Rockdale County Public Schools nationally recognized for music education

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) has earned the Best Communities for Music Education designation.

Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.

“We are extremely proud of this prestigious national award which recognizes the hard work of our music educators who cultivate a love for music through their classes and extracurricular opportunities,” said Rockdale Schools Superintendent Terry Oatts. “Our teachers are passionate about developing the musical skills and talents of our students across all grade levels.”

“Fine arts are deeply rooted in Rockdale County Public Schools,” said Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Pam Brown. “Receiving this national award for music affirms our district’s commitment to providing every child with opportunities to engage in something of interest and be successful. Congratulations to all our teachers and administrators on receiving this honor and thank you for sharing your gift with our students.”

To qualify for the Best Communities designation from the NAMM Foundation, the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas evaluated RCPS based on graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, funding, support for the music program and community music-making programs.

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. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals worldwide. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.

Pictured: RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts, Rockdale Board of Education Chair Pam Brown