1. Reasoning to Enhance &
Encourage
Student
Participation in
Co-Curricular & Extracurricular
Activities

2. Areas of Research
 Impact of extra curricular participation on grades
 Impact of extra curricular participation on attendance
 Impact of school start time on extra curricular participation
 Relationships between extra curricular participation and
student behavior
 Relationships between extra curricular participation and
standardized test scores

3. Extracurricular Participation
and
Student Engagement
Students who participate in extracurriculars:
have fewer unexcused absences, are more
likely to have a GPA of 3.0 above, tend to
score higher on standardized tests, and plan
on attending college at a higher rate than
non-participants
1997 US Department of Education

4. Statistics
Indicators Participants Non-Particip.
No unexcused absences 50.4 % 36.2 %
Never skipped class 50.7 42.3
Have a GPA of 3.0 or above 30.6 10.8
Highest quartile on a composite
math and reading assessment 29.8 14.2
Expect to earn a bachelor’s degree
or higher 68.2 48.2

5. Intellectual and Social
Development of Students
 “Participation in extracurricular activities
enhances both the intellectual and social
development of students” Durbin 1984
 Athletes attain higher grade point averages than those students not in
athletics (especially during the season)
 Activities like athletics, music, theater, and organizations teach the
students how to discipline themselves to balance academics and their
outside activities
 Benefits of organization and responsibility can be attained through
extracurricular activities

6. Recent Reports on Exercise
 Newsweek reports that recent
scientific studies indicate:
 exercise can help rebuild damaged brain cells and make
the brain run faster and more efficiently
 besides growing neurons, a workout will help with
focus, calming down, and impulsivity
 physical activity can stave off the beginnings of
Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and other cognitive
disorders

7. Extracurricular Activities
/Athletic Participation Benefits
Students have:
 a higher likelihood of college attendance
 lower dropout rate
 more satisfaction with school and teachers
 higher life satisfaction
 broader peer network
 less involvement in delinquent behavior
 less drug/alcohol use

8. Extracurricular and Co-
Curricular Participation
Research Suggests:
~Females also benefit more from
extracurricular participation
~Minorities and lower socioeconomic
groups also benefit more

9. Values of Co-Curriculars and
Extracurriculars
~Higher enrollment resulting in higher
state aid
~Better academic performance
~Learned life lessons
~Positive self-esteem

10. Sources
Finn, J.D. (1993). School engagement and students at risk. Washington,
D.C: National Center for Education Statistics
Karweit, Nancy and Hansell, Steve. (1983). “School Organization and
Friendship Selection,” in Friends in School, ed. Joyce Epstein and
Nancy Karweit, New York: Academic Press
Kleese, Edward J. and D’Onofrio, Jan A. (1994). Student Activities for
Students At Risk. Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary
School Principles
Guest and Schneider 2003; McNeal 1995; Marsh and Kleitman 2002