Digging Deeper Into Arts-Intensive High Schools: Experiences, Outcomes, and Other Reflections From Artistically Gifted Alumni

Abstract

Arts-intensive high schools offer a unique learning environment for artistically gifted students, but relatively little is known about the long-term impacts of attending these schools. Using data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP), this mixed-methods study explores the educational experiences and career outcomes of over 2,900 alumni from arts-intensive high schools. Descriptive statistics, inferential regression models, and a grounded theory, inductive coding, qualitative analysis reveal important connections among acquired skills, experiential learning activities, and several career and community outcomes. Overall, the findings suggest that skills learned while at arts-intensive high schools are relevant to a variety of careers, and that certain high-impact practices are positive predictors of later outcomes. However, curricular revisions to address areas such as entrepreneurial and business skills may be needed. Implications for curricular improvements, programming support, and advising are also discussed.