Raytown Quality Schools Music Education Program Receives National Recognition for the Third Consecutive Year

Raytown Quality Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Raytown Quality Schools answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs.

“This award would not be possible without the exceptional, highly qualified music teachers throughout our district, and an administration and board of education that believes in the value of music education,” said Alex Kolster, Raytown Quality Schools Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator. “We have outstanding music teachers and students, and I’m proud that our district is receiving this honor for the third consecutive year.”

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/ cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory.

The district is proud to receive this recognition and will continue to provide the best opportunities for all district students.