Fine arts and student academic success: A critical examination

Purpose. My study investigated what students perceive to be the academic benefits from involvement in the fine arts during high school. Also investigated were the perceptions high school counselors have toward the academic benefits of student involvement in fine arts during high school.;Method. One hundred eighty-seven high school juniors and seniors and 18 high school counselors from three school districts completed online surveys I designed regarding their perceptions of the academic benefits of being involved in the fine arts during high school. One hundred eighty-seven students participated in groups that discussed the study focus.;Results. Qualitative data revealed that most juniors and seniors perceived they gained academic benefits from being involved in fine arts courses during high school. Students listed common benefits gained from those fine arts experiences. High school counselors also agreed that students gain academic benefits from being involved in the fine arts during high school. Test data showed that students who participated in the fine arts during high school from the three districts in my study scored slightly higher than students who did not participate in the fine arts on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), and the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).;Recommendations. Based on the research in this study, educators should take note of the academic benefits of participation in high school fine arts courses and activities. Nationally, state boards of education would find mandating more fine arts credits beneficial to student achievement. School administrators and counselors should encourage participation in school-sponsored fine arts curricula.;Key words. Fine Arts in the State of Texas, Student Success, Student Perceptions, Extracurricular Involvement, Academic Benefits...