Parents often hear that art and music are “good for the brain.” But what does that really mean? And what does the research actually say about the arts and academic achievement? The honest answer is encouraging, even if it is a little more nuanced than a headline.
In this post, we share what studies show, in plain language, and how art and music connect to the reading and math skills children use every day.
What Research Says About the Arts and Academic Achievement
One of the strongest studies on arts education comes from Houston. Researchers followed more than 10,000 students across 42 schools in a randomized study of the city’s Arts Access Initiative. Students at schools that received more arts learning experiences saw real benefits.
Specifically, the study found:
- Fewer discipline problems at school
- Stronger writing scores
- More compassion for others
- Higher engagement and college aspirations among elementary students
Notably, the Houston study did not find measurable changes in math, reading, or science test scores during the two years it tracked. That matters. Arts education is not a shortcut to higher test scores. Instead, its biggest effects show up in engagement, behavior, and the habits that help kids learn.
Other research, including a report from the National Endowment for the Arts, has found that students with more arts involvement tend to have stronger academic outcomes. However, those studies show a connection rather than proof of cause, so we share them with care.
How the Arts Build Skills for Reading
Even when test scores are not the direct target, the arts practice many of the same skills reading requires. For example:
- Listening closely: Music trains children to hear small differences in sound, like the sounds inside words.
- Rhythm and rhyme: Songs and chants help young readers break words into syllables.
- Storytelling: Drama asks students to understand characters, feelings, and plot.
- Vocabulary: Talking about art gives children new words to describe what they see and feel.
In addition, writing and art often go hand in hand. When students sketch before they write, they often have more ideas to put on the page.
How the Arts Connect to Math
Math and the arts share more than you might think. Consequently, art and music can make abstract ideas feel concrete.
- Patterns: Beats, dance steps, and designs are all patterns.
- Fractions: Musical notes split a beat into halves and quarters.
- Shapes and space: Drawing and sculpture build geometry skills and spatial thinking.
- Measurement: Building a set or framing a painting takes careful measuring.
These connections do not replace math instruction. Rather, they give students another way in, especially children who learn best with their hands or ears.
Engagement Is the Hidden Benefit
Here is what the Houston findings suggest most clearly: when school includes the arts, students are more engaged. Engaged students come to school ready to learn, stay focused longer, and are more willing to try hard things.
That is a big reason why arts integration works. It gives every child a reason to lean in.
Arts and Academic Achievement at Academy Del Sol
At Academy Del Sol, the arts are woven into academics, not bolted on. As a tuition-free K-8 Fine Arts charter school, we bring art, music, and performance into daily learning. A math lesson might include rhythm. A reading lesson might end with students acting out the story.
Because we serve kindergarten through 8th grade, students build these skills year after year. By middle school, they are confident creators, presenters, and performers.
To learn more, read our posts on the benefits of fine arts education and music education for kids.
Try It at Home
You can bring these connections home, too. Clap out the syllables in your child’s name. Make patterns with beads or blocks. Ask your child to draw a picture of a story, then tell it back to you. Small moments like these build skills and make learning fun.
The Bottom Line for Parents
The research is clear on one point: the arts help children become more engaged, more expressive, and more empathetic learners. Those qualities support growth in every subject. If you are looking for a school where your child can grow in both academics and creativity, we would love to show you what that looks like at ADS.
Apply Now for 2026-27
Academy Del Sol is a tuition-free K-8 Fine Arts charter school serving Tucson families since 2009. Come see us in action.
- Star Valley campus (Firebirds), west Tucson: 7102 W. Valley Crest Pl. | (520) 789-7731
- Roger Road campus (Roadrunners), central Tucson: 732 W. Roger Rd. | (520) 325-2800
Apply Now: https://academydelsol.com/contact
Where Every Child Shines.
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