Austin Is Arts
At Austin Public Schools, the Arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education. Students have meaningful opportunities to create, perform, and develop their artistic talents across music, theater, and the visual arts, including:
- Music instruction beginning with general music in grades K–4. Starting in grade 5, they can participate in dedicated band, choir, and orchestra programs through grade 12.
- High school music groups such as the Austinaires, Jazz One, and La Fiera that offer students opportunities to perform locally and throughout the region.
- Our partnership with MacPhail Music expands access to high-quality instruction through both in-person and virtual lessons, supported by shared creative learning spaces.
- Art instruction available at every grade level, beginning with general art in the early years and expanding to more specialized options like photography, multimedia, drawing, painting, and 3D design in the upper grades.
- Showcasing student creativity through district-wide art shows held multiple times each year.
- Theater participation where students can take part in plays and musicals from elementary through high school, engaging in performance and production.
- Arts integration in literacy and language arts instruction across the organization with alignment to standards, including opportunities like readers' theatre, performing arts connections, and poetry.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming that incorporates the arts into design thinking in Project lead The Way (PLTW) classes, landscaping, welding, floral design, and other coursework.
With strong opportunities in music, theater, and visual arts, APS empowers students to explore their creativity and express themselves in ways that reflect their unique interests and passions.
