Statistics

Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program

Some statistics about the PUSD Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program and music education in general.

For the school year 2002/2003, the PUSD Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program enrolled 2196 fifth graders out of the 2583 total fifth graders in the District.
For the school year 2001/2002, the PUSD Fifth Grade Instrumental Music Program enrolled 2125 fifth graders out of the 2505 total fifth graders in the District.
These two years are representative of what has been the pattern for about the last ten years. Participation in this program has consistently run at about 85% of the total population of fifth grade students.

Some Quotes:

In academic situations, students in music programs are less likely to to draw unfounded conclusions. - Champions of Change, federal study, 1999.
In a 1999 Columbia University study, students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident, and better able to express their ideas. These benefits exist across socioeconomic levels. - The Arts Education Partnership, 1999
College admissions officers continue to cite participation in music as an important factor in making college admissions decisions. They claim that music participation demonstrates time management, creativity, expression, and open-mindedness. - Carl Hartman, "Arts May Improve Students' Grades," The Associated Press, October, 1999.
On the 1999 SAT, music students continued to outperform their non-arts peers, scoring 61 points higher on the verbal portion and 42 points higher on the math portion of the exam. - Steven M. Demorest and Steven J. Morrison, "Does Music Make You Smarter?," Music Educators Journal, September, 2000.
Students who participate in school band or orchestra have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs among any group in our society. - H. Con. Res. 266, United States Senate, June 13, 2000.