The high school fine arts programs include elective courses in dance, music, theatre arts, and visual art instruction and provide students with a well-rounded, sequential, and comprehensive arts education. High school fine arts courses are designed to foster growth, advance learning, and develop expertise in a selected field. The K-12 fine arts programs promote the development of Portrait of a Graduate attributes by encouraging students to become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and effective communicators.

Art

High school art courses support students in transitioning from more teacher-directed instruction, at lower levels, to a more independent approach to pursuing a selected area of artistic inquiry, at higher levels. Artistic exploration of concepts and skills is directed toward developing a personal voice and style, exploring ideas deeply by creating series of works, and preparing and assembling artwork for exhibition and portfolios. Students have the option of exploring a broad range of artmaking media in Studio Art & Design courses or choosing an area of specialization such as photography or digital art course sequences. Courses are based on thematic concepts including sense of place, perceptions of self, social and contemporary issues, and narrative conflict. Portfolio preparation level students individually identify a conceptual theme for their work.

All high schools offer either Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) art courses. Prerequisite level courses address skills, sequentially, to support success in these advanced academic courses.

Dance

The Fairfax County Public Schools dance program supports the development of movement, technique, flexibility, and physical health. Students explore concepts and skills to create artistic identity, aesthetic of dance form, and expression through performance, research, and choreography. The FCPS dance curriculum supports the National Core Arts Standards and incorporates the Dance Arts Virginia Standards of Learning which include a variety of dance techniques and styles such as ballet, modern, jazz, and the dance of world cultures.

Curricular and extracurricular dance activities provide opportunities for students to explore various aspects and areas of dance including; field trips to professional dance performances, workshops, festivals, dance concerts, dance showcases, dance team, performance companies, and children’s performances. Annual FCPS dance events include Move Til You Drop, Dance Til You Drop, and Dance for Kindness. FCPS dance students also participate in local, state, national, and international dance festivals and competitions.

Dance in FCPS is offered at Mount Vernon HS, South County HS, and South Lakes HS, and the Fairfax and West Potomac Academies.

Music

The Fairfax County Public Schools music curriculum encourages cultural awareness and provides opportunities for students to attain the knowledge and skills necessary to be become musically literate, well-rounded individuals. Students work collaboratively with others to achieve common artistic goals, thereby preparing them for a lifetime of engagement with the arts.

Music instruction is offered at all grade levels, K-12. The music curriculum is vertically aligned so students learn incrementally from year-to-year and scaffold their musical abilities from novice to artistry.

Band, chorus, and orchestra continue at the high school level as part of the sequential curriculum of performance-based ensembles. Additional course options such as guitar, piano, jazz, music theory, show choir, and music composition are offered at various schools.

Select high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) music courses. Prerequisite level courses address skills, sequentially, to support success in these advanced academic courses.

The Fairfax County music programs receive many state and national accolades and are consistently invited to perform at state, national, and international events.

Theatre

The Fairfax County Public Schools High School Theatre Arts courses expand and enhance skills in creativity, collaboration, and communication through various theatre activities which support students in their development as goal directed and resilient individuals.  The exploration of concepts and skills are directed to synthesize artistic identity, aesthetic, and expression through theatre activities, performance, and production.  Advanced course offerings support leadership skills and expertise in selected areas of interest. FCPS theatre curriculum supports the National Core Arts Standards and include the K-12 Theatre Arts Virginia Standards of Learning.  FCPS theatre curriculum is vertically aligned to develop increasingly complex skills, concepts, and understandings at successive grade levels.

Curricular and extracurricular theatre activities provide opportunities for students to explore various aspects and areas of theatre including; field trips to professional theatres, workshops, one act performances and festivals, plays, musicals, children’s theatre performances, drama clubs, improvisation competitions (Theatre Sports), playwrighting festivals, Technical Theatre Olympics, VHSL, Cappies and more.  FCPS theatre students may also participate in local, state, national, and international theatre festivals and competitions.

Scheduling Fine Arts Courses

Earn the diploma of your choice while taking Fine Arts courses. Fine Arts classes can fulfill the sequential elective requirement for the standard diploma.