Some still view arts education as a non-essential extracurricular activity despite its benefits. Even though the Every Student Succeeds Act acknowledges arts education is a healthy and well-rounded subject, local, district, and state administrators still control budget allocation and cuts, which generally affect arts education. There has also been a decline or lack of interest in traditional learning methods in the arts and core subjects. Alternative student learning forms have shown benefits in suburban, urban, and inner-city schools. Still, there is little information about these methods in predominantly non-white rural schools. Research using qualitative methods examines the potential effectiveness of hip-hop curricula in performing arts charter schools in mostly non-white, low-income rural areas of Louisiana. Research may show biased funding for some organizations over the arts: funding predominantly white versus mostly non-white schools may reveal racial preferences. A qualitative study using ethnographic and narrative methods examines the effectiveness of Hip Hop curricula in inner-city, urban, and suburban communities. This study explores the benefits of performing arts charter schools in predominantly non-white rural areas of Louisiana. Hip Hop performing arts public, private, and charter schools are studied to hypothesize their success as rural low-income charter schools. By comparing traditional public, charter, and private schools, research methods aim to bring awareness to funding opportunities for charter schools. Hip Hop performing arts charter schools may improve student achievement, well-being, and access to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment. Also studied are ways of being an effective educator without being immersed in Hip Hop culture. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]