Selecting Students for College and Career Persistence at Member High Schools in the Arts Schools Network: A Comparative Case Study

This dissertation explores the impact of admissions models on the persistence of the arts in students’ college and career choices at Arts Schools Network (ASN) member high schools across the United States. The study investigates how the choice of admissions models, whether audition-based or a blended approach (audition and lottery), may influence students’ decisions to pursue careers or further education in the arts. It also includes perceptions of school staff regarding the potential influence of admissions models on students’ self-perception as artists and their preparedness for post-secondary arts-related endeavors. This research is significant for ASN member high schools as it aims to provide insights into their operations and the possible implications of their admissions practices on students’ futures in the arts. The study also serves as a call to action on institutional research in these arts-specialty schools. The study utilizes a comparative case study design, primarily drawing on qualitative data from two distinct ASN member high schools, each using a different admissions model. A pattern-matching approach is employed to identify and compare patterns among the cases, providing insights into how the admissions model may interact with students’ career and college choices.