At STARS, the arts aren’t an extra — they’re part of how students learn, grow, and find their voice.
Arts integration in K–8 education means connecting the arts — theatre, dance, music, and visual art — with learning across the curriculum, so students build creative skills and academic understanding at the same time. North Carolina recognizes the arts as a core part of a complete education: the NC Standard Course of Study includes Arts Education standards for dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts. At STARS Charter School, a tuition-free K–8 public charter in Vass, the performing arts are central to school life.
What Is Arts Integration?
Arts integration goes beyond a weekly art or music class. It uses the arts as a way to learn and show understanding. Students might act out a historical event, use rhythm and movement to learn patterns in math, write and perform an original story, or design a set that reflects what they’ve learned about a setting in literature.
| When students perform what they learn, they understand it more deeply — and remember it longer. |
Why the Arts Matter in K–8
Confidence and Communication
Standing on stage, speaking clearly, and performing for an audience build confidence that carries into class discussions, presentations, and beyond.
Collaboration
A musical or dance show only works when everyone does their part. Students learn to rehearse together, give and take direction, and support one another.
Creativity and Problem-Solving
The arts ask students to make choices, try ideas, and revise — the same thinking that drives success in writing, science, and math.
Engagement
Many students who struggle to connect with traditional instruction come alive through the arts. Arts integration gives them another path into learning.
Discipline and Perseverance
Learning lines, practicing choreography, and rehearsing music teach students that steady effort leads to results.
The Arts at STARS Charter School
Performing arts are part of the STARS identity. Throughout the school year, students across grade levels take the stage, including:
- Grade-level musicals — such as The Wizard of Oz (7th & 8th grade), Hans Christian Andersen, Jr. (5th & 6th grade), and The Great Ocean Rescue, a 1st & 2nd grade musical written by an 8th-grade student
- Dance shows for students in grades 3–8, including holiday and end-of-year performances
- Holiday and spring concerts across grade levels
- Our Junior Thespians, who take their work to competition
- Theatre summer camp
Learn more on the STARS Performing Arts page and see upcoming shows on our events calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is arts integration?
An approach that connects the arts — theatre, dance, music, and visual art — with learning in other subjects, so students use the arts to explore and show what they know.
Are the arts part of NC’s school standards?
Yes. The NC Standard Course of Study includes Arts Education standards for dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts.
Does STARS have a performing arts program?
Yes. STARS Charter School has a performing arts focus, with musicals, dance shows, concerts, and a Junior Thespians program.
Is STARS tuition-free?
Yes. STARS is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades K–8 in Vass, NC.
Can online students pursue the arts?
Yes. See our guide to online school for dancers and performers in NC.
The Bottom Line
Arts integration helps K–8 students build confidence, collaboration, creativity, and deeper understanding. At STARS Charter School, the performing arts are woven into school life — from grade-level musicals to dance shows and concerts — giving every student a chance to shine.
| Want to see STARS in person? Contact STARS Charter School at starscharter.org or call 910-695-1004 to ask about enrollment at our tuition-free K–8 campus in Vass, NC. |
