Mineola Named One of the Best Communities for Music Education

The Mineola Union Free School District was recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as one of the best communities for music education in 2016.

The district is among 476 school districts across the United States that was recognized for offering a well-rounded education that gives students the opportunity to learn and practice music and the arts.

• Did you participate in any art and music programs at Mineola schools? Tell us what program below!

Many schools that receive this honor say it has a direct impact on funding for their music programs and it leads to more students becoming interested in music and the arts, according to the NAMM Foundation.

These 476 schools were selected out of 13,515 school districts in the nation for demonstrating an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.

The full list of school districts that received this honor can be found here.

“We are moving from a time when curricula were narrowed due to pressure from testing and test-prep remediation to a broader view of what is important for all children,” Mary Luehrsen of the NAMM Foundation said in a press release. “The schools and districts we recognize serve as models for other educators looking to develop standards-based music education programs.”

KU researcher and professor Christopher Johnson said access to music and the arts in schools allows students to explore their own personal expression and creativity more freely. “These activities also have been shown to contribute to lower dropout rates, higher graduation rates, higher ACT scores, and all the while, children learn the joys of music and all the life skills it fosters,” he said.