A+ News

Header image: 2025 Louisiana A+ Schools Fall Fellows’ Retreat, photo courtesy of Louisiana A+ Schools

Header image: Michelle Burrows receives the Secretary's Award of Excellence. From left: N.C. DNCR Chief Deputy Secretary Maggie Thompson, N.C. Arts Council Executive Director Jeff Bell, Michelle Burrows, and Secretary Pamela Cashwell. Photo courtesy of DNCR 

Header image: students from Mary McArthur Elementary. Image courtesy of Mary McArthur Elementary

Thirty years ago, visionary leaders launched A+ Schools of North Carolina after recognizing the powerful role the arts were playing in classrooms.

Michelle Burrows has played a pivotal role in A+ Schools of North Carolina since its inception, providing steadfast leadership as its director for more than 15 years.

Header image: Photo by Sara Ridings, courtesy of A+ Schools of North Carolina / North Carolina Arts Council. 

Header image: Students working together on a class project at Royal Oaks School of the Arts in Kannapolis, N.C. Royal Oaks is part of the A+ Schools of North Carolina network. Photo by Tibor Nemeth.

Header image: Teachers at the 2025 A+ Schools of North Carolina summer conference at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Photo by Peter Shanahan

In 1995, the Kenan Institute for the Arts, in Winston-Salem, launched a program to integrate the arts in every aspect of instruction in 25 urban, suburban, and rural pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade schools. Immediately, the results were profoundly positive.

A+ school White Oak Elementary in Carteret County transforms classrooms using arts-integrated curriculum woven throughout daily lessons.