- Activity programs instill a sense of pride in school and community, teach lifelong lessons and skills of teamwork and self-discipline, and facilitate the physical and emotional development of the nation’s youth.
- Activities support the academic mission of schools. They are not a diversion but rather an extension of a good educational program. Students who participate in activity programs tend to have higher grade-point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates, and fewer discipline problems than students generally.
- Activities are inherently educational. Activity programs provide valuable lessons and skills for practical situations – like teamwork, fair play, and hard work. Through participation in activity programs, students learn self-discipline, build self-confidence, and develop skills to handle competitive situations. These are qualities students need if they are to become responsible adults, productive citizens, and skilled professionals.
- Activities promote health and well-being. Mental and physical health are improved through activities. Self-concept, self-image, physical activity, and weight management are a few of these health benefits realized through activity participation.
- Activities foster success in later life. Participation in high school activities is often a predictor of later success – in college, career, and becoming a healthy contributing member of society.
Source: National Federation of High Schools Association: The Case for High School Athletics
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/the-case-for-high-school-activities/#chapter2
Summary of Research of Benefits of Co-curricular or Education-based Activities
All benefits below are supported by numerous research projects. You can find a full summary of the research behind each benefit here: https://www.nfhs.org/articles/the-case-for-high-school-activities/#chapter2
BETTER EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES
Students who compete in high school activity programs have better educational outcomes, including higher grades, higher achievement test scores, and higher educational expectations beyond high school.
COST BENEFIT
At a cost of only one to three percent (or less in many cases) of an overall school's budget, high school activity programs are one of today’s best bargains. It is in these vital programs – sports, music, speech, theatre, debate – where young people learn lifelong lessons that complement the academic lessons taught in the classroom. From a cost standpoint, activity programs are an exceptional bargain when matched against the overall school district’s education budget.
ENHANCED SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND SENSE OF BELONGING
Participation in high school activities is a valuable part of the overall high school experience, enhancing students’ school engagement and sense of belonging.
POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/LIFE SKILLS
Co-curricular activity programs promote positive youth development and provide opportunities for learning a number of life skills and values not typically taught in classroom education.
HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS
Students involved in educational activities often have many healthier behaviors leading to better physical and mental health.
POST-HIGH SCHOOL POSITIVE RESULTS
Participation in activity programs yields positive results after high school, as well.
DEVELOPING BETTER CITIZENS
Co-curricular activities teach lessons that lead to better citizens.
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Not only do individual students benefit from education-based activities, but schools and communities also benefit when more students are involved in co-curricular activities.
Source: National Federation of High Schools Association: The Case for High School Athletics
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/the-case-for-high-school-activities/#chapter2
Additional Statistics
- Nearly 8 million students currently participate in high school athletics in the United States.
- Overall a little over 7% of high school athletes (about 1 in 13) went on to play a varsity sport in college.
- Less than 2% of high school athletes (1 in 57) went on to play at NCAA Division I schools.
- Students who plan to graduate from a four-year college are more likely to participate in school athletics; in 2017, 58 percent of 12th-graders who planned to complete four years of college participated in school athletics, compared with 39 percent of 12th-graders who did not have such plans.
Sources:
Child Trends – Participation in School Athletics
https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/participation-in-school-athletics
NCAA – Estimated Probability of Competing in College Athletics
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/estimated-probability-competing-college-athletics#:~:text=Nearly%20eight%20million%20students%20currently,the%20professional%20or%20Olympic%20level.