Fine Arts - Queen Anne County Public Schools

ArtScene: A Zine About the Arts Scene in QACPS

Vision | Fine Arts Education

Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, in its commitment to educating the whole child, embraces the belief that “the fine arts are among humanity’s greatest aesthetic and intellectual achievements” (Maryland Essential Learner Outcomes for Fine Arts) and need to be integrated in students’ programs throughout their education. Our vision is to increase the access, equity, and quality of arts education in Queen Anne’s County through rigorous and meaningful child-centered learning experiences.

Mission | Fine Arts Education

The high school Fine Arts program (visual arts, music, theatre, dance, and media arts) in Queen Anne’s County is designed to foster creative potential in each student. Our goal is to provide high quality, sequential programs which communicate a diverse range of customs, thoughts, and creative ideas. The arts are the primary means of transmitting culture throughout history, influencing a broad range of discovery and 21st Century skills that are an essential part of every child’s learning and cognitive development. It is through the arts that we sharpen analytical skills, encourage abstract associations, innovative thinking, and creative problem solving. Fine Arts Graduation Requirement—1 Credit

Visual Arts High School Scope & Sequence

Program Overview

The high school Visual Arts programs in Queen Anne’s County are designed to offer opportunities for students to learn, explore, and concentrate on visual arts concepts, while developing creative problem solving and studio art skills that foster artistic behaviors. Design elements and principles will be explored through two and three-dimensional activities, such as—drawing, painting, printmaking, visual journaling, mixed-media, ceramics and sculpture—at all levels. Students preparing a portfolio for college admissions are offered the option of following a sequential studio track in 2-D or 3-D Studio Art. This provides the opportunity for students to receive honors level fine arts credits and equitable access to rigorous Advanced Placement® (AP®) art courses in: AP® 2-D Art and Design/AP® Drawing, AP® 3-D Art and Design and/or AP® Art History. Courses may be taken sequentially or by sampling the many visual arts course offerings in both 2-D and 3-D to become college and career ready through the visual arts.

Already have skills? Bypass Fundamentals of Art and dive right into 2-D Studio I or 3-D Studio I!

For all rising 9th graders, simply check the box to move right into a 2-D Studio Art I (drawing and painting) or 3-D Studio Art I (ceramics and sculpture) course when completing high school course selection forms. For all current 9th – 12th graders who have already taken an art course, please consult with an art teacher to determine which art course to take next within our progression. Fundamentals of Art is an “introductory art course”, not to be taken after a 2-D or 3-D Studio Art course.

Visual Arts High School Course Sequence Diagram

2026 - 2027 Visual Arts Program Progression

Performing Arts High School Scope & Sequence

Dance

The Dance programs in Queen Anne’s County are designed to provide an opportunity for students to experience intellectual, physical, emotional and social growth through courses that include studies in the major areas of dance—technique, history, creating original dance movement, the choreographic process, aesthetic criticism, and performance. Students observe, respond, create and perform using the body as an instrument to communicate feelings, thoughts and ideas. Dance education fosters positive student interaction and an appreciation for diverse points of view, opportunities to work collaboratively while establishing strong human bonds which transcend racial, ethnic and socioeconomic barriers. The National Core Arts Standards are the basis for the high school dance curriculum.

Dance High School Program Course Sequence Diagram

Music

The high school Music programs in Queen Anne’s County are designed to offer a comprehensive scope and breadth of music course offerings for all student levels and interests. In a world where much importance is being attached to 21st-century skills, high school music courses are ideal settings for the development and broadening of those skills. Music classes are both rigorous and stimulating and offer students many opportunities for creative, innovative thinking that encourages problem-solving and collaboration. Students enrolled in school performance ensembles have the opportunity to participate in organizations such as All-County Ensembles, All-State music experiences, solo and ensemble festivals, and other enrichment musical activities. Music courses may be taken sequentially or by sampling many of the outstanding music course offerings. Many of our performance-based ensemble courses may be taken each year to build upon prior performance skills. Please discuss scheduling with a Music Director at your school.

Music High School Course Sequence Diagram

Theatre

The high school Theatre programs in Queen Anne’s County are designed to develop performance and production skills, creative collaboration, and aesthetic appreciation of Theatre at the highest possible level. The process of Theatre Arts as a program of study enhances the development of creative and critical thinking skills, affords opportunities to build individual and group work ethics, and increases achievement through both individual and collective efforts. The Theatre Arts Program affords opportunities in co-curricular productions that allow for mastery and application of performance and production skills. Production and Directing courses may be taken each year to build upon prior production and direction skills. Please discuss scheduling with a Theatre director at your school.

Theater High School Course Sequence Diagram

National Arts Honor Societies

QACPS currently has two National Arts Honor Society opportunities available to students in grades 9 – 12 at both high schools, in Visual Arts and Dance.

In Visual Arts, students can be inducted into the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) National Art Honor Society (NAHS, external site), which supports the highest standards in art scholarship, character, service, and brings visual arts education to the attention of the school and community. Students are invited into membership based on artistic excellence, work ethic, dependability, and character. Membership is an honor bestowed upon deserving students at QACHS and KIHS by Visual Arts teaching faculty, and NAHS Sponsors. More student benefits can be found here.

In Dance, students can be inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA), which is a program of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Establishing an NHSDA chapter in your school is one very important way that you can help advance the field of dance education. Celebrating the artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievements of exceptional dance students helps to create honor and prestige within the field of dance, and offers benefits for students, institutions, and the field at large. Membership is an honor bestowed upon deserving students at QACHS and KIHS by Dance teaching faculty that serve as NHSDA Sponsors. More student benefits can be found here.

NAHS Scholarship Opportunities

There are numerous scholarship opportunities available only for NAHS members:

Columbus College of Art and Design

CCAD offers scholarships to National Art Honor Society certificate holders who submit copies of their certificates.

Certificate holders are eligible for $4,000 tuition scholarships ($1,000 per year for four years)
NAHS-related scholarships are coordinated with other financial aid

The Art Institutes

High school seniors who belong to NAHS may apply for a National Art Honor Society Scholarship. Tuition scholarships for first-, second-, and third-place awards may be applied at The Art Institutes school of recipient’s choice. Scholarship Awards include:

First place: $20,000 tuition scholarship
Second place: $10,000 scholarship
Third place: $5,000 scholarship

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

Fifty $4,000 – $8,000 merit-based scholarships allocated over 4 years are awarded each year to high school seniors who are members of NAHS. You must be accepted for admission to MICA in order to receive a scholarship/award

Pratt’s Charles M. Robertson Memorial Scholarship

This 4-year partial scholarship to the Pratt School of Art & Design in Brooklyn, New York, recognizes brilliance in student art achievement and artistic involvement at the high school level.

Awards

There are a variety of awards available only to NAHS members, including the following:

Rising Star Secondary Recognition Program

This program promotes art education by recognizing 50 talented, active NAHS members interested in becoming art educators.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

All students in grades 7 – 12 can submit work in 28 categories of art and writing. The awards identify teenagers with exceptional artistic and literary talent and bring their remarkable work to a national audience through recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarship opportunities.