The Georgia Department of Education has approved Colquitt County School District to award the Fine Arts Diploma Seal beginning with the 2024-2025 graduating class. According to the Department of Education, the creative industries in Georgia represent a combined $62.5 billion in economic impact and $37 billion in revenue. To identify school districts that have emphasized educating students in the arts, the Georgia Department of Education created the Fine Arts Seal. To earn the Fine Arts seal, a student must complete four courses in the fine arts area, have twenty hours of arts-related community service, participate in two arts-related afterschool activities, and complete a capstone project.
The additional requirements students fulfill to obtain the Georgia Department of Education's Fine Arts Diploma Seal not only enhance the student's abilities in the fine arts areas, but they also enhance the school and community's climate and culture by taking what they are learning and sharing it with others," shared Dr. Marni Kirkland, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
Colquitt County High School's (CCHS) Fine Arts pathways include Visual Art, Theatre, Music, and Mixed Choral courses. The Visual Arts pathway includes courses in Drawing and Paint, Ceramics, Photography, Graphics, Advanced Placement Studio Art Drawing, and Advanced Placement Studio Art 2D Design. The Music pathway includes courses in Music Theory, Advanced Placement Music Theory, Band, and Jazz Band.
Dr. Chris Merritt, CCHS Principal, shared, "Participation in the fine arts is a key component to improving learning throughout all academic areas. When students are passionate about the arts and participate in engaging programs at school, dropout rates decrease, and student attendance rates improve. The development of creativity and a love for learning produce a more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow."
In 2023, 17.25% of the seniors graduated with a fine arts pathway. For the coming school year, 1151 students from C.A. Gray Junior High and CCHS have a fine arts course in music, art, and/or choir. The Colquitt County Board of Education also approved funding for art teachers in every school, and the district is expanding its partnership with the Arts Center of Moultrie to provide more opportunities for professional development for teachers and art education-related student activities. Students interested in taking Fine Arts classes should talk with their school counselor.