Topics Related to A+ Schools

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

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. Over the following three decades, A+ Schools of North Carolina has revolutionized education through the arts, helping educators create dynamic, engaging learning environments.  

Participating in ongoing, high-quality professional development is one of the three indicators of a highly engaged A+ school (along with principal leadership and teacher engagement), and it is the most important service that A+ Schools of N.C. offers. During the 2024-2025 school year, we have provided more than 25 professional development sessions to schools across the A+ network.

A+ school White Oak Elementary in Carteret County transforms classrooms using arts-integrated curriculum woven throughout daily lessons. In the article below, third-grade teacher Tiffany Morris shares a recent learning experience that helped students discover and celebrate their unique qualities. Third-grade teachers collaborated to design a meaningful, arts-integrated project that incorporated many of the A+ Essentials—an example of A+ practice in action throughout an entire school community. Well done, White Oak Elementary!****

A revolutionary way of approaching education started in North Carolina nearly 30 years ago, and it has been transforming the lives of students and teachers ever since. A+ Schools of North Carolina is a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. A+ Schools serves more than 60 PreK–12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the state. In addition, A+ Schools supports transformation at eight pilot schools across the U.S. 

A+ Fellows are leaders in the arts and education, and each year they facilitate high-quality professional development for A+ schools and partner organizations. Meet Gideon Young, one of our most enthusiastic A+ Fellows! Gideon finds joy in everything he does, and he shares that joy with educators, students, colleagues, and friends every day.

Photo: Teachers from Odyssey School at the 2024 A+ Summer Institute in Asheville. Photo credit: North Carolina Arts Council.

Welcome to "Capturing Creativity," a visual celebration of the creative and engaging work happening in A+ Schools. This collection of photographs and captions offers a glimpse into the vibrant classrooms, dynamic projects, and dedicated individuals who are practicing A+ philosophy every day. We hope you’ll find enjoyment and inspiration in these images and accompanying resources from across the A+ network.

To celebrate Arts in Our Schools Month, we’re shining a spotlight on A+ Schools of North Carolina. Established in 1995 by the Kenan Institute for the Arts, A+ Schools is the longest-running arts-based whole-school transformation model in the nation. It all started with 25 schools training together to better understand how the arts could be central to teaching and learning in all subjects. The network of schools has expanded across the state and today serves more than 25,000 students annually.

A+ Schools of North Carolina remembers and honors long-time A+ Fellow and arts education advocate Joan Certa-Moore.