Ten public charter schools in Rochester were awarded a total of $165,000 in grants from Sound Foundations of Rochester to enhance their music programs, the Rochester Beacon reported.
The nonprofit, which focuses on music education in charter schools, said the funding will be used to hire and retain music teachers, acquire or lease equipment, upgrade classroom technology, support school performances and broaden student opportunities to create music.
Sound Foundations’ executive director, Melinda Goldberg, emphasized that music education positively influences academic achievement and social‑emotional learning, and noted the organization’s overall investment in education has reached nearly $250,000 over two years.
Several of the recipient schools are located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Beacon noted that Rochester has one of the state’s highest child‑poverty rates and the lowest charter‑school basic tuition funding, with a 2022 study showing a $14,280 per‑student funding gap, representing a 42% deficit.
Vertus High School CEO Julie Locey said the grants enable innovative, high‑quality enrichment that would otherwise be financially out of reach, preparing students for college, careers and life.
The grants were made possible through collaboration with the Rochester Area Community Foundation and ArtsBloom, both funded by the city’s Percent for the Arts program. Applications for the 2027‑2028 school year will open later this year, and Sound Foundations encourages all Rochester charter schools to apply.
For more information, visit rochesterbeacon.com.