Olathe Northwest High School earned the top performing arts award in Kansas for the 2026-27 school year.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) announced Thursday, Aug. 27 that Olathe Northwest is the Performing Arts School of Excellence award winner, selected from 23 high schools recognized statewide. The award honors the Ravens' performance across debate, speech, music and theater during the 2025-26 school year.

"It is very difficult to flourish in all categories of the performing arts," Megan Hagaman, KSHSAA assistant executive director of fine arts and spirit, said in a district Instagram post.

A selection committee drawn from the Kansas Music Educators Association, the Kansas Speech Communication Association and the Kansas Thespians evaluated schools alongside KSHSAA staff. The committee scores schools that performed exceptionally well across all four performing arts disciplines, then names one overall winner, a set of finalists and a commended list.

The award was established in 2018. It is now in its eighth year. Bill Faflick, KSHSAA executive director, announced the selection.

Olathe Northwest enrolls 1,958 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Olathe USD 233 district. The school moved up from the commended list in one year. It was among five Olathe high schools named to the commended tier for the 2024-25 school year, according to Ad Astra Radio. Olathe East, Olathe South, Olathe North and Olathe West also appeared on that list.

Hagaman praised the school's breadth across disciplines. The district confirmed the honor on its Instagram account Friday, Aug. 28, noting that the committee recognized schools scoring "exceptionally high" in all four categories.

All 23 recognized schools will receive a certificate from KSHSAA. No date for a formal recognition ceremony at Olathe Northwest has been announced.