBrown.
Socorro ISD provides award-winning music programs across the district, including band, mariachi, guitar, and choir. In addition, the district offers two fine arts academies – the Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy and the Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy – to provide students the best opportunities in music education and to achieve their full potential in the fine arts.