In a time when education is facing ever-increasing attacks on its funding, it’s good to step back and examine the benefits that could be cut if we continue down this road.

For example, many schools plan to or have already cut back on their arts programs. However, a number of studies and experts posit developing students’ thinking in the arts benefits their thought processes in other, more traditional areas such as English and math.

Although that position could be debated, there is little debate that student enthusiasm for programs such as arts or sports can spill over into other areas. One example of this is Lincoln High School in San Jose USD. Lincoln High is an arts magnet school with a student population that’s 60 percent Latino, one-third of which is low-income. Recently, the school received the Dispelling the Myth Award from Education Trust-West for its accomplishments in closing the achievement gap between Latino and Caucasian students. It is one of five schools nationally to receive the award, which identifies schools that serve significant proportions of low-income and/or minority students and post high scores on their state assessments.

San Jose USD Superintendent Don Iglesias said his district takes pride in Lincoln High’s achievements.

“We are proud of Lincoln High School and the stellar effort of staff and administration to narrow the achievement gap,” Iglesias said. “The next generation of leaders will come from a diversity of race, ethnicity and socio-economic backgrounds and our gift of encouragement, support and opportunity will sustain them with hope through the uncertainties of the future.”

The school recently saw a narrowing of that gap by more than 100 API points, with no drop in the Caucasian test scores. Three-quarters of all Lincoln High students graduate ready to enroll in CSU or UC, a figure Principal Jackie Zeller said far exceeds that of the county and state. Zeller credits her predecessors, Chris Funk and Oreen Gernreich, with having done a large part of the work to get Lincoln High to where it is today.

Certainly, the school has used some traditional methods to achieve this. They hold Saturday academies and offer eight periods a day, including advisory periods, to assist students along the way. But they also emphasize arts education, without sacrificing instruction in English, math and the more traditional areas.

“The arts give students a connection to the school as 36 percent choose to attend Lincoln High due to the arts program,” Zeller said. “Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to be eligible to participate in the performances. The visual art classes are also very strong and serve as a hook to get kids excited about school.”

Zeller said the feedback from the community has been very positive. The school was featured by the San Jose Mercury News and will be featured by a local TV news station.

“We are also receiving a commendation from our County Supervisor, Ken Yeager,” Zeller said.

Zeller is in her first year as principal at Lincoln High and was a vice principal for two years before that at Willow Glen HS. She entered administration after 24 years as a special education and math teacher.

“I am proud to be a part of the Lincoln community, although I cannot take credit for the past work that has been accomplished here,” Zeller said. “Chris Funk was principal for the past five years and he was relentless in his efforts to improve the achievement levels of all students, but particularly our Hispanic students.

Oreen Gernreich was principal for the 12 years prior to Chris, and she started the performing arts magnet. I worked under Oreen as a teacher at Steinbeck Middle School before she went to LHS and I know that she is a real champion for equity and opportunity for all students. I have big shoes to fill.”