Considering the arts in school assessment in the United States: An investigation of engagement and hope.

This article examines how arts education contributes to measures of school effectiveness in the United States by analyzing data from the 2018 Gallup Student Poll (GSP) focused on arts-rich schools in South Carolina. It highlights student engagement and hope—psychological constructs measured by the GSP—as significant indicators that correlate positively with arts education, suggesting these factors offer a more holistic assessment of school success beyond standardized test scores. The study found that arts-rich schools, including those serving high-poverty (Title I) populations, scored higher than national averages on engagement and hope, with longer-established arts programs linked to better outcomes. The findings advocate for incorporating arts education into accountability frameworks to support whole-child education and call for further quantitative and longitudinal research to strengthen arts advocacy and policy.