The Connection Between High School Drama Programs and Academic Performance

This thesis examined the possibility of a connection between involvement in high school drama programs and a higher academic achievement. Arts programs are often the first to go in budget cuts for school districts. This thesis examined the Grade Point Averages of 85 students involved in drama for at least two years and compared them to the Grade Point Averages of 85 students not involved with drama. These students were enrolled in a Northern California town with an overall high school enrollment of 1,860. This study failed to show evidence for a statistically significant difference. This research has implications that can be examined in future studies with access to larger data groups