09/09/2026
TAEA launched the District of Distinction program in 2019, starting with just 22 districts. From 22 winners the first year to 127 this year… that’s a remarkable 472 % growth in just eight years!
We are excited to announce the 2025-2026 District of Distinction honorees. These Visual Art programs submitted all materials to meet the criteria of the comprehensive 14-point rubric. Over 1,200 districts and learning institutions in Texas were eligible to apply for this prestigious Texas Art Education Association Visual Art Award, 127 districts met the high standards and will receive this outstanding honor indicating their visual art program is in the top 10% of Visual Art programs in the state.
As the sponsor of this award, the Visual Art Administrators of Texas, a division of TAEA, recognizes districts and learning institutions exhibiting outstanding leadership in promoting the arts in their district and community. We recognize Visual Art programs that have active TAEA members, promote TAEA art events, and actively participate in their community. This year we celebrate 18 first year awardees, 14 second years, 27 third years, 17 fourth years, 13 fifth years, 8 sixth years, 14 seventh years and 16 visual art programs that earned this accomplishment for the eighth year.
We congratulate our honorees and applaud their work advocating for creative learning opportunities that encourage individual growth and connect students to their peers, school, and society at large. We look forward to honoring them at the TAEA Fall Conference.
