The Academic Achievement of Music Students vs. Non-Music Students in a Suburban High School in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Participation in music education has proved successful for student academic success and positive youth development (Ilari, 2023). Consequently, educators and policy makers seek to understand what draws students to music and what impact participation in school music has on their academic and personal lives. Some researchers have recommended that school divisions take a more defined look at the benefits of students participating in music. The purpose of this study was to determine what difference, if any, existed in student academic achievement as measured by average daily attendance, grade point average, and office discipline referrals by race, gender, and students with disabilities between those enrolled in a music program and those not enrolled in a music program over a 3-year period in a suburban high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This study used quantitative data with a nonexperimental descriptive design to address the research questions posed. The results of the study revealed that music students had higher academic achievement than non-music students as measured by average daily attendance, grade point average, and office discipline referrals by race, gender, and students with a disability over a 3-year period from 2021-2024. The results of this study are significant for education leaders who want to examine the impact of music participation in secondary school. This study also yielded important information regarding demographic subgroups and students with disabilities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Department dc:contributor.department

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Snead, Nicholas LaMar

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Cash, Carol S.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Price, Ted S.
• Johnstad, Susan
• Foster, Catheryn Shaw

• Academic Performance
• Attendance
• At-Risk Student
• Band
• Chorus
• Drop-out Rate
• Ensemble Music
• Grade Point Average
• Instrumental Music
• Office Discipline Referral
• Orchestra
• Student Discipline
• Student Engagement
• Vocal Music

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:42271

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/124084