Arts Education and Black and Latinx Student Achievement and Attainment

Evidence from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009

Bibliographic Data

ID3013576
AuthorsVictoria Isaac (0009-0009-1885-2918, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, corresponding author), Marcus Britton (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA), Marcus L Britton (0000-0003-1171-0895, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)
Year2025
Volume68
Issue4-6
Pages220-241
Publication date2025-08-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Perspectives (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0731-1214 • E-ISSN: 1533-8673
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/07311214251352550
OpenAlexW4413297864
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited53

Prior research finds positive associations between arts education and academic achievement and attainment. We explore how arts education may foster cultural affirmation and mitigate some of the academic consequences of racialized exclusion in schools, especially among Black and Latinx students. We hypothesize that Black and Latinx students reap greater academic benefits from completing arts coursework than non-Latinx White students. Findings indicate more pronounced positive associations between arts coursework and GPA for Black students compared to White students. Arts coursework is associated with lower dropout rates to a greater extent among Latinx compared to White students. Statistically significant decreases in the predicted probability of dropout are found for Black and Latinx students who complete more arts coursework. Findings uplift the role of arts education in the academic journeys of Black and Latinx students navigating Eurocentric institutions and the need for further research on Black and Latinx students' experiences with the arts

Academic achievement · Black male · Developmental psychology · Economic growth · Economics · Educational attainment · Longitudinal study · Mathematics education · Political science · Sociology · The arts · Art Education and Development · Gender Studies · Psychology · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies · Youth Development and Social Support