Beginning in kindergarten, all students have weekly classes in art and general music.  Most elementary schools also have performing choral groups for the upper elementary grades, and creative writing is included within the language arts curriculum.  Fifth grade brings opportunities to begin band or orchestra, and some schools also feature classes in dance and drama.

At the middle school level, fine arts classes are offered as part of students’ regular schedules, and there are many opportunities for creative expression.  Above and beyond scheduled classes, schools have extracurricular opportunities with concerts and other productions.  A typical year in the district will find as many as seven full-scale musical productions from school to school, and an annual district musical completes the celebrations.

The creative writing emphasis continues in middle and high school, both as part of language arts and in specific classes.  Visual arts students present their works in various shows at the school, district, and community levels.  All of the performing groups at Spartanburg High School win annual awards in various competitions, and the concerts offered by the students are outstanding.  Across the various fine arts areas, there are 32 professional, dedicated teachers who instruct students in those special areas to maintain the level of excellence that has always existed in the district.

Though the fine arts have suffered in budget cuts in other places across the county, Spartanburg District 7 has always supported its students in fine arts education.  Those students continue participating as adults and contribute to their own communities.

Spartanburg High School is proud to be home to the 1,000-seat District 7 Fine Arts Center, a world-class facility that opened in 2020 and sets the stage for continued excellence in the arts. Equipped with technical capabilities that enable the highest levels of creativity and innovation, our Fine Arts Center is a true learning laboratory for District 7's arts programs. Come experience this beautiful venue as you enjoy our numerous concerts, theater productions, and community events!

The District 7 Fine Arts Center follows the district's clear bag and security screening protocols. Click here more information on what is allowed inside the facility. 

District 7 is designated one of our nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation! Recipients of this honor demonstrate an outstanding commitment to excellence in music education and to providing access for all students based on music education funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and partnerships with community programs.

Research into music education demonstrates educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. These include higher rates of improvement in how the brain processes speech, in reading scores, and in everyday listening skills that are closely tied to the ability to perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit that advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.