Intrinsic value: The arts in the high school curriculum

Against the backdrop of the metric-driven discourse dominating the educational landscape today, the unquantifiable benefits of arts education offer prime examples of vital aspects of teaching and learning that defy standardized measurement. This article outlines the particular features of the arts and the learning they provide that make them essential parts of the core curriculum, and particularly crucial at the high school level. Drawing on recent research into reasons for dropping out of school and the relationship between arts education and student retention, the author argues that an increase in arts education will help fight the daunting dropout rate that challenges educational reformers today.