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First AISD elementary fine arts academy opens
Austin ISD has expanded its fine arts focus to include the elementary level.
Blackshear Elementary School on Aug. 25 became AISD's first elementary fine arts academy.
Blackshear welcomes all area students as well as students from other parts of the district who are interested in the fine arts, Blackshear Principal Betty Jenkins said.
"Doing this at the elementary level gives students more exposure that then allows them to refine their interests in the fine arts a little more," Jenkins said.
The school is already one of AISD's top-performing schools, she said, despite nearly most of its student body—about 97 percent—being economically disadvantaged.
The Jenkins-led initiative to become a fine arts school officially kicks off Sept. 22, she said. There will still be a core curriculum in addition to dedicated fine arts programs that teach music, theater, visual art and digital art. Teachers have also been trained to use drama, dance and other fine arts methods for teaching more traditional classes, Jenkins said.
The extra cost of the fine arts programming is paid for through grants and personal contributions, she said. Jenkins said her goal is to have Blackshear students perform opening acts at the new AISD Performing Arts Center in Mueller.
