Families in Hillsborough County know about the reputation of Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts.

Now it's official: Orange Grove has been designated as a 2011 Exemplary School by the Arts Schools Network, a national membership organization of specialized arts schools. For Orange Grove, that designation opens the door for national exposure and helps with fundraising, advocacy and networking.

Orange Grove became a middle magnet school in 1998, and serves 540 students in grades 6, 7 and 8 from around the district.