Rome City Schools fine arts program continues to earn recognition at the state and regional levels, with students excelling in band, chorus, show choir and theatre while earning opportunities to perform on some of the region’s biggest stages.
As Rome City Schools celebrates National Arts in Education Week, the district is highlighting a year that has included national recognition for its music education program, Superior ratings for its bands and choruses, competition championships, and prestigious new opportunities for students.
Earlier this year, Rome City Schools was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. The district was one of only 18 school districts in Georgia to receive the honor. Every district band also earned Superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluations, while Rome High School and Rome Middle School chorus groups also earned Superior ratings.
Earning Superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation is one of the highest measures of achievement for school music programs. Ensembles are evaluated by experienced music educators on areas including tone quality, technique, musicality and overall performance. Having every Rome City Schools band earn a Superior rating demonstrates not only the talent of RCS students, but also the consistency and strength of music instruction across the district.
“Our students are performing and achieving at an incredibly high level, and we are seeing that success recognized well beyond Rome City Schools,” Dr. Tab Brown, Rome City Schools Director of Fine Arts, said. “What makes me most proud is that these accomplishments are happening across our programs. We have talented students and outstanding fine arts educators who challenge them, support them and give them opportunities to grow.”
That success has continued with the Rome High School Wind Ensemble, which was selected as one of only eight high school ensembles to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival in March.
Rome High School’s Grand Finale show choir won its division in all three competitions last season, finishing the competition as Grand Champion at the Peach State Invitational for the second consecutive year along with being ranked as the No. 5 Show Choir in the Southeast Region. Rome Middle School’s Grand Illusion also had a strong competition season, including a first-place finish at the Music City Invitational in Nashville.
Rome High School’s Marching Band won Grand Champion honors at the Northeast Alabama Marching Festival as well as the Pell City Marching Festival. Rome’s band program also hosts the Peach State Marching Band Festival, which is the second oldest marching band competitions in the southeast.
Opportunities are expanding beyond music as well. Rome High School was one of only four schools in Georgia selected for the Fox Theatre Fox Gives All-Access Pass Program for the 2026-27 school year. The program will provide theatre students with professional performances, backstage access, hands-on educational experiences and opportunities to explore careers in the performing arts.
“When we talk about Moving the Needle, we are talking about giving our students opportunities to excel in every area,” Rome City Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said. “Our fine arts programs continue to demonstrate what is possible when talented students are supported by exceptional teachers and directors. We are proud of their accomplishments, but we are even more proud of the experiences and opportunities these programs are providing our students.”
National Arts in Education Week recognizes the role the arts play in educating students while providing an opportunity to celebrate the students and educators who make those programs successful.