In 1995, SAT scores for students who studied the arts more than four years were 59 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework or experience in the arts. The College Board, Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, 1995. It has also been documented that the arts have the potential to aid learning in specific areas, such as reading, writing, math and creativity. When I examine myself and my method of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing knowledge. Many students find that the arts help them master academic skills.
Drawing helps writing.
Song and poetry make facts memorable. Creative movement makes processes understandable. This is doubly true for the high risk student, who often excels for the first time in an arts program. Sometimes the student who is not doing well in traditional academics might have a talent that has not yet flowered. Schools with an integrated arts curriculum might be better able to address the needs of students like da Vinci.