Office of
Arts

Academic Enrichment is the integration of the arts and creative learning across non-arts classes and activities to enliven instruction and increase student engagement.

Dance education gives students the freedom and permission to question and explore life through movement. Students will demonstrate their abilities and understanding of dance through:

• Creating, performing and producing dance.
• Critical response, aesthetic response, meaning and interpretation in dance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of cultural and historical contexts in dance.
• Incorporate the four elements of dance: Space, Time, Effort and Force.
• Demonstrate proficient technical competency in at least one genre of dance: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Ballroom, Social, and World Cultural dance.

The Media Arts Program prepares students for a future in creative industries within the visual arts, performing arts, and entertainment. Media Arts is an evolving genre that encompasses the creation of art, music and design produced by digital media and arts technologies such as graphic design, film, web design, 3-D design and printing, photography, animation, digital music, recording and production. Students will gain an innovative, interdisciplinary education through technical problem-solving and learning interpersonal skills that have real world applications.

Media Arts currently fall within three collaborating offices:

• Office of The Arts & Academic Enrichment, where media and technology are integrated within arts programs and courses
• Office of Career & Technical Education, (CTE) where programs are delivered around highly intensive and focused strands
• Office of Information Technology, responsible for oversight of PSTV, Educational Technology, and Digital Literacy Curriculum

Learn more about our PSTV media offerings

The Office of Music Education ensures students of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to explore and shape their musical interests and voices. Students begin with foundational experiences in elementary General Music, continue with Vocal and Instrumental music instruction and ensembles, and explore the digital music world of composition, recording, and production.

Instrumental Music Teachers are site-based, providing daily music instruction to students within their school.  These instrumental directors are full time at one school. They are highly skilled, highly-qualified, certified Music Educators and direct either band or orchestra, although sometimes both as they oversee their school’s entire music program. Music Appreciation and Music Theory are often taught as part of the music curriculum. In addition to the many concerts and performances each year, many directors conduct and produce a musical each year in partnership with their drama and dance programs.

Class Instrumental Music Teachers (CIMTs) are allocated and assigned throughout schools across the District to provide the greatest number of students with equitable and consistent access to relevant, meaningful, and high-quality instrumental music instruction.

CIMTs are highly skilled, highly-qualified, certified Music Educators, categorized by specializations in Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion. CIMT instruction is typically first offered in third or fourth grade and continues through high school, though in some circumstances instruction is available for younger students as determined by the availability of age-appropriate inventory. Allocations and assignments are based on various criteria including equitable distribution, student enrollment, the available inventory of instruments, adequate and safe environment for instruction and storage of inventory, and accessibility of students. Consideration is also given to establishing feeding patterns within Learning Networks to provide opportunities for continuous instruction through graduation.

At the high school level, Class Instrumental Music Teachers are allocated in support of school-based Instrumental Music Teachers and are assigned based on their specialty and the needs of the program.

Theatre education encourages students to explore life through viewpoints outside of themselves.
Theatre addresses skills that benefit children’s education and development in five general areas:

• Physical development and kinesthetic skills.
• Artistic development using drama and theater skills.
• Mental development and thinking skills.
• Personal development and intra-personal skills.
• Social development and interpersonal skills.

The School District of Philadelphia offers visual arts education for students in kindergarten through high school. The curriculum includes two dimensional and three-dimensional studio applications, art history and digital art media. We encourage students to learn through :

Discovering and creating an understanding of human behavior

• Thinking outside of “the box”
• Problem solving
• Realizing their potential
• Learning through the close observation of works of art and world cultures through various forms
• Involvement with art materials and experiences guided by the elements and principles of art

High school students may pursue International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement course work in the visual arts.