ArtsCount
ArtsCount builds upon the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts and incorporates arts metrics into the measurement of school performance, establishing accountability measures for arts programming. ArtsCount provides annual Individual Arts Reports for schools, as well as the Annual Arts in Schools Report; an aggregate system-wide arts report publication.
Setting high standards and holding schools accountable for results is the way we ensure that schools help students learn. The outline below illustrates the accountability indicators for which schools will be responsible for arts education.
For additional guidance for leaders of the arts, please visit the Arts Education Leadership Manual on WeTeachNYC. For additional questions and supports regarding ArtsCount and arts instructional requirements, leaders may reach out to their Borough Arts Director in the Office of Arts and Special Projects.
Participation in Arts Education According To New York State Education Department (NYSED) Instructional Requirements
- Grades 1 - 3: 186 hours/year allocated equally in dance, music, theater, and visual arts
- Grades 4 - 6: 93 hours/year allocated equally in dance, music, theater, and visual arts
- Grades 7 - 8: 1/2 unit (54 hours) of visual arts AND 1/2 unit (54 Hours) of study in music taught by a licensed arts teacher
- Grades 9 - 12: 1 unit of credit (1 year) in dance, music, theater, and/or visual arts taught by a licensed arts teacher OR unit of music OR unit of visual arts taught by a licensed arts teacher
For additional support, elementary schools can use this Arts Tracking Tool for Elementary Schools.
Annual Arts in Schools Report
Arts and cultural education broadens each child, deepens their commitment to education, makes them stronger intellectually and makes them better able to handle the world that we are in today.
-Mayor Bill de Blasio
Under the leadership of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña, New York City has continued to make the arts a priority for all its public schools. The arts enrich our children's lives and learning, and all students deserve the opportunity to experience a rich arts education. This focus on the arts began in 2004 with the introduction of the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts, a curriculum framework for what students should know, understand, and be able to achieve in dance, music, theater and visual arts. In 2007, building on the progress that has been made, the NYCDOE announced ArtsCount, an initiative designed to provide greater accountability for arts education in our schools. This Annual Arts in Schools Report shows us where we are and makes clear what we must do to provide quality arts education for every NYC public school student. This information is available both at the school level and for the entire school system.
System-Wide Report
The Annual Arts in Schools Report includes data about arts teachers, arts budgeting, space for the arts, partnerships with arts and cultural organizations, and parent involvement for elementary, middle, and high schools. The first Annual Arts in Schools Report was published in March 2008. These reports help school administrators, parents, and students understand how their schools are progressing towards offering universal arts education to all students.
Annual Arts in Schools Reports are listed below.
School Year 2018-19:
School Year 2017-18:
School Year 2016-17:
Individual School Reports
The individual Annual Arts in Schools Reports provide baseline information for arts education accountability, and can help schools identify areas of success and areas that need improvement. Individual school reports can be found on the "statistics" page of each school’s website.
To download a translation guide for 2015-16 Individual Annual Arts in Schools Reports, please use the appropriate language button below:
Raw Data
To view raw data for the Annual Arts in Schools Report, please visit the Open Data Portal.