Empowering the communityThrough Sports & Music

Student athletes consistently show stronger academic outcomes, including higher graduation rates and better school attendance than non-athlete peers.

A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Social Work Research (2017) found male student athletes were 15% more likely to graduate high school than non-athletes, and female athletes were 7% more likely. A separate study of 35,000 student athletes in Los Angeles found athletes attended approximately three more weeks of school per year than non-athletes.

A growing body of research confirms that music education meaningfully strengthens brain development — improving memory, language skills, and academic performance across all ages.

Nine independent peer-reviewed studies consistently show that music training produces cognitive benefits beyond musical skill. Research from the Northwestern University Auditory Neuroscience Lab demonstrates improved verbal memory, reading ability, and executive function. A Harvard meta-analysis found music education correlates with stronger academic outcomes across subjects. Studies from the University of British Columbia and the Royal Conservatory of Music show music learners outperform peers in attention, processing speed, and language comprehension — benefits that persist into adulthood.

Team sports provide structured environments where young people develop collaboration, communication, and resilience alongside peers.

The CDC's comprehensive review of 50 studies (2010) found the majority showed positive relationships between physical activity and academic and behavioral outcomes. Student athletes consistently show fewer disciplinary incidents and stronger social outcomes. The NEA longitudinal studies also found that structured program participation correlates with stronger community engagement and social outcomes for low-income youth.

Music education supports emotional awareness, self-expression, and the ability to manage stress.

A systematic review of 21 controlled studies (Harney et al., 2023) found music listening had a significant large effect on reducing anxiety. Longitudinal research also found that parents of children in music programs rated their children higher on emotional stability and lower on aggression and hyperactivity after four years of music participation compared to children not involved in music.

Both sports and music teach goal-setting, discipline, and how to handle setbacks—skills that carry into every area of life.

The NEA's four longitudinal studies found that low-income students with arts-rich backgrounds showed significantly stronger long-term social and occupational outcomes than peers without structured arts engagement. Research consistently shows that structured program participation builds the non-cognitive skills—persistence, self-regulation, and resilience—that predict long-term success.

Participation in arts and sports programs is strongly linked to higher educational attainment and professional career expectations.

The NEA's longitudinal research (2012) found that at-risk students with arts-rich high school backgrounds were three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree than low-arts peers (17% vs. 5%). Half of low-income adults with arts-rich backgrounds expected professional careers, compared to only 21% of low-arts peers.