Arts Education includes dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts.  In the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district, all students take courses in music and visual art in the elementary years.  Middle school students choose between band, choir, orchestra, visual art, sculpture, or theatre. At the high school level, students choose from a wide variety of electives from all four arts disciplines.  AP and honors courses are available at the high school level.

Arts Education courses are based on the NC Essential Standards for Arts Education.  These standards define the learning goals of the curriculum, and are designed to offer standards-based, sequential instruction that leads to mastery of the discipline over the K-12 experience.  Students that complete the K-12 sequence will be performing at an advanced level.

The arts are much more than a class!  You may choose to be involved both during and outside of the school day.  There are many opportunities for co-curricular involvement at all levels.  Students that are actively involved in the arts might participate in clubs, student ensembles, competitions, community performances, select ensembles, and much more.  All three high schools produce musicals each year, as collaborations between the music and theatre departments.  

There are many social and emotional benefits to involvement in the arts.  Participation in the arts offers many opportunities to connect with a community of kindred spirits, to explore
unique talents and abilities, to express feelings and emotions, and to relieve stress.

Dr. Brenda Whiteman
Arts Coordinator
bwhiteman@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-967-8211 x28308

Michael Eshleman
Executive Administrative Assistant
meshleman@chccs.k12.nc.us
919-967-2811 x28241