KENOSHA, Wis. (Monday, May 19, 2025)—For the eighth consecutive year, Kenosha Unified has been honored with the NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education designation for its outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students.
Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. NAMM recognized over 1,000 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
“Our music programs are a true point of pride in our district, showcasing an unmatched caliber of talent, dedication and excellence from both staff and students,” said KUSD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Weiss. “We are grateful to have a community that values the fine arts and supports them beyond measure.”
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, KUSD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. School officials verified the responses, which were then reviewed by WolfBrown, the leading arts educational research firm.