Hamilton’s investment in arts education is paying dividends

At the Aug. 4 Hamilton City Council meeting, and in a followup interview, Hamilton Aggie Schools’ Foundation Chair Melissa Hughey spoke about the importance of arts education and the role community partnerships have played in expanding opportunities for Hamilton students.
"I have 30 years as a visual arts teacher," Hughey said. "My last 25 senior students went to college with $12 million in arts-related scholarships, so I know first-hand the real benefits of arts education."
Hughey explained those benefits extend far beyond the arts classroom. Schools with arts programs often experience improved attendance, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems. Research has shown arts education can positively impact academic, social and emotional development, while strengthening skills students carry into adulthood.
"The arts build essential skills, like critical thinking and problem solving, because the arts ask students to formulate solutions to open-ended questions. There are no answers in the back of a book, and there are a multitude of creative solutions to any assignment," Hughey said. "Acquiring these skills leads to overall improvement in achievement, test scores and higher rates of graduation and post-secondary enrollment."
She noted arts education also plays a significant role in workforce development.
"Arts education is also vitally important for workforce development; teaching skills businesses are looking for: critical thinking, communication, interpersonal skills, self-management and attention to detail," Hughey said. "Arts education prepares individuals for success in the labor market, making them more versatile, adaptable and employable."
Hamilton's arts initiative has grown substantially during the past decade, Hughey noted. What began with a single arts program at Hamilton Elementary School has expanded into opportunities serving students across all three Hamilton schools.
"I’m very proud all three Hamilton schools now have arts instruction, and so grateful to the administrators, faculty and staff of these schools; superintendent and board of the Marion County Schools; the mayor and city council of Hamilton; civic leaders, businesses, parents and citizens of Hamilton for the support they have given to all of the arts programs," Hughey said.
Today, arts education in Hamilton schools operates through a partnership involving educators, artists, businesses, civic leaders, state agencies, nonprofit organizations and community supporters. The Hamilton Aggie Schools Foundation assists by funding grant requests submitted through school administrators to provide opportunities not funded through the regular school budget.
This year, additional grant funding has helped strengthen arts offerings throughout the system. Hamilton Middle School continues to offer visual arts, drama, dance, music, guitar, show choir, band and theater opportunities. Hamilton High School has expanded programming to include guitar and ballet, while continuing courses and activities in visual arts, photography, graphic design, drama, show choir, band and theater. Hamilton Elementary School continues to provide visual arts and music instruction for all students, along with show choir and theater opportunities.
"All of the top-performing K-12 schools in Alabama have art-rich curriculums. Now that includes the Hamilton schools!" Hughey said.
Beyond the arts, Hughey pointed to data from the Alabama State Department of Education's report cards as evidence of the progress being made across the Hamilton schools. "I’m a data person, so I want to share with you how our schools are doing," she said. "The Marion County System is in the bottom one-third in funding, but the top one-third in achievement."
She compared Hamilton schools with highly regarded schools in Florence, Russellville, Tuscaloosa County, Huntsville, Madison City, Hoover and Baldwin County. "The results are so amazing it seems as if, 'It can't possibly be true,'" Hughey said.
According to the report card data, HES scores at or above many highly respected elementary schools across Alabama. HMS performs competitively with some of the state's strongest middle schools, while HHS compares favorably with high schools in larger and better-funded systems. "Hamilton's schools are on par with some of the highest-achieving, highest-funded schools in the state," Hughey said.
She credited the success of the arts programs to teachers, administrators, students and a community willing to invest in educational opportunity.
"Our teachers are fabulous. Our administrators are fabulous. Our kids are smart. They just needed opportunities," Hughey said. "The schools need what this foundation is doing with targeted money to bring support for those needed opportunities; focused on the areas of greatest need."
Through grants supporting literacy instruction, ACT preparation, academic incentives and arts programming, the Aggie Schools Foundation seeks to address needs identified by principals and faculty members. The foundation board is now looking forward to the release of the 2025-26 school report cards later this year.
"With support for the opportunities they need, there is nothing that can stop these kids. They can do anything, go anywhere and compete with the very best. No one can dispute that... the facts speak for themselves," Hughey said.
The foundation board said they are proud to support Hamilton's students, teachers and administrators and are grateful for the opportunity to serve the community.
"We all are vested in this city and the schools and are all proud alumni of the Hamilton schools," Hughey said. "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve and to support the schools as they seek to provide the opportunities these students need and deserve."
(Editor’s note: Melissa Wiginton Hughey  is a nationally recognized visual arts educator and consultant with more than 30 years of experience. A former visual arts teacher, department chair, and academic dean at Bob Jones High School, she led one of the nation's most acclaimed high school visual arts programs. A two-time National Gold Apple Teacher and four-time Alabama Visual Arts Teacher of the Year, Hughey continues to advocate for arts education through her consulting work and service with the Alabama Arts Alliance, serving as chair of the board of directors for 10 years, and currently serving on the Alliance’s Executive Committee as immediate past chair.)