Celebrating the Best in Governance: Education, Arts, and Culture Award Winners

Education, arts, and culture are cornerstones of a thriving community. From strong schools and lifelong learning to vibrant cultural events and festivals, these opportunities enrich daily life, inspire creativity, and strengthen civic pride. Communities that invest in education and cultural vitality not only support residents today, but also build the foundation for long-term prosperity and resilience.

The Best in Governance Awards  in the area of Education, Arts, and Culture draw on two complementary lenses: resident feedback from the National Community Survey (NCS) and national indicators from Polco’s Government Performance Action and Learning (GPAL) platform. Together, these measures provide a powerful picture of how communities are fostering learning, creativity, and opportunity, combining what residents experience every day with public data on educational and cultural outcomes.

Voice of the People Award: Residents’ Perspective

The Voice of the People Award celebrates communities where residents report outstanding opportunities in education and cultural life. High ratings reflect satisfaction with K–12 schools, access to childcare and preschool, opportunities for adult learning, and vibrant arts, music, and cultural activities. These winners show that when residents feel supported in both education and culture, it reflects a community deeply invested in its people.

Community Impact Award: Data-Driven Excellence

The Community Impact Award recognizes communities that demonstrate measurable strength across a wide range of education and culture indicators. These measures span:

• Student success: K–12 enrollment, graduation rates, and performance on state assessments in math and reading.
• Access to lifelong learning and culture: Library visitation and circulation, adult educational attainment, and the overall variety of training opportunities.
• Childcare and early learning: Availability and affordability of quality childcare and preschool that give young children a strong start and allow families to thrive.
• Equity and resources: Gaps in school spending, racial and ethnic distribution, and student–teacher ratios.

The common thread is clear: these local governments are cultivating environments where education and culture thrive, fueling stronger communities, better opportunities, and more resilient futures.

🏆Top Performers for Education, Arts & Culture

Excellence - Voice of the People

• City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• City of Coronado, California
• Town of Davidson, North Carolina
• Township of Schaumburg, Illinois
• Borough of State College, Pennsylvania

Transformation - Voice of the People

• City of American Canyon, California
• City of Elk Grove, California
• City of Kingman, Arizona
• Village of Palm Springs, Florida
• City of Park City, Utah

Excellence - Community Impact

• Albemarle County, Virginia
• Town of Flower Mound, Texas
• Town of Rye, New York
• Village of Rye Brook, New York
• York County, Virginia

Why It Matters

Healthy education and cultural systems do not happen by chance. They are the result of intentional choices—investments in schools, arts, childcare, equity, and workforce readiness—that uplift residents across all ages and backgrounds. These efforts enrich communities today while preparing them for tomorrow.

By pairing resident feedback with objective measures, the Best in Governance: Education, Arts, and Culture Awards shine a light on communities leading the way. Congratulations to this year’s winners for proving that good governance is both a learning opportunity and a cultural investment.

What’s Next

The communities listed as top performers in each category represent the very best in fostering educational excellence and cultural vitality.

🎉 The National Champions will be announced live at the ICMA Annual Conference in October in Tampa, Florida. 

👏 Congratulations to all of this year’s Top Performers! We’re honored to showcase your leadership in building stronger, smarter, and more connected communities. Visit our awards page for more information about Best in Governance Awards.