Visual and Performing Arts
Arts Education at Seattle Public Schools
In Seattle Public Schools the arts include dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. The arts are a core academic subject and part of Basic Education per district policy, and Washington State’s Basic Education and Arts Instruction laws. The Seattle K-12 Arts Plan, developed through community engagement, outlines how we ensure equitable access to Basic Education in the arts.
Arts Goals
Every student in every school receives:
- High quality arts learning that teaches sequential arts skills and techniques, develops students’ 21st century skills and is culturally responsive
- Instruction from certified arts teachers
- Arts integration
- Arts partnerships with community-based organizations and teaching artists
- Opportunities to connect arts to careers
Why the Arts Matter
Research shows that students who have an arts education are more successful in school and life. Students in the arts:
- Are more motivated and engaged
- Have better attendance
- Have lower discipline rates
- Do better academically
- Are more likely to graduate
- Are more civically engaged as adults