Author: Andie Freeman
Header image: students from Mary McArthur Elementary. Image courtesy of Mary McArthur Elementary
In 1995, A+ Schools of North Carolina launched whole-school arts integration by partnering with 25 pioneering schools. Today, we’re revisiting some of those trailblazers who, 30 years later, continue to innovate with A+ Schools.
Banner Elk Elementary
Nestled in the western region of North Carolina, Banner Elk Elementary is cultivating young leaders through the power of arts-integrated education. Principal Justin Carver’s journey with A+ Schools began in middle school and has continued to the present: he’s been an A+ student and the assistant principal of an A+ School, and is now the principal of one of the program’s founding schools. He shared his thoughts about the program:
For nearly three decades, Banner Elk School has lived and breathed the magic of the North Carolina A+ Schools program, a model that feels less like an initiative and more like the heartbeat of our mountain community. As one of the original A+ Schools dating back to 1995, BES has woven the arts into every corner of learning—honoring our rural heritage while inspiring creativity, confidence, and connection in every child. The A+ philosophy has shaped who we are: a school where the arts are not an add-on but the way in which students think, explore, wonder, and grow. My love and admiration for the A+ Schools program runs deep, because its impact is written in 30 years of joyful classrooms, engaged learners, proud traditions, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves an education rich in creativity, culture, and possibility.
Mary McArthur Elementary
In Fayetteville, Mary McArthur Elementary prides itself on serving the community and preparing young minds for the world beyond the classroom. The school’s principal, Lisa Gillespie, told us how the A+ Schools model has shaped the learning environment.
A+ has shaped the very identity of Mary McArthur Elementary, because the arts are not what we do but how we do learning. For thirty years, A+ has helped us create classrooms where learning is fluid and connected across content areas. What students master in math can be applied in music. The skills they practice in drama deepen their understanding in reading. This approach has allowed our learners to take intellectual risks and step confidently onto the big stages that showcase what they know, who they are, and what they are becoming.
Through our A+ Choice Program, we have remained committed to providing a full STEAM—science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics—experience that honors the arts while preparing students for the technology-driven world they live in and will one day work in. Over the years we have expanded opportunities for students through dance master classes, band, and collaborative performances with our local high schools. These experiences strengthen creativity, problem-solving, and the belief that learning should inspire, challenge, and connect.
Davenport Elementary School
In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Davenport Elementary School provides an enriching environment for students to discover their strengths. The principal, Dr. Jessica Anthony, told us how meaningful it is to be part of the A+ Schools network.
Becoming an A+ School 30 years ago transformed our classrooms and school community, because we have adopted and internalized a philosophy that prioritizes teaching the way students learn and leading the way through the arts. Our teachers value the arts as powerful tools for engagement and understanding, and our students benefit from richer learning experiences that build creativity, confidence, and critical thinking. As a result, our school is renowned for our strong community connections, our enriched learning opportunities, and our unity in supporting student success through both academics and the arts.
