For the fourth consecutive year, the Marion School District has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from The NAMM Foundation for the district’s outstanding commitment to music education.
Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate the ability to offer outstanding music education to all students in grades K-12. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, districts must meet criteria related to funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Information is verified by the leading arts educational research firm, Wolf Brown.
Marion was one of only two school districts in Arkansas to receive the “Best Community for Music Education Award” for 2025. Nationwide, only 935 school districts received this honor.
“Music education is an essential pillar of our students’ academic experience,” said Dr. Glen Fenter, Marion superintendent. “We take great pride in every facet of our offerings -- be it band, choir, or any of our musical productions, from elementary through high school. Ensuring that each student in our district discovers their own pathway to success is paramount, and for hundreds of them, music is exactly that journey.”
Fenter also pointed to research demonstrating the cognitive and social-skill benefits for children with access to strong music programs at school. For instance, in one study, researchers found that students involved in school music programs showed substantial improvements in reading scores and the ability to process speech when compared to their less-involved peers. Studies also show that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate from high school, but also to attend college.
Over the past several years, Marion has made significant investments in its music programs, committing to professional-quality theater productions and musical performances. The results are paying off. Over the last several years, the band and choir programs have consistently earned top ratings at state and regional assessments, and more than two dozen Marion alums are now attending college on music scholarships. The Marion Band program has experienced unprecedented growth and will exceed 500 students in grades 7-12 next fall.
“Our students are succeeding in every possible avenue provided by the music offerings in our district,” said Monty Hill, Marion director of bands. “We have great instrumental and vocal music programs at the secondary level that are supported by tremendous music programs at the elementary grade levels. The school district provides unbelievable resources for all music programs, and our administration and school board are totally committed to providing first-class programs for all of our students.”
The NAMM Foundation is the charitable arm of the National Association of Music Merchants, the global trade association for the music products industry. The foundation works to remove systemic barriers that limit access to music-making and career pathways in the music industry. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district committed to helping every student find their unique path to success in school and in life. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade school, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.