Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
Data Sources Reviewed:
 University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions/results
 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) competitions/results
 State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results
o Compare district results to fine arts students results
District / Campus Data Sources Reviewed:
 ERO Session Evaluations
 Classroom visits
 Fine Arts surveys
 DIP Monitoring Instrument
Area Reviewed
Summary of Strengths
Summary of Needs
What were the identified
What were the identified needs?
strengths?
All Fine Arts Areas 89% of students in BISD (total
enrollment: 45,388) are currently
enrolled in Fine Arts classes.
BISD currently has 6 high schools,
11middle schools, and 37
elementary schools.
Priorities
What are the priorities for the district per
area?
90% of students involved in Fine
Arts consistently score higher on
state and national standardized tests
(BISD STAAR data 2014).
Band
Exceptional staff.
Additional funding is needed to
Increase instrument repair staff to 4 full time
provide updated instrument inventory. technicians
Excellent vertical alignment.
Effective mentoring network in
place.
There are not enough Instrument
repair staff to meet the needs of the
district.
Exceptional student success in all
areas.
12 of 17 campuses have inadequate
performance venues.
Construct new music facilities for Pace and
Porter HS
Replace worn and obsolete instrument
storage racks in 10 band halls
Increase UIL Marching success rate to 100%
Excellent inventory control system in 3 middle schools do not have
place.
adequate facilities.
Student academic success
2 high school programs do not have
Increase the number of marching bands
advancing to area and state.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
improvement through participation in adequate facilities.
the programs.
3 high school programs do not have
Excellent administrative
adequate marching practice areas
support and leadership.
Increase funding to expand the winter
drum line and winter guard programs.
Increase the success rate at UIL concert and
sightreading contest by 5% annually.
Increase the number of winter colorguard
units competing in TECA competition to
100%.
Increase the number of students earning a
Upgrade instrument inventory to take chair in HS All-Region groups by 10%
advantage of new technologies.
annually.
Provide performance venues to allow Increase the number of students earning a
for musicals to be performed for more chair in the All-State groups by 5% annually.
integration of performing arts
disciplines.
Implement a master clinician program.
Inadequate instrument storage racks
in 7 middle schools and 3 high
schools.
Estudiantina
Estudiantina is a unique program
reaching an important population.
Rigorous programs offering music
education to a population which
otherwise does not participate
Over 1,000 students district wide
are enrolled in the program
This is a culturally unique program
not found in other areas of the
state.
Dedicated and creative
instructional staff
Annual Estudiantina competition is
Additional funding is needed to
provide updated instrument
inventory.
Additional instructors are needed to
meet the needs of the current
enrollment.
Larger facilities are needed in 2 of
our high school campuses
Improve performance scores in the BISD
Estudiantina competition by 10% annually.
Increase participation in the
Estudiantina/guitar program by 5% annually.
Increase the number of guitar students
participating in UIL Solo and Ensemble
contest by 10% annually.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
entering its’ 10th year.
Choir
Overall performance scores are
improving each year.
12 high school choirs earned
Sweepstakes at the UIL Concert
and Sightreading Competition.
215 high school choir students
received Superior Ratings and
medals at the UIL Solo and
Ensemble Competition.
12 of 17 campuses have inadequate
performance venues.
Construct new music facilities for Pace and
Porter HS
5 middle schools do not have
adequate facilities. (Cummings,
Oliveira, Faulk, Garcia, Stillman)
Construct new choir facilities for Cummings,
Oliveira, Faulk, Garcia, Stillman.
2 high school programs do not have
adequate facilities. (Pace, Porter)
136 high school choir students
earned chairs in the TMEA District
Choirs.
Increase the success rate at UIL concert and
sightreading contest by 5% annually.
Increase the number of students earning a
Upgrade inventory to take advantage chair in All-Region groups by 10% annually.
of new technologies.
Increase the number of students earning a
21 middle school choirs earned
Provide performance venues to allow chair in the All-State groups by 5% annually.
Sweepstakes (Superior Ratings) in for musicals to be performed for more
the UIL Concert and Sightreading
integration of performing arts
Competition (16% increase).
disciplines.
203 middle school students qualified Implement a master clinician program.
for the TMEA Mixed Treble and
Men’s choirs.
Inadequate storage in 7 middle
schools and 3 high schools.
443 middle school choir students
received Superior Ratings and
medals at the TMEA Solo and
Ensemble Competition.
Visual Arts
185 high school students received
Superior Ratings and gold medals at
the Regional Visual Art Scholastic
Event (VASE) Competition.
19 high school art students received
gold medals at the State Visual Arts
Scholastic Events (VASE).
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
5 high school art students received 7
Gold Seal Awards at the State
Visual Art Scholastic Event.
3 high school art students received
top three awards at the Brownsville
Museum Fine Art 44th Annual
International Art Show.
1 high school student won Best of
Show finalist and advanced to
national competition in the Hispanic
Heritage “Dia de la Raza” Art
Contest.
3 high school students won top two
finalists and advanced to national
competition in the Hispanic Heritage
“Dia de la Raza” Art Contest.
168 middle school students received
Superior ratings at Jr. VASE.
20 students received state Silver
Medals at Jr. VASE.
1 high school student won Best of
Show at Rio Grande Valley Birding
Festival.
4 middle school art students
qualified in the top three for the
State Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Art
Contest.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
1 Best of Show for the State Federal
Jr. Duck Stamp Art Contest.
2 students were selected as 1st
place in state and one advanced as
national finalist for the National
Association of Pupil Transportation
art contest.
12 middle school students were
finalists in state competition for the
Fire Prevention Art Contest.
2 middle school students were
finalists in state competition in the
Texas Department of Transportation
“Aviation Art Contest.
1 middle school student was Best of
Show finalist and advanced to
national competition in the Hispanic
Heritage “Dia de la Raza” Art
Contest.
1 high school student was Best of
Show finalist and advanced to
national competition in the Hispanic
Heritage “Dia de la Raza” Art
Contest.
3 middle school art students
received top three awards at the
Brownsville Museum Fine Art 43rd
Annual International Art Show.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
1 middle school art student received
Best of Show at the Brownsville
Museum Fine Art 44th Annual
International Art Show.
1 elementary art student received
Mayor’s Award at the Brownsville
Museum Fine Arts 44th Annual
International Art Show.
36 elementary art students received
Superior Rating Gold Medal Awards
at the Texas Elementary Art Meet
(TEAM) Art Contest.
4 elementary art students received
Distinguish Top of TEAM Award at
the Texas Elementary Art Contest.
Theatre Arts
Beginning seeds of mentoring
network in place.
Great student success building in
high school programs.
Student academic success
Teachers visit other campuses to
observe, facility organization,
structure of class curriculumTechnical theatre and group
participation strategies.
South Texas Theatre Auditions in
the second year of successful
participation.
Need to increase UIL stipends for
OAP directors. They are still the
lowest in the state.
Facility renovations are needed at 3
high schools to improve the physical
building.
Technology in Lighting is now 5
years obsolete and needs to be
upgraded at all 6 high schools
Increase visits to MS to support and
nurture the UIL One Act Play
competition.
To prepare students for theatre
arts/technical theatre in college.
Increase student participation in high school
theatre programs by 5%.
Searching for two MS directors to participate
with Hanna & Pace as assistant directors.
High School Principals on board to offer
$500 stipends for MS OAP Directors to
assist the High School Directors.
Provide Internship/Work Force possibilities to
students pursuing degrees or work readiness.
Provide additional scholarship opportunities to
students seeking post-secondary education.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information
Increase Awareness of South Texas Theatre
Auditions in November.
Planning Creative D.I teachers workshop at
Camille to assist with creative possibilities
for Theatre Teachers. Slated for September
Select 2-3 campuses to begin LED fixture
replacements contingent upon funding.
Implement an Internship program with the
Camille Playhouse this summer for seniors
wishing to pursue theatre arts.
Collaborating with Kathleen Langford from
Las Casas Foundation in San Antonio to
allow our students to be eligible to apply for
the Las Casas Musical scholarship
competition in May of 2016.
Dance
Middle and high school dance
2 of the high schools have
groups received Superior Ratings in inadequate facilities.
the UIL compatible Dance Contest.
Additional funding is needed in order
The “Red Hot Ballroom” program
to provide consistent training.
continues to increase in elementary,
middle, and high school.
Additional funding is needed to
provide necessary equipment and
Highly qualified dance instructors. materials for instruction.
Vertical alignment has a base
foundation.
The Santa & Friends production
continues to be recognized in the
district and community.
4 of the middle schools do not have
a dance program.
Facilitate the collaborative effort of a campus
musical to increase chances for the choir,
theatre and dance students in our district for
continued study scholarships in fine arts.
Increase Superior Ratings in the Dance
Contest by 5% annually.
Increase participation in the Ballroom
program by 5% annually.
Secure additional funding to ensure student
success.
Department of Fine Arts Needs Assessment Information