Wicomico County Public Schools | EFMP FY2026 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM The Visual Art, Music, and Theatre VPA program is a unique set of courses for eleventh and twelfth grade students with exceptional abilities who are interested in pursuing a visual art, music, or theatre career. VPA prepares students for college and pre-professional training. The VPA Performance Theatre program is open to tenth through twelfth grade students who are interested in pursuing theatre careers and/or community theatre interests. Students study acting, musical theatre, directing, and technical applications. The VPA (Art, Music, and Theatre) program is located on the Wicomico High School campus. Selected students from the four county high schools attend the VPA program for a portion of their school day. They return to their home school for the remainder of their day. Currently there are about 80 students enrolled in this program, 13 in art, 58 in theatre, and 9 in music. The program makes use of existing county staff. Six teachers spend a total of 560-minute teaching blocks per year in this program. The art program makes use of one large classroom and one smaller area for instruction. The music program uses the existing choral and music rooms at Wicomico High School. The Performance Theatre program uses the Parkside High School chorus room as well as the Wicomico High School auditorium, sound booth, stage, make-up room, and stagecraft room. WICOMICO COUNTY STRING ORCHESTRA PROGRAM String students at all the county high schools participate in String Orchestra. Separate orchestra ensembles exist at Wicomico High, James M. Bennett, Parkside, and Mardela. Orchestra is scheduled during first block at James M. Bennett, fourth block at Parkside and Wicomico High, and Flex third period at Mardela High School. Three string teachers are assigned to direct these four high school ensembles to make the most efficient use of staff who are also responsible for teaching at other county elementary, middle, and high schools. Currently there are 75 students enrolled in the high school orchestra program: 27 at James M. Bennett, 18 at Parkside, 10 at Mardela, and 20 at Wicomico High. For rehearsals, the program makes use of the band room at James M. Bennett, the chorus room and stage at Parkside, and the stage at Wicomico High and Mardela. String students at all five county middle schools participate in string instruction and/or orchestra. Instruction takes place during the special subjects’ periods for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Three string instructors are assigned to the five middle schools to make the most efficient use of the staff who are also responsible for teaching at other county schools. 42
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