Arts for Whose Sake? Arts Course-taking and Math Achievement in US High Schools

Bibliographic Data

ID2363742
AuthorsDaniel Mackin Freeman (Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA), D M A Freeman (Portland State University, corresponding author), Dara Shifrer (0000-0002-6373-0970, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA)
Year2023
Volume66
Issue2
Pages226-245
Publication date2023-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0731-1214 • E-ISSN: 1533-8673
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/07311214221124537
PMID37255527
OpenAlexW4297184192
LanguageEN
References cited78

Math achievement in U.S. high schools is a consistent predictor of educational attainment. While emphasis on raising math achievement continues, school-level interventions often come at the expense of other subjects. Arts courses are particularly at risk of being cut, especially in schools serving lower socioeconomic status youth. Evidence suggests, however, that arts coursework is beneficial to many educational outcomes. We use data on 20,590 adolescents from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 to answer two research questions: (1) Does student accumulation of fine arts courses across different topic areas relate positively to math test scores in high school? (2) Does school SES differentiate this potential association? Results indicate that youth attending higher-SES schools take more art courses and taking music courses is related to higher math test scores. However, this benefit only seems to only apply to more socially advantaged student bodies. Results reveal a site of additional educational advantage for already privileged youth

Academic achievement · Coursework · Language arts · Mathematics education · Political science · Population · Psychological intervention · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · The arts · Art Education and Development · Demography · Diverse Music Education Insights · Educational Environments and Student Outcomes · Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access