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Academics → Fine Arts → Visual Arts

Visual Arts

visual artsGoal

The effects of the visual art program do not end in the classroom but extend into the personal and academic development of each student.  Students also develop the ability to concentrate, consider various points of view, problem solve, think creatively, work as a member of a team, and persevere in a task.  All MCPS students should have the opportunity to engage and explore the Visual Arts:

  • By using a wide variety of tools and materials that are authentic to the artmaking process in order to create work that is personally meaningful and unique;
  • By being presented with opportunities to make choices and to solve creative problems that are open-ended with the possibility of multiple solutions;
  • By applying knowledge from other contents when creating art;
  • From a wide range of times and places including contemporary artists;
  • Made by artists from diverse backgrounds;
  • Through the varying roles that art plays within our own culture and in other cultures around the world;
  • By applying 21st century and visual literacy skills to think about and discuss artworks made by themselves and others;
  • Through conversations about what art is, what its meaning is, and why it is considered art; and
  • By selecting, preparing, and sharing artwork for exhibition.

Courses

The MCPS Visual Art Curriculum is aligned to the National Core Fine Arts Standards and the Maryland Fine Arts Standards.  These standards are sequential, build 21st century concepts and skills, and address the core competencies identified in the MCPS strategic framework.

  • Visual art courses should be taken in sequence when possible to provide students with the most appropriate instructional environment and to achieve the learning goals outlined in the curriculum. 
  • Students should be provided the opportunity to take an art course every year in alignment with Fine Arts COMAR language.  This allows students with access to advanced courses and multiple opportunities/pathways in visual art.  Visual Art courses in High School levels 2-4 are identified as advanced level and provide opportunities for students to pursue rigorous and challenging studies that require abstract and higher-order thinking skills.  An additional quality point will be added to grades of A, B, and C in these courses to determine a student’s WGPA and may be counted towards the MCPS Certificate of Merit diploma endorsement.

Elementary

  • PK-5 Visual Art

Middle School

High School

 

MCPS ALL-COUNTY COMMUNITY ART SHOWS

New This Year

This year our county wide art show will be done by community. This format will allow elementary, middle, and high schools within a geographic area to showcase together creating an atmosphere for young artists to envision what their future may look like as they continue on in their arts classes in MCPS in addition to older artists being able to reconnect with past art teachers and view work from their younger siblings. Also new will be a closing reception held on the last day of each show.  

Teachers, Administrators, Board of Education members, and MCPS Central Office staff will be invited to  write their name on a "MCPS recognized Artist" button to leave on an artwork that resonates with them as they view the work throughout the week and/or at the closing reception. We hope this format will honor students' work in a more meaningful way and increase attendance from MCPS stakeholders. 

Find out which Community Art Show your school is a part of on this chart

Community Art Showcase Dates and Locations

Up County Community Showcase

Montgomery College Germantown Campus Bioscience Education Center

20200 Observation Dr. Germantown, MD 20876

March 11th to March 15th

Closing reception March 15th at 5:00 pm, RSVP Here

Down County Community Showcase

Montgomery College Cafritz Foundation Arts Center

930 King St, Silver Spring, MD 20910

March 18th to 25th

* Please note the campus is closed Friday March 20th through Sunday March22nd

Closing reception March 25th at 5:00 pm, RSVP Here

Mid County Community Showcase

Montgomery College Rockville Campus Theatre Arts Building

51 Mannakee St, Rockville, MD 20850

April 8th to 10th 

Closing reception April 10th at 5:00 pm, RSVP Here