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TAEA Districts of Distinction

We are excited to announce the 2024-2025 District of Distinction honorees. These Visual Art programs submitted all materials to meet the criteria of the comprehensive 14-point rubric. Over 1,200 districts and learning institutions in Texas were eligible to apply for this prestigious Texas Art Education Association Visual Art Award, 109 districts met the high standards and will receive this outstanding honor indicating their visual art program is in the top 8% of Visual Art programs in the state.

As the sponsor of this award, the Visual Art Administrators of Texas, a division of TAEA, recognizes districts and learning institutions exhibiting outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their district and community. We recognize Visual Art programs that have active TAEA members, promote TAEA art events, and actively participate in their community. This year we celebrate 13 first year awardees, 26 second years, 17 third years, 15 fourth years, 8 fifth years, 14 sixth years, and 16 visual art programs that earned this accomplishment for the seventh consecutive year.

We congratulate our honorees and applaud their work advocating for creative learning opportunities that encourage individual growth and connect students to their peers, school, and society at large. We look forward to honoring them at the TAEA Fall Conference.

Nealy Holley & Kaileigh Newman
Visual Art Administrators of Texas

Sally Doyle
District of Distinction Facilitator

TAEA Districts of Distinction

7 Year Awardees

Aldine ISD
Alief ISD
Austin ISD
Comal ISD
Frisco ISD
Humble ISD
Klein ISD
Lake Dallas ISD
Lubbock ISD
Manor ISD
Round Rock ISD
Spring ISD
Texas City ISD
Tyler ISD
Victoria ISD
Waco ISD

6 Year Awardees

Bryan ISD
Channelview ISD
College Station ISD
Del Valle ISD
Edinburg CISD
Georgetown ISD
Huffman ISD
Hutto ISD
McAllen ISD
Northside ISD
Pasadena ISD
Plano ISD
Prosper ISD
Redwater ISD

5 Year Awardees

Abilene ISD
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Ector County ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Katy ISD
Richardson ISD
Socorro ISD
Spring Branch ISD

4 Year Awardees

Burleson ISD
Chisum ISD
Clear Creek ISD
Conroe ISD
Dallas ISD
Deer Park ISD
Duncanville ISD
Garland ISD
Glen Rose ISD
Mansfield ISD
New Caney ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Pine Tree ISD
St. Joseph Catholic School
Texarkana ISD

3 Year Awardees

Alvin ISD
Arlington ISD
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
Castleberry ISD
Cedar Hill ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts
Galena Park ISD
Hallsville ISD
Hays CISD
Irving ISD
Killeen ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Little Elm ISD
Magnolia ISD
Rockwall ISD
San Marcos CISD

2 Year Awardees

Argyle ISD
Cleburne ISD
Coppell ISD
Denton ISD
Elgin ISD
Forney ISD
Gainesville ISD
Hearne ISD
Judson ISD
Lockhart ISD
Lorena ISD
McKinney ISD
Merkel ISD
Nacogdoches ISD
New Braunfels ISD
Quinlan ISD
San Antonio ISD
San Saba ISD
Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD
Seguin ISD
Sheldon ISD
Tomball ISD
Weslaco ISD
White Oak ISD
Wylie ISD
Ysleta ISD

New Awardees

Grand Prairie ISD
Harlingen CISD
Kerrville ISD
Leander ISD
Marshall ISD
Martin's Mill ISD
Mesquite ISD
Mission CISD
Mount Pleasant ISD
San Felipe Del Rio CISD
Splendora ISD
Temple ISD
West ISD

Please view a short video showcasing our 2025 awardees for the TAEA District of Distinction.

Celebrating Excellence in the Visual Arts

What is a District of Distinction?

District of Distinction is an annual recognition program created by Texas Art Education Association and run by the Visual Art Administrators of Texas (Administration and Supervision division of TAEA) to honor school districts that are leading the way in the visual arts. The Visual Art Administrators of Texas would like to recognize districts with outstanding leadership (be that formal or informal) in promoting the arts in their district and community. We are looking to recognize districts that are active participating members in the TAEA and beyond the confines of TAEA sponsored events. The rubric is differentiated by number of students in the district, has exemptions in regions that do not have sponsored events and allows for each district submitting to meet 12 out of the 14 criteria (excluding exemptions). A district may receive the award each year that the criteria is submitted, reviewed, and met. If your school district is engaged in advocating for the visual arts, your district could be a TAEA District of Distinction.

When will we announce the 2026 winners?

Winners will be announced in August of 2026 and recognized at the TAEA Conference 2026. Rubric will be based on events/activities from June 14, 2025 - June 12, 2026.

How does TAEA promote honorees?

Districts of Distinction honorees will:

Be identified on the association's website
Receive a District of Distinction plaque along with a letter of commendation from the association
Receive a press release template to promote their recognition to local media

Who will choose the winners?

A committee of TAEA members and administrators from across Texas will be assembled by the Visual Art Administrators of Texas Chair, Chair-Elect, will check the criteria and mark whether the district submission meets the qualifications to receive the designation of a TAEA District of Distinction. All districts fulfilling the rigorous criteria will be awarded the title of a District of Distinction.

What is my responsibility as a District of Distinction?

The winning district(s) as part of the award will be asked to submit their district logo and a celebration photo to feature on the TAEA website and at the fall conference, share a few words about the impact of earning the District of Distinction on programs and school district, attend the award ceremony at the fall TAEA conference, and attend at the Visual Art Administrator of Texas meeting at the fall TAEA conference.

If you are interested in participating in the TAEA District of Distinction program for the 2025-2026 academic year, please see the information below.

Folder evidence is eligible from June 14, 2025 - June 12, 2026.

Districts must meet 12 of the 14 categories to earn District of Distinction each year.

NEW - DOD folders must be requested by May 12, 2026.

All DoD materials must be submitted by June 12, 2026.

Criteria / Rubric

District of Distinction Folder Request 2025-2026 (Google Form) — One request per district, please.

2025-2026 District of Distinction EXAMPLE Folder (Google Drive) — You must have your folder set up like this example. If you have already completed your folder, PLEASE go back and check that it is organized and numbered like this example folder.

2025-2026 Criteria / Rubric (Google Drive)

2025-2026 Rubric Example Slideshow (Google Drive)

District of Distinction Admin Reports (Google Drive)

Please email questions related to submitting your documentation for the 2025-2026 academic year to .