WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For the fifth consecutive year, the Wauwatosa School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation.

This national award, now in its 25th year, acknowledges teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who provide access to music as part of a well-rounded education for children.

In a press release announcing the achievement on Monday, April 24, the Wauwatosa School District noted their efforts to foster early music involvement, offering students opportunities to join choir, orchestra and band starting in fourth and fifth grades, respectively.

The district also celebrated their range of musical electives offered throughout middle and high school, including world music, contemporary music and culture, music and media, concert band, choir, orchestra and more.

To earn the Best Communities designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. The University of Kansas' Music Research Institute reviewed and verified responses with school officials.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization backed by the National Association of Music Merchants and over 10,000 members worldwide.