On May 24, 2024, Booker Middle School (BMS) was recognized with the Arts Schools Network (ASN) 2024 Outstanding Arts Schools Award. This award is presented to a school with an outstanding record of overall excellence in the categories of faculty and student achievement, community recognition and involvement, arts and academics integration, curriculum innovations, continuing growth and development, and state and national recognition. ASN – the nation’s largest professional membership organization of specialized arts schools – will honor BMS at the Awards Ceremony during the ASN 2024 Annual Conference in Washington, DC from October 23-25. BMS’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) magnet program – inside a Title I middle school (6th-8th grade) located in Sarasota, FL – welcomes students from all demographics and backgrounds to join in a professional and robust arts learning environment. Prospective magnet students audition for the program and come from both the general student population (students who are zoned to Booker Middle School) or from other school zones. VPA students may participate in two arts classes as part of their daily routine in addition to their general education classes. VPA class offerings include Fine Art, Band, Chorus, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Digital Design, Modern Band, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre, Film & TV, Circus Arts, and Orchestra. In addition to the magnet students, their arts program also impacts the general student population. All students at BMS are enrolled in arts electives that change quarterly and the arts program staff works collaboratively with core curriculum teachers to create arts integration opportunities. Students are involved in creating academically challenging classrooms throughout the learning community. BMS takes great pride in inspiring tomorrow’s leaders. Dr. R. Scott Allen, Managing Director for ASN said, “Our organization offers guidance, inspiration, and incentives to arts schools and their leaders who strive for excellence on campuses across the country. When they demonstrate outstanding efforts toward this goal, we recognize and reward their achievements with awards such as this.”