Turlock Unified School District
Great things are happening in the Turlock Unified School District. Music is being heard throughout the halls at all grade levels, exemplifying yet another reason that Turlock stands out in excellence among California schools. Turlock provides a comprehensive music curriculum from grades 1 – 12. This support allows our students to receive a truly well-rounded education. It sends a clear message that education
in the Turlock School District is an investment in students’ entire well-being.
Statistics support the correlation between participation in music and increased language/literacy abilities, higher test scores, and reduced high school dropout rates. Just as instruction in math and reading begin in elementary school, the commitment to allow children to begin to read and perform music beginning in first grade is paving the way for outstanding ensembles at the high school level. Turlock Schools
are very proud to offer all students classroom music from 1st through 4th grades, and ensemble opportunities from 5th grade through high school. It is one of the only districts in California to offer all facets of performing ensembles: Band, Chorus, and Orchestra, in all of its schools.
This commitment to the performing arts has really begun to pay off in the outstanding performing ensembles in our high schools. Numbers are swelling in all of the groups, and promise only to increase with more students coming up through elementary and junior high school levels. “This is only good news for our high school programs,” says Dan Ijams, Coordinator of Music for Turlock Schools.
Music programs throughout the district have received national and international attention, with many students performing in state and national competitions, honor ensembles, and internationally through tours that have brought the sounds of Turlock to several countries throughout the world.
It is with great honor and appreciation that we are able to continue providing a comprehensive, balanced and sequential music program to Turlock Unified School District students taught by highly qualified music educators.