LEXINGTON, Ky. — More than 200 high school seniors in Fayette County Public Schools have earned recognition for advanced achievement in the visual and performing arts through the district's Seal of Arts Excellence program.

These high school seniors have demonstrated an advanced level of specialization and technical proficiency within the visual and performing arts. The Seal of Arts Excellence is an honor supported by the Kentucky Department of Education to recognize graduates who demonstrate an advanced level of specialization in a visual and/or performing arts discipline.

Recipients receive three forms of recognition for their accomplishments: a medal to wear at commencement ceremonies, a seal designation on their diploma, and a notation on their transcript. The FCPS Seal of Arts Excellence is an opportunity that allows students to make concrete connections between their artistic endeavors and the district's focus on high levels of achievement, cultural competence, and preparation for the future. The Seal of Arts portfolio represents students' best work from throughout their high school experience and is a rigorous process.

In 2022, the Kentucky Department of Education established guidelines on how schools and districts may create a Seal of Arts Excellence to recognize seniors for outstanding artistic achievement during their high school career. The Fayette County Board of Education approved our local requirements in the years that followed, enabling the district to implement the recognition for the Class of 2024 and subsequent graduating classes.

The program represents a significant expansion of arts recognition in the district. A total of 112 seals were awarded in seven possible arts areas to the Class of 2024, the first cohort to receive the recognition. This year's substantially higher number reflects the program's growing reach and student participation.

A note of local distinction: Creative Writing is awarded only at the FCPS level, so the seal designation will not appear on these transcripts, distinguishing Lexington's commitment to literary arts alongside traditional visual and performing arts disciplines.