The researchers chose three high schools of different socioeconomic statuses to examine: Star Spencer (low SES), Putnam City West (middle class), and Heritage Hall (upper middle class). Star Spencer had higher poverty rates and lower household incomes compared to the other schools. Putnam City West's demographics were more racially diverse than Heritage Hall. The researchers believe participation in high school sports leads to positive life outcomes like higher college attendance rates. Access to fitness facilities is important for students' health, development, and psychological well-being. Differences in facilities and participation rates across schools of varying socioeconomic levels could impact these benefits unevenly.

1. Stratification of Sports
and Fitness at High
Schools of Different
Socio-Economic Status
By: Raymond W Bowker, Wilton Jordan, Nina Grant

2. Schools with Their
Socio-economic
Status
We chose three different
schools because of their
perceived Socio-Economic
Status.
The first school we chose was
Star Spencer. It was chosen
for its believed low socio-
economic status. This belief
was confirmed by the high
amount of individual poverty
(19%) and low amount of
income per household at
$31,116
The second school we chose
was Putnam City West. That
was because it was believed
to be part of the middle class.

3. Schools with Their Socio-economic
Status cont.
 The third and final
school we chose to
examine was
Heritage Hall
 We did this because
it was believed that
the student body at
Heritage Hall is a
mostly upper
middle class.

4. Demographic Comparison
Star Spencer Putnam City West
 87% Black
 8% White
 2% Hispanic
 2% American Indian
 1% Asian
 47% White
 25% Black
 18% Hispanic
 3% Asian
 7% American Indian

5. Economic Comparison
Star Spencer Putnam City West
 Median family income
– 34,947.
 Average household
income - $31,116
 Average family
income - $37,470

6. Demographic and Economic
Comparisons cont.
Heritage Hall
Demographic Heritage Hall Economic
 75% White
 7% Asian
 7% Black
 2% American Indian
 1% Hispanic
 Average Annual
Household Income -
$51,460
 Average Annual
Oklahoma Family
Income – $51,595

7. Importance of The Fitness
Facilities at a High School
 There is Evidence that participating in a sport during high school
does have a positive effect on the individuals’ future.
◦ “[W]hite males were more likely to be attending college in 1984 if they had
participated in sports in high school.
◦ Athletic participation among white female athletes from suburban and rural
schools was significantly related to 4-year college attendance in 1984.
◦ Hispanic male athletes from suburban and rural schools were somewhat
more likely than nonathletes to be attending 4-year colleges in 1984.
◦ No black males or females in any category were more likely to be attending
college in 1984 if they had participated in high school sports.”
 (Donald, Melnick, & Vanfossen, 1993).
 Another reason the fitness facilities of a high school would be
important to examine is the health benefits gained by
participating in an athletic activity while in high school.
◦ “Combined with other research indicating that physical fitness during youth
is an indicator of disease risk later in life, there seems to be strong support
for the assertion that steps need to be taken to eliminate the disparity in
fitness levels based on ethnicity or SES.” (Fahlman, Hall, & Robyn, 2006).

8. Importance of The Fitness
Facilities at a High School, cont.
 The third reason fitness facilities at high schools should be
emphasized and use of the facilities encouraged is that
participation in a high school sport leads to a positive
psychological well being to go along with the positive
health benefits that occur. “
◦ being involved in sport was associated with the development of
both Physical Competence and Instrumentality, which in turn, were
related to more positive feelings about one’s body.” (Greenleaf,
Boyer, & Petrie, 2009).
 It has also been shown that being involved in an athletic
activity has a very large effect on the student.
◦ “[A]thletic participation appears to contribute to increased levels of
grades, self-concept, locus of control, and educational aspirations,
and to decreased levels of discipline problems. In fact, in each of
these models except for educational aspirations, the effect of
athletic participation is greater than that of family income, parent
education, gender, and Asian or Hispanic origin.” (Fejgin, 1994).

9. Star Spencer

10. Star Spencer

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13. Putnam City West

14. Putnam City West

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17. Heritage Hall

18. Heritage Hall

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24. Heritage Hall