Who Has Access to Strings? Description of Public Schools With Orchestra Programs in Texas

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine enrollment in string orchestra instruction across Texas. Three central research questions guided the investigation: (a) How well is orchestra represented in districts and schools across the state of Texas? (b) What are the characteristics (FRPL eligibility, locale, student race/ethnicity, size/UIL classification) of schools with orchestra programs in Texas? and (c) How do program enrollment and UIL participation vary among these characteristics? Using 2015–2016 enrollment data collected by the Texas Education Agency, we examined string enrollment within secondary traditional public schools in the state. Major findings were that more than two-thirds of schools offering strings were Title I eligible campuses and enrollment on urban, Title I eligible, and African American or Hispanic majority campuses had lower string enrollments than their suburban, non-Title I, and White majority counterparts.