NFHS Outlines Benefits of Co-curriculars: Enhanced School Engagement and Sense of Belonging

The NFHS has prepared a list of benefits from participating in co-curriculars,  HERE.

In our Part 3 of a 9 part series, we take a detailed look at the second benefit:

• 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.

• Examination of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health showed strong evidence that school extracurricular activities were positively associated with adolescents’ friendships, both supporting existing friendships and developing new ones.
• A study looking at social adjustment in making the transition from middle school (8^th grade) to high school (9^th grade) found involvement in sports helped students with friendships during the transition.
• School arts participation and engagement are associated with enhanced academic motivation and engagement measures as well as [non-academic] measures of well-being, including a sense of meaning and purpose according to a longitudinal study of students in 15 Australian schools.
• Involvement in a moderate number of activity domains, among academic/leadership groups, arts activities, clubs, and sports, promotes a greater sense of belonging at school, increased academic engagement, and higher academic performance as measured by grade point average according to a study of urban, ethnically diverse students (40.7% Latino; 16.8% African-American, 12.7% Asian-American, 11.2% Caucasian, and 18.5% other ethnicity or two or more ethnic groups).
• Contributors to Organized Activities as Contexts of Development: Extracurricular Activities, After-School and Community Programs, noted that making diverse clubs and activities available to a wide range of students is important.

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• BETTER EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES
• ENHANCED SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND SENSE OF BELONGING
• POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/LIFE SKILLS
• HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS
• POST HIGH SCHOOL POSITIVE RESULTS
• DEVELOPING BETTER CITIZENS
• SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
• FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CASE

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We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!