EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - The Socorro Independent School District's (SISD) Fine Arts department has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 District of Distinction Award from the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) for the fourth consecutive year, the district announced in a news release. SISD is among the top 5.5 percent of districts in the state to earn the recognition this year, according to the news release. The districts were honored for providing a "well-rounded education that advocates and integrates a visual arts curriculum to inspire creativity and build social-emotional learning that connects learners to their community and beyond." “SISD is all into providing our students with a comprehensive education, including exceptional opportunities in the fine arts,” SISD Interim Superintendent James P. Vasquez said. "Our students continually achieve high marks at the regional and state level, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our exceptional teachers to deliver the best fine arts education for our students." SISD said the district offers award-winning, diverse and competitive fine arts programs to enhance student creativity, coordination and discipline for a complete educational experience. The district provides "endless opportunities" in the fine arts at all campuses, including two exclusive fine arts academies – Paso Del Norte Fine Arts Academy, and Ernesto Serna Fine Arts Academy, according to the news release. SISD said the TAEA award was given to only 94 out of 1,200 eligible school districts. “This distinction recognizes Socorro ISD as a leader in visual arts education and showcases our commitment to excellence,” SISD Fine Arts director Armando Martinez said. “We are proud to receive this honor for a fourth consecutive year, and we remain committed to supporting our students in showcasing their talents and achieving success.” TAEA is the leading advocate for the visual arts in the state, according to SISD. "The organization has previously honored outstanding TAEA members for work in their classrooms and districts. This is the fifth year that TAEA is honoring districts that meet rigorous criteria as evidenced from data," read the news release.