Appreciation for the Arts
The arts don’t just develop a child’s creativity—the skills they learn are also beneficial for their social, emotional, and academic growth. A report by Americans for the Arts found that young people who participate regularly in the arts have higher overall GPAs, and are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. They are also more likely to participate in a math and science fair or to win an award for writing an essay than children who do not participate. In a study conducted at Columbia University, research evidenced that subjects such as mathematics, science, and language require complex cognitive and creative capacities “typical of arts learning” (Burton, Horowitz, & Abeles, 1999). Participation in the arts such as band, choir, and theatre also build confidence, perseverance, and collaboration skills.
At AACS, our musical, theatre, and visual arts programs are designed to nurture student-artists from kindergarten to graduation and beyond. We believe that students should use their artistic gifts to serve others and offer multiple opportunities for them to do so. Our art is displayed, our bands and choirs travel around the country and globe to perform, and our stage is always alive with performances. While many schools are cutting their arts budget, it continues to be a strong area of focus and achievement for Annapolis Area Christian School.