WHAT IS A+?

The A+ Schools Program is a whole-school reform model supported by the North Carolina Arts Council that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. A+ Schools offer children opportunities to develop creative, innovative ways of thinking, learning, and showing what they know.

How are A+ Schools Different?

A+ Schools place an emphasis on the arts asessential to learning. In an A+ School, much of the regular classroom curriculum is taught through arts-integrated instruction. Students may learn math concepts by studying music or reading though a lesson involving the visual arts.

How is Claxton an A+ School?

Arts Essemblies

As an A+ School, Claxton has access to special assemblies, such as the Piano Performance Team, a group of school-aged piano prodigies. It also attracts artists like Michael Guggino of the Steep Canyon Rangers and children’s book author Joseph D’Agnese.

Arts Integrated Instruction

Claxton’s teachers receive training and resources from the A+ Network that help them find new ways to use the arts to help students learn the core curriculum.

Arts Related Field Trips

Claxton faculty strive to introduce students to arts in the community with field trips such as seeing performances of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf by the Blue Ridge Symphony,The Nutcracker, performing a Flashmob dance at LEAF, and seeing the gingerbread house competition at the Grove Park Inn.

Student Artist Performances

Claxton places a strong emphasis on encouraging our students to share their artistic talents. Musicians and singers perform in the Holiday Concert, the Orff Ensemble, and the Morning Singers. All give performances both at school and in the community. Actors appear in the spring musical and take part in the Storytelling Festival. Public speakers anchor the daily CLX AM broadcast showcasing student art and music. Visual artists see their work displayed in public spaces throughout the school, and all students participate in Student Showcases, Reader’s Theater, concerts, and art displays.

A Community of the Arts

Claxton consistently receives more grants to fund artists-in-residence than any other Asheville City Schools. The A+ Committee connects faculty with with the statewide A+ Network, parents, and the Asheville community. The PTO runs an After School Arts program staffed by local artists, and Design Lab offers an after-school arts experience at Claxton.