Representation of Students With Disabilities in High School Music Courses in the United States

Researchers have attempted to determine the proportion of students with disabilities that participate in secondary music within small populations; however, the results of these studies offered limited insights. The purpose of this study was to examine the proportional representation of students with disabilities in U.S. high school music courses using data from the National Center for Education Statistics High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. Results indicated that 32.75% of music students in the cohort had a disability, which is a statistically significant underrepresentation compared to the high school population (35%). This underrepresentation was driven by the results among band students (31%). Notably, results from this study contribute to a clearer understanding of the presence of disabled students in music. Given that almost 33% of music students in this cohort had a disability, we suggest there is a critical need for further research into inclusive practices and underscore the urgency of expanding inclusive opportunities and supporting music educators in fostering accessible learning environments for students with disabilities.