Why We Do It

The Socio-Economic Facts:
In Bridgeport, the median household income is $46,662 compared with the median household income of $95,645 in Fairfield County.

• In 2019, 21.8% of Bridgeport residents were living in poverty. 
• Of the 20,311 students enrolled in the 39 Bridgeport public schools, 71.5% are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  And, 22.2% of these students have chronic absenteeism.
• Low-income children in Connecticut public schools are almost four grade levels behind their upper-income peers. This marks the state as having the largest such “achievement gap” in the U.S.​

The Benefits of an Arts Education:

• Students of lower socioeconomic status who took music lessons in grades 8–12 increased their math scores significantly as compared to non-music students. In addition, reading, history, geography and even social skills soared by 40%.
• The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.

Neighborhood Studios’ Success:

• Conservatory high school graduation rates top 90% compared to 76% for Bridgeport.
• Approximately 60% of Conservatory students go on to post-secondary education and receive college degrees as compared to 16% in Bridgeport. 
• Neighborhood Studios is an accredited member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, the United Way.
• Neighborhood Studios is the winner of a 2005 Coming Up Taller award presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Data per Edsight.ct.gov and U.S. Census 2019 for Bridgeport