A+ Schools of North Carolina
The arts for transformation.
Hear from A+ teachers and students on how the A+ Schools model transforms teaching and learning by using the arts as a catalyst for creating meaningful connections.
A+ At a Glance
67 pre K–12 A+ schools in all regions of North Carolina
8 pilot A+ schools across the nation
More than 2,500 teachers and administrators are provided with A+ professional development and resources
More than 30,000 students benefit from the A+ Schools program
Established in North Carolina in 1995, A+ Schools of North Carolina is a signature program of the North Carolina Arts Council and the longest-running, arts-based whole-school transformation model in the nation.
The program views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. It supports participating schools in developing a creative culture in which the state's mandated curriculum is taught through collaboration and multi-discipline integration. In an A+ school, the arts are continuously woven into every child's learning experience.
Research shows that students’ grade-level proficiency increases and schools meet or exceed overall school performance goals following the initial three-year implementation of A+. Students who are traditionally the most marginalized show the largest and most rapid gains. Successful A+ schools report improved attendance, fewer disciplinary problems, stronger teacher satisfaction, and higher levels of community and parental involvement.
There are currently 67 pre K–12 A+ schools in all regions of North Carolina and eight pilot A+ schools across the nation, impacting a total of more than 30,000 students and 2,500 teachers.
