Visual art education in Greenville County Schools begins in Kindergarten, where students in grades K–5 attend weekly art classes led by certified visual art teachers. These classes provide hands-on experiences in creating, exploring, and responding to visual art, laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with the arts.

Aligned with the South Carolina Visual Art Standards, the elementary visual arts program helps students understand the important role of art in the world around them. Throughout their elementary years, students gain foundational skills across a wide range of media and techniques, including painting, drawing, printmaking, weaving, three-dimensional construction, design, and ceramics.

Students are introduced to art history and world cultures by studying a variety of artworks and traditions. These experiences help young learners expand their visual perception, express their creativity, and communicate in unique and meaningful ways—skills that support their academic and personal growth.

Elementary students have opportunities to share their work throughout the school year in both school-based and community art shows. Each year, all Greenville County elementary schools are invited to participate in the District-Wide Elementary Art Show, which features over 100 outstanding two- and three-dimensional works from across the district, celebrating the talent and creativity of our youngest artists.

Middle school is a time of rapid growth and development, and the visual arts play a vital role in helping students explore their creativity and identity. Greenville County Schools’ middle school visual art teachers understand the importance of nurturing students' passion for the arts during these formative years. It is at this stage that students begin to grasp more complex visual art concepts and develop the craftsmanship necessary to produce high-quality work.

Students who wish to pursue visual arts more deeply have the opportunity to enroll in Art 1 for high school credit during middle school. Most middle schools offer an accelerated track, allowing students to earn this credit before entering high school. Those who demonstrate exceptional skill and commitment may also audition for the Fine Arts Center in areas such as Visual Art or Architecture.

Each year,the district hosts an adjudicated, end-of-year public art show, featuring student artwork from all 21 middle schools. Select students are recognized for their excellence, and first-place winners are invited to display their work at the District Winners Gallery, alongside high school and elementary school honorees.

Greenville County Schools’ high school visual arts programs have a proud and longstanding tradition of excellence. Since 2005, the district has hosted an annual District-Wide High School Art Exhibition, showcasing outstanding student work from each of the 15 high schools as well as the Fine Arts Center.

From 2013 to 2019, the District Show was co-sponsored by Artisphere, consistently ranked among the Top 10 Art Festivals in the nation. In 2020, the show was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the district’s transition to fully virtual instruction. However, it returned in the spring of 2021 in a virtual format, continuing to highlight the creativity and talent of Greenville County students.

Since 2022, the District-Wide High School Art Show has been co-sponsored by the Greenville Center for Creative Arts.  The show features over 200 works of art across a variety of media. The event continues to celebrate the dedication of student artists and their teachers, and it remains a key highlight of the district’s commitment to the arts.